Thread by @MarjoleinR

Minnie Baba and Da Spanish Ship

Is a tale o' a courageous and magical Shetland women that happened a few centuries ago...

In da Isle o Papa Stour on da West o Shetland. Some fishermen were working on their boat in da late afternoon.

(1/13)
#FolkloreThursday
@FolkloreThurs

As da sun set ower da Atlantic, they saw a large Spanish ship come close to da island and drop anchor. It wis a fine night so the fishermen thought it wis maybe there to trade, however no skiff wis launched, and no smaller boats came ashore..

(2/13)

In da mirknen (darkening o' da day) da fishermen heard someone swimming and peching (panting) as they neared da shore. Da fishermen squinted to da shore and saw da figure of a young man clamber oot o da ebb and run up to da men.

(3/13)

He wis an English man, and had been a prisoner on da Spanish ship, he escaped to warn da folk o Papa Stour that da Spanish ship wis a pirate ship & planned to attack that night. Da fishermen rounded up everyone in da community fir a Ting, a meeting to decide what to do.

(4/13)

With da information fae da English man, da folk o' Papa Stour kent they would be overpowered by da Pirates, they feared the were done for. Till one man suggested they ask fir da help o Minnie Baba. Da witch. Back then witches were often called on fir help.
(5/13)

A group o men went to Minnie Baba and asked fir her help. She said she would easy help them in return fir da best meat come killing time fae da fattest coos. They agreed. Minnie Baba told them to fasten every boat, door and take in all their animals.
(6/13)

Da Papa Stour folk quickly prepared da island as if it were a terrible Winter's night, rather as a lovely Voar (Spring) evening as it wis. Then Minnie Baba asked to be taken to a hoose with stairs in it. Some folk led her to da largest hoose in da island.
(7/13)

When in da hoose Minnie Baba asked everyone to stand at da bottom o da stairs. Then, she lifted her skirt and stepped with her right foot on da first stair. And a small squall (gust) blew through da still Voar night. Then Minnie Baba stepped with her left foot...
(8/13)

onto da second step, and a continuous breeze started to blow. As Minnie Baba then climbed to da third step da breeze was good enough fir a yoal (Shetland Boat) to open her sails and run afor da wind in. Minnie Baba continued to climb up da stairs.

(9/13)

With ever step she made da wind became stronger, till, as she neared da landing a storm wis howling and da whole hoose wis shaking. By da time she stood at da top and looked doon at da folk, her face a wild grin, da hurricane wis deafening and da roof wis creaking.

(10/13)

Just as da folk began to panic that da whole hoose would be laid to ruin, with them in it. Minnie Baba began to descend doon da stairs. With ever step she came doon da storm ootside lessened. Till she hopped off da bottom step and there wis not a breath o' wind.

(11/13)

"I tink dat'll be hit" (I think that will be it) said Minnie as she asked fir some refreshments and to be led home. As da folk were happy enough to oblige. In da first light o moarnin. Some men went oot to where they had seen da Spanish Pirate ship.

(12/13)

Da men returned to report just broken pieces o drift wood and shreds o sail remained, lying on da water.

Come killing time da folk paid Minnie Baba da fattest bits o' meat as promised.

And that wis da story o how Minnie Baba saved da folk o Papa Stour.

(13/13)