A Faerie's History of Caledonia

By Jeff Maurer

Much more history than fiction, this is a factually accurate tale of Scotland and of her strange, northernmost region: Caledonia. But it is told from the perspective of one of the Wee Folk. So it reveals connections that have eluded or been ignored by many human historians. Here are the dramas and tragedies that have soured Scottish history. But here also is chivalry and hope to inspire us all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Maurer
• Release date: Dec 22, 2010
• ISBN: 9781458071996

Jeff Maurer

Born in western Pennsylvania, raised in the 60s in the sarcasm belt of north-central New Jersey (yes, you can take the boy out of Jersey but you can not take the Jersey out of the boy), graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Education, I moved to San Francisco in 1977 (partly to see what it might be like to live someplace where the people wore flowers in their hair - someplace very different from what I had so far been accustomed to). After surviving significant initial culture shock, I spent most of the next two decades in various parts of the pacific northwest, and loved it. But in order to be closer to family, I then moved back east to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where I was employed as a Respiratory Therapist in a children's hospital until I retired. I am now thankfully living on the Oregon coast.

Book preview

A Faerie's History of Caledonia

By

Seelie Doine

Foreword

By

Jeff Maurer

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010 Jeff Maurer

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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FOREWORD

Now and then, a tale will be told of some supposedly magical place. I had heard of one such place in northwest Scotland – a patch of ancient forest which, due to centuries of reportedly reality-bending experiences, had been named The Faerie Glen.

Having been to Scotland several times, I had encountered a surprising number of Brits who confessed, when pressed, to belief in the Wee People, despite what I thought should be the convincing weight of logic. As an insistently down-to-earth Yank, I could appreciate fantasy, as FANTASY. But I was as certain as I could be that Faeries were little more than a charming myth. Perhaps like many folks, however, I likely held onto a distant hope that there might be something more magical to life than the routine I seemed to have settled into. So, reluctantly accepting the possibility that others might know something I did not, with barely suppressed skepticism I ventured into the Faerie Glen and chose a promising spot of mossy ground where I could sit myself down, relax my body, and still my mind. I waited, wondering what, if anything, I might experience. Eventually, I fell asleep… or something.

When I awoke, it was clear from the angle of sunbeams filtering through the ancient oaks that several hours had passed. I took a good look around the Glen which (except, perhaps, for my own presence) seemed completely undisturbed. Then I stood and briefly weighed the merits of either waiting in certain futility for a bit longer or just abandoning my silly fantasy for something more substantial: namely, a pint in the nearest pub. Immediately I started out of the Glen and toward the village. I hadn’t taken more than two steps, though, when a deep but musical voice shocked me to a halt.

Here it is.

I knew there wasn’t anybody there. I had just looked! But upon turning around I saw… unbelievably… a man. He was short: no more than five feet tall, and in a way I still can not adequately describe, very strange looking. Other than that, the first thing I noticed about him was his smile, then his eyes. The smile was broad, sincere, reassuring. The eyes, greener than any I had ever seen, were bright but somehow also sad. Despite the strangeness of his appearance, he was also somehow handsome, with a fair complexion and a face that bore the wrinkles of middle-age. His silver hair was long, hanging loosely past his shoulders. His long, red beard was knotted just below the chin. He appeared well dressed, though of an outdated fashion, with britches, knee socks, and a plaid sport coat with rounded lapels: all of very thick, high quality fabric. Pinned to his left lapel was a white rose.

Wh… where, I stammered, did YOU come from?

That is a long story. And, respectfully, not one I’m of a mind to repeat just now. Then he handed me a manuscript and said again, Here it is.

What’s that?

Jeff, he said patiently, we talked about this… at length.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. I had no idea what was going on and did not know what to say.

He held the manuscript up closer to me and nodded encouragement. I took it and stared at the cover: A FAERIE’S HISTORY OF CALEDONIA by Seelie Doine. I opened the cover, not so much to read what was inside as to give myself time to regain composure. Who was this guy? Where did he come from? When did we talk about this? And how the hell did he know my name? I closed the manuscript and lifted my head to confront him. He was gone.

OK, now I really needed that pint.

As I’ve said, I really did not believe in Faeries before that day. Now, I just don’t know what to believe. While in the Faerie Glen, did I experience some kind of Rip Van time Wrinkle where Seelie and I exchanged names and talked about his manuscript? When I finally got to the pub after leaving the Faerie Glen, it was still the same day it had been when I entered the Glen. I hadn’t aged or grown a long beard. In fact, nothing seemed at all out of the ordinary. I might well have imagined I’d dreamed the whole thing – except for the manuscript.

The manuscript: it has taken several years for me to finally decide to share it with others. One reason for the delay has been that suggesting Faeries might be real is (particularly here in the States) opening one’s self up to ridicule and to being labeled as, at best, eccentric. So I worried about what others might think of me for quite awhile before ultimately deciding the heck with them. Another reason for waiting so long to share Seelie’s manuscript has to do with my concerns about its accuracy. I did not want to be associated with a purely fictional account of history. That would offend my idealistic notions of truth and honor. So I did my best to evaluate his version of events. And that took some time. Some of what he wrote was simply beyond my ability to verify one way or the other. But the relevant historical records I was able to track down essentially confirm the truth of Seelie’s history. The names, places, and sequence of events he reports are accurate and true – at least to the extent that confirmation is possible by sometimes contradictory human texts. His manuscript is noticeably lacking in specific dates (presumably because the human calendar has little meaning for Faeries). But it is fairly easy to figure out approximately when things are happening. As with any history text, it does get a bit dry at times. But at least it is neither overburdened with specific dates nor overly long. No doubt there will be those who will quibble. But keeping in mind that histories which are accepted as the truth are often biased versions written by conquerors, and keeping in mind as well that respected historians sometimes disagree about what really happened, I think it is reasonable to give Seelie’s version the benefit of the doubt. It is at least plausible. I think you will find his perspective refreshing: fanciful at times, perhaps, but at other times quite sobering.

I considered some rather heavy handed editing but decided against it. However, because Seelie’s lack of focus on specific dates might confuse or frustrate some readers, immediately following this Foreword I have added a brief list of significant dates. What follows that list is a word for word reprint of the manuscript which magically came into my possession that day in the Faerie Glen.

Jeff Maurer

KEY DATES

400 Million years ago: Caledonia (then part of the continent Laurentia) migrates across the ocean and collides with Baltica, forming what would later split off to become Britain.

230,000 years ago: Neanderthal humans (Homo Neanderthalensis) populate Europe.

40,000 years ago: Modern humans (Homo Sapiens) migrate north into Europe.

13,000 BC: As the Ice Age wanes and Britain becomes habitable, a land bridge opens migration routes from Europe to Britain.

6000 BC: With the last of the Ice Age glaciers melting, the seas rise, submerging the land bridge and isolating Britain.

2500 BC: Construction of stone circles.

1500 BC: Massive Icelandic volcano eruption causes deterioration of the Caledonian climate and formation of peat bogs in the uplands.

1000 BC: Celts arrive from Europe, then merge with the Caledonians.

84 AD: Battle of Mons Graupius – the Romans led by Agricola defeat the Caledonians led by Calgacus.

4th century AD: The Scotti (an Irish tribe) begin settling in western Pictland. First Christian missionaries to the Picts.

410 AD: The Romans leave Britain.

End of 6th century AD: Pictish king Bridei I defeats the Scots. Columba attempts to convert the Picts to Christianity.

685 AD: Picts under King Bridei III defeat the Anglo-Saxons.

800–1100 AD: Viking raids.

843 AD: Kenneth MacAlpin unites the Scots and the Picts.

1057: Malcolm defeats MacBeth, then establishes the House of Canmore as rulers of Scotland.

1097: King Donald Bane looses the Scottish throne to Edgar Canmore.

1174: Treaty of Falaise.

1292: John Balliol Becomes King of Scotland.

1297: William Wallace and Andrew DeMoray lead the Scots to victory over the English at Stirling Bridge.

1306-1329: Robert the Bruce is King of Scotland.

April 6, 1320: The Declaration of Arbroath.

1371: Robert II becomes the first Stewart King of Scotland.

1559: John Knox returns to Scotland.

1567: Mary Queen of Scotts is forced to abdicate. Her one year old son becomes King James VI of Scotland.

1603: Queen Elizabeth I of England dies childless leaving James as her rightful heir. James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England, uniting all of