184 SCOTLANE ILLUSTRATED. 



this union was Robert Bruce,* the hero of Bannockbuni, to whom we have so 

 often referred in the present volume. 



During the invasion of Edward the First, Turnberry Castle was garrisoned 

 by English troops. At this epoch of national adversity, Bruce, after his defeat 

 at Methven, had taken shelter in Axran, waiting the favourable moment to 

 vindicate his country's liberty, by dislodging the invader from her strongholds. 

 With this view he dispatched from his retreat in the island a trusty servant, to 

 ascertain how his vassals in Carrick stood affected to his cause. It was concerted 

 that, if circumstances were found in favourable crisis, the spy should give a 

 signal to that effect by lighting a fire on an eminence overlooking the castle of 

 Turnberry. From the earliest dawn of the morning, Bruce had stood with 

 his eyes intently fixed on the Carrick shore, anxiously looking for the signal 

 wliich was to summon him from his retreat. At length, when the morning had 

 passed away, a beacon-firef blazed suddenly forth on the distant height. Followed 

 by his associates, he rushed to the beach, and springing into a well-appointed 

 barge, pushed for the Carrick shore ; but day failing them in their adventurous 

 course, the beacon light served as a compass, while dreams of recovered freedom 

 nerved every arm, and urged on the barge with redoubled impulse. On reaching 

 the shore, the only man that received them was the messenger, who reported 

 the entire failure of his mission. On reaching his destination, he found that 

 Carrick was entirely subjected to the invader ; that Percy, in command of a 

 powerful garrison, occupied the castle ; and thus overawed and narrowly watched, 

 the men of Carrick durst not espouse the cause of independence, to which 

 their sovereign invited them. " Traitor," exclaimed Bruce, at this mortifying 



• His daughter, Marjory, espoused Walter, steward of Scotland, whose son, by this marriage, Robert 

 Stewart, ascended the throne on the demise of his maternal imcle, son of " the Bkuce." From these 

 alliances sprang the Stewart dynasty, which so long swayed the Scottish sceptre, and from which the 

 reigning family of Great Britain derives its right to the throne. The present Duchess-Countess ol 

 Sutherland is a lineal descendant from the Bruce. — Fide Vol, II. of this work, p. 163. 



f The only tradition now remembered in Carrick of Bruce's landing, relates to the fire seen by him 

 from the isle of Arran. It is still generally reported, and religiously believed by many, that this fire was 

 really the work of supernatural power, unassisted by the hand of any mortal being; and it is said, that 

 for several centuries the fiame rose yearly at the same hour, of the same night of the year, on which the 

 king first saw it from the turrets of Brodick Castle; while some go even so far as to say, that if the exact 

 lime were known, the fire would be seen slill. That this superstition is very ancient, is evident from the 

 place where the fire is said to have appeared being called Bugle's Brae, (the ghost's hill side,) beyond the re- 

 membrance of man. In support ol this curious belief, it is said that the practice of burning heath for the 

 improvement of land was then unknown, a spunkie (jack o'lantern) could not have been seen across the 

 Frith of Clyde between Ayrshire and Arran, and that the messenger was Bruce's kinsman, and never 

 suspected of treacliery. — Letter from Mr. Train to Sir Jf'all'T Scot I, " Lord of the Isles," cant. 5, where 

 the reader will perceive what admirable use the poet has made of this tr.idition. The less poetical expla- 

 nation, we may add, ascribes the beacon to a limekiln. 



