Red cap

Definition and stakes

William Henderson,  Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders (1879)

“ Redcap, Redcomb, or Bloody Cap, is a sprite of another sort from the friendly Brownie. He is cruel and malignant of mood, and resides in spots which were once the scene of tyranny—such as Border castles, towers, and peelhouses. He is depicted as a short thickset old man, with long prominent teeth, skinny fingers armed with talons like eagles, large eyes of a fiery-red colour, grisly hair streaming down his shoulders, iron boots, a pikestaff in his left hand, and a red cap on his head. When benighted or shelterless travellers take refuge in his haunts, he flings huge stones at them ”
Source: Wikisource

Loretta Ellen Brady,  The Green Forest Fairy Book

“ Then off he flew as suddenly as he had appeared, and out from Little Sweep's pocket crawled the first Red Cap.
"Ugh!" exclaimed Red Cap, brushing his tiny beard and dusting his green satin suit. "How comes it that your pocket is so very dusty?"
"I must keep ashes in it for my trade of sweeping crossings," replied Little Sweep. "I hate it."
"Then perhaps I might find you a better trade," said Red Cap, gazing thoughtfully at Little Sweep's gray grimy face and raggedy garments. "We Red Caps, although we be very little folk, be very powerful folk, you know."
”
Source: Gutenberg

W. H. Davenport Adams,  Celebrated Women Travellers of the Nineteenth Century

“ In short, the countenance has a commanding expression. An abundance of dark brown hair waves from under the red cap, and falls in waving curls upon the pale cheeks. The whole figure is picturesque—artistic in effect; to which also the costume—the red cardinal stockings, the large silver buckles, the short silk cloak, and the red cap—contribute in no small degree. In his demeanour he has all the self-possession and ease of a perfect man of the world. ”
Source: Gutenberg

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