In Border folklore, the murderous goblin that soaks its cap in victims’ blood is the redcap.
The redcap, also called a powrie, is a malevolent goblin from the Anglo-Scottish Border region. Folklore places it in ruined castles and towers associated with tyranny, violence, or other wicked deeds. After killing a traveler, the creature supposedly dips its cap in the victim’s blood to restore its vivid red color.
Traditional descriptions portray the redcap as short and thickset, with fiery eyes, sharp teeth, claw-like fingers, iron boots, and a pike. It may hurl stones at people seeking shelter in its ruin. Christian symbols or words from Scripture are said to repel it, sometimes causing the goblin to vanish in flames.
The redcap is not identical to every creature called a “redcap.” Dutch redcaps can resemble helpful household gnomes, and some regional stories make a redcap relatively benign. Border lore also connects a redcap named Robin Redcap with Hermitage Castle and the legendary fate of William de Soulis. Hobgoblins and boggarts are broader categories of household or landscape spirits, not this specific blood-stained goblin.