Scottish Borders Folk Tales

by James P. Spence

  The next day Maria, now on her leaf-lane, decided that she would go an see the spae-wife. ‘Tonight before the chiming o the twelve bells the black bull o Norraway will come for ye. But dinnae be feart o it. Go with the black bull o Norraway an ye will eventually find great happiness.’

  As sure as violins are fiddles the black bull o Norraway came tae the hoose just before midnight. It was bellowing an snorting like a clarion caw. The excitement that Maria had felt earlier was now being drooned oot by fear as she listened tae aw the commotion ootside. ‘Get yersel doon here Maria, we need tae be on oor way,’ the bull announced in a deep authoritative voice. Maria did as she was bid. The black bull instructed her tae sclim up intae the saddle on his back. Having done so, hae told her, ‘Hang on for grim death, as we have a long journey tae make, an I want tae get tae the first castle before dawn.’

  The black bull o Norraway could shift like a hare, or something that was very quick, that quick that it left the sound o its galloping hooves far back in its wake, as if they were being constantly followed by rumbling thunder. In the middle o their journey the black bull stopped an told Maria that there were some nice things tae eat if she cared tae look in his right lug, an that if she was feeling thirsty there was a flagon o wine for her in his left lug. Yince she had refreshed herself with the food an drink they set off again at a great lick.

  By an by they came tae a castle. ‘Away in an see ma brother an his wife. They will look after ye weel enough. I must away an sneck masel in the field for the night,’ said the bull.

  So Maria went intae the castle an was warmly greeted by the prince an the princess. She was led intae the scullery where she was given some weel-prepared food an drink. Whilst she was there a tooslie-haired young man came in an said ‘Guid evening’. Then hae said hae was away tae his bed.

  ‘Oh,’ said the prince, ‘that’s oor brother, Jack. Hae doesnae say very much.’

  Then the princess fetched a wee gift for Maria. At first glance it didnae look like very much, but when Maria looked closely at the walnut, she could a wee wife inside it singing an carding wool. She was fair delighted with it. The princess said tae her, ‘Now, keep it safe aboot ye, an it’ll save yer life when it comes tae it. Ye’ll ken when ye need tae gie it away.’

  Just before midnight the bull started snorting an bellowing ootside. ‘It’s time we were away Maria. We’ve still got a long journey aheid o us.’

  Maria rushed oot o the castle an quickly sclimmed up intae the black bull’s saddle an they were away like the clappers. After a while intae the journey the bull stopped, as previously, so that Maria could take some food oot o its right lug for herself, an some wine tae drink oot o its left lug.

  They arrived at the next castle just before dawn. As before the black bull took itself off tae the field, an Maria was greeted by the bull’s other brother an his wife. She was invited in tae have something tae eat frae the scullery. Whilst she was tucking in a dopey-looking Jack came in an said that hae was away tae his bed. The next day Jack was aroond, but hae said nothing. That night Maria was given a wee gift by the princess. It was another walnut. This time the wee wifie that was inside it was singing an spinning. ‘Now, keep this safe, an it will save yer life when it comes tae it. Ye’ll ken when ye need tae gie it away,’ said the princess. Yince mair Maria was fair toorled with the marvellous gift.

  Just before midnight the bull started snorting an bellowing ootside. ‘It’s time we were away Maria. We’ve still got a long journey aheid o us.’

  The black bull o Norraway, with Maria on its back, set off like the living wind. Half way through the journey the bull stopped so that Maria could take refreshment frae its twae lugs.

  At the third castle Maria was yince again greeted by another o the bull’s brothers an his wife, an yince mair that prince an princess took her in tae eat in their scullery, the black bull having taken tae the field. Jack appeared, an again announced that hae was away tae his bed. The next day Jack said nothing, as if hae was in a dream, an that night Maria was given another wee gift by the princess. ‘Now, keep it safe aboot ye, for it will save yer life when it comes tae it. Ye’ll ken when ye need tae gie it away.’ It was another walnut, but this time the wee wifie that was singing inside it was weaving. She treasured this walnut also.

  Just before midnight the bull started snorting an bellowing ootside. ‘It’s time we were away Maria. We’ve still got a journey aheid o us.’

  So off they went again, the black bull o Norraway an Maria on its back, like the living wind. When the black bull stopped this time though, for Maria tae take a bit o refreshment frae his twae lugs, it was on a muckle great plain. An the black bull said tae her, ‘I have tae away an fight the Devil himself. I want ye tae stand on that muckle big stane there an wait for me. Whatever ye dae dinnae jump off that stane. I will come back an fetch ye. However, if the air turns red, ye will ken that I have lost the battle wi the Devil, so just take yerself away hame. But if the air turns blue ye will ken that I have won an will be back tae claim ye as ma bride, but mind an dinnae lowp off that stane.’ Then the black bull charged away across the plain tae dae battle with the Devil.

  It was ower far away for Maria tae see what was happening, but as the battle progressed the scunnersome roars, yowls an clatters got louder. It was as if her heart was dunted by every sound frae the battle, an she kept on squinting intae the indeterminate sky tae get it turn blue. So much so that when the sky did turn blue at first she wasnae sure whether it was just her ain wishful thinking. However, a wee while after she saw the black bull coming towards her. As hae did so an extraordinary thing happened, she watched the bull change intae Prince Jack. As hae got closer Maria got that excited that she slipped off the stane. This seemed tae confuse Jack, an when hae got up close hae didnae look in her direction, as if she was nae longer there, an seemed bewildered as tae what tae dae. Hae stood there in his Holland shirt that had seven bloody wounds cut in it. Prince Jack took the bloodied shirt off an let it faw on the ground, then wandered off in the direction hae had come. Hae had forgotten aw aboot Maria being his promised bride, an the black bull o Norraway, because she had stepped off the stane before hae had come tae fetch her. Maria was devastated an was now trapped atween twae worlds.

  By an by she found herself following along a road. It led her tae the foot o a mountain that had natural steps leading up tae the summit. She sclimmed up tae the top. The other side was made o a glassy icy substance. She decided that she would slide doon it on her bahookie, which she did, an she landed by the side o a loch. Nearby there was a cobbler’s shop. When she went inside the auld cobbler asked her, ‘What are ye doing here?’ So she told him what had happened. Hae then explained tae her that she was trapped atween twae worlds. She would be trapped there for seven long years, an there was nothing that she could dae aboot it till the time had elapsed. Hae proposed that she look after his hoose tae pay for her keep in the meantime. The auld cobbler seemed a kindly an weel-meaning fella so she immediately agreed tae take the job.

  Every morning she would take Jack’s bloodied an torn shirt doon tae the side o the loch tae wash it, but nae matter how much she steeped it an wrung it oot the bloodstains would never come oot o it. Yet every day she went tae the loch side tae wash his shirt.

  Time passed as time will, an when the seven years were just aboot up, the auld man said tae Maria that it was time she was away back hame. ‘Take that white serk tae the muckle white stanes at the side o the loch. Only there will ye able tae wash the bloodstains oot o it.’ Maria did as the cobbler suggested, an when she washed the shirt at the white stanes aw the blood came oot o Jack’s Holland shirt. After the shirt had dried Maria mended the seven slashes in it with the finest an maist loving o stitches, till it was fit for the grandest o princes.

  When it was time for Maria tae leave the auld cobbler gave her a pair o shoes that had special grips on the soles tae cope with the slippery glass slope o the mountain. So it was that she was able tae sclim up the glassy slo
pe tae the peak before stepping doon the other side. When she stepped away frae the mountain she stepped back intae her ain world at a place that was only a wee walk frae hame.

  Her mother an father were delighted tae see her, as she was delighted tae see them. She was less enamoured tae say the least with the big news that Prince Jack was due tae get married in three days’ time. So nae sooner than she was back in the bosom o her family than Maria was away again, with the prince’s white shirt neatly packed in her bag. She made immediately for the prince’s castle in the hope that she could secure a job as a cook or a pastry chef for the wedding feast. She was hired as a cook.

  It so happened that the place she was given tae sleep was right below Prince Jack’s window. Before taking tae her bed she sang a song. ‘Seven long years I worked for ye, a bloody serk I washed for ye, an a glassy hill I sclimmed for ye, for I am yer chosen bride!’

  Jack cawed tae her tae come tae his chamber tae tell him aboot the strange song she had just sung. On going up tae his chambers Maria came across Jack’s bride-tae-be. ‘If ye promise tae put off yer wedding tae Prince Jack by yin day I’ll gie ye the maist marvellous gift.’ She brought oot the walnut an held it in her open hand. Inside the walnut was a wee wifie singing an carding wool. The lassie was that fair taken with the walnut that she immediately agreed tae postpone the wedding by yin day.

  The following night, just before going tae her bed, Maria sang her song again beneath Prince Jack’s window. Yince again Jack cawed her up tae his chambers tae explain her eerie song tae him. On her way there she met with his bride-tae-be again. ‘If ye promise tae put off yer wedding for another day I’ll gie ye another marvellous present.’ In her open hand Maria held oot the second walnut, that had a wee wifie spinning an singing inside it. The lassie was again fair taken with the gift an she agreed at yince tae put off her wedding for another day.

  On the third night before going tae her bed, Maria sang her song yince mair. Prince Jack again cawed doon tae her tae come an explain her queer song tae him. On entering his chambers Maria met with his bride-tae-be yet again. ‘I have a third present for ye, if ye’ll only agree tae put off yer wedding for yin mair day.’ Again she held oot her open hand, an there sat the third walnut. Inside a wee wifie was weaving an singing. Yince again the lassie readily agreed tae put off her wedding.

  Also in Jack’s chambers were aw o his brothers. Yin o them came up an started tae speak tae Maria, having recognised her.

  ‘How dae ye ken this lassie?’ Jack asked o his brother.

  But the brother didnae get a chance tae say anything before Maria brought oot Jack’s shirt an handed it tae him. ‘Put this serk on for yer wedding day.’

  Withoot further ado Jack put the white Holland shirt on. It fitted him perfectly. Having done so his memory came back tae him clear as a bell. There in front o him stood Maria his true bride-tae-be. Their eyes met in that soft but clear knowing, an hae kent it was destined tae be.

  As the lassie Jack was aboot tae marry had shown a habit o postponing their wedding three times already, hae felt she might be open tae a mair permanent arrangement in that direction. So hae offered the lassie a sum o money that would see tae a lifetime o comfort for her, tae which she was readily agreeable.

  After that the wedding atween Prince Jack an Maria was arranged, an the twae o them went on tae live a long an happy life together, blessed as they were by a fair lot o bairns.

  THE BLACK BULL O NORRAWAY:

  AN ALTERNATIVE VERSION

  There was yince a woman who had three daughters. When the auldest daughter was o an age she said tae her mother, ‘Mother, would ye bake me a bannock an roast me a collop, because I want tae away intae the world tae see who I’m tae marry.’ Her mother did as she was bid, an away went the eldest lassie tae see the spae-wife that lived on the hill.

  ‘So ma lass ye want tae see who ye be going tae marry. Right then away tae the back door, an just wait there till ye see something,’ instructed the spae-wife.

  Weel, being on top o a hill there was very often a thickness way up there on account o low clouds. So when the lassie looked oot on the first day she seen nothing. When she looked oot on the second day she seen nothing. An it wasnae until the third day she seen something. She seen a coach an four horses. ‘That ma lass is what ye were supposed tae see, so away in that coach an meet yer man.’ The lassie was fair toorled, because the man that she was tae marry was obviously a weel-off fella with guid taste, if the coach was anything tae go by. So off she went with a skip in her step.

  Now that the eldest sister was away it gave the middle sister notions along the same line, so she told her mother, ‘Mother, would ye bake me a bannock an roast me a collop, because I want tae away intae the world tae see who I’m tae marry.’ Her mother again did as she was bid, an away went the middle lassie tae see the spae-wife that lived on the hill.

  ‘So ma lass ye want tae see who ye be going tae marry. Right then away tae the back door, an just wait there till ye see something,’ instructed the spae-wife.

  When the lassie looked oot on the first day she seen nothing. When she looked oot on the second day she seen nothing. An it wasnae until the third day she seen something. She seen a coach an four horses. ‘That ma lass is what ye were supposed tae see, so away in that coach an meet yer man.’ The lassie was fair toorled, because the man that she was tae marry was obviously a weel-off fella with guid taste, if the coach was anything tae go by. So off she went with a skip in her step.

  Now that her twae aulder sisters were away it didnae take long for the youngest lassie tae get the same notion as them. So she went tae speak tae her mother. ‘Mother, would ye bake me a bannock an roast me a collop, because I want tae away intae the world tae see who I’m tae marry?’ Her mother yince mair did as she was bid, an away went the youngest lassie tae see the spae-wife that lived on the hill.

  ‘So ma lass ye want tae see who ye be going tae marry. Right then away tae the back door, an just wait there till ye see something,’ instructed the spae-wife.

  When the lassie looked oot on the first day she seen nothing. When she looked oot on the second day she seen nothing. An it wasnae until the third day she seen something. She seen a muckle great black bull, mair fearsome than she’d ever seen in her life. It was bellowing an snorting away as if it had swallowed a thunderstorm as it roared along the road an up the hill. ‘I see nothing but a terrible bull roaring up the hill,’ the lassie said tae the spae-wife.

  ‘Weel,’ said the spae-wife, ‘that bull’s here for ye.’

  Although the lassie was terrified oot o her wits by thon muckle ferocious bull she feared that something worse than what the bull could do would befall her if she didnae go with it. The lassie’s body was a dose o shoogles as she felt herself being lifted on tae the bull’s back. Nae sooner was she up on that broad back than the bull took off like a sudden gust o wind.

  They charged frae landscape tae landscape like those muckle expanses were but fleeting pictures. After what seemed like a long time o this the lassie said that she was very hungry. Withoot stopping the bull told her tae help herself tae the food that was in his right lug, an if she was thirsty tae help herself tae the wine that was in his left lug. So the lassie did just that, an the guid food settled her fettle as weel as her stomach.

  By an by they came tae a castle. They were met by servants frae the castle an the lassie was lifted doon frae the bull an taken intae the castle, which belonged tae the bull’s brother, whilst the bull was led intae a field for the night. The next morning the bull was brought tae the castle an the lassie was taken intae a fine room an given an apple. ‘Only open this apple if ye’re in serious trouble,’ she was told. Then it was time for the next part o the journey.

  Again the lassie was lifted on tae the bull’s back, an it took off like the crack o a whip. They were going that fast that the fields were never mair than a blur, an only the likes o hills on the horizons stayed aroond long enough for her tae make oot. The bull told her that
the journey they were undertaking was even longer than the previous day, so there was nae time tae lose. By an by they came tae another castle. The bull said tae the lassie, ‘Ma second brother bides here, so we’ll stay the night here.’ Again the lassie was lifted doon by the servants an taken intae the castle, whilst the bull was led away tae a field for the night.

  In the morning the lassie was brought intae a fine room an was given a pear. ‘Only open this pear if ye’re in serious trouble,’ she was told. Then it was time for the next part o the journey. The bull was standing ootside waiting for her.

  Nae sooner was she lifted on tae the bull’s back than it was off again that fast that it made a nonsense o the solid ground beneath its feet. Aw day the bull galloped wi the lassie on its back, till eventually it came tae another castle. The bull said tae the lassie, ‘We’ll stop here the night, because this is where ma youngest brother bides.’ Again the lassie was lifted doon by the servants an taken intae the castle, whilst the bull was led away tae a field for the night.

  In the morning the lassie was brought intae a fine room an given a plum. ‘Only open this plum if ye’re in serious trouble,’ she was told. Then it was time for the next part o the journey. The bull was standing ootside waiting for her.

  Yince the lassie was lifted on tae the bull’s back it took off faster than a spark frae a spitting fire. They travelled for a long long time until they came tae a derk an dreich glen. Here the bull stopped. As the lassie sclimmed doon off the bull she noticed a pin in its side. As soon as she pulled the pin oot o the bull’s side it turned intae the maist handsome prince. The lassie was fair toorled tae say the least. She would be keen tae marry this fella. The prince was fair toorled tae. ‘I was cast intae the shape o a bull by a cruel spell, but alas for now I cannie bide in ma ain form o a prince. I must away an dae battle wi the Devil. Ye must bide here on this rock. If everything turns blue ye will ken I have won, but if everything turns red ye will ken that the Devil has won an that ye’ll never see me again. If I win I will come back for ye, but nae matter what ye must not move yer arms or feet before I do. Now ye must put that pin back in ma side.’ The lassie did as she was bid an the handsome prince turned back intae the black bull o Norraway. Then hae galloped off tae do battle with the Devil. The lassie sat perfectly still on the stane, but because she could see nothing o the fight her insides lowped at every clash, bellow an roar. By an by the battle cries died doon an everything turned blue. The lassie was that excited that she forgot she wasnae allowed tae move an she put yin foot ower the other. When the bull galloped back towards her, therefore, hae couldnae find her as she had become invisible tae his eyes.