Fietp MEETINGS. PAG | 
The Isle and adjoining lands were granted to a Ferguson, 
the ancestor of the present owner, by King Robert the Bruce. 
The legend is that the Bruce, during the period he was a 
fugitive in the south-west, was once caught in a flood in the 
Nith, and was saved from drowning by one of his followers, 
a Ferguson, who got him on to an elevated piece of ground 
near the site where the tower was subsequently built. For 
this service the King, when he obtained undisputed possession 
of the throne, granted to Ferguson the lands adjacent to 
where the incident took place, directing that the property 
should be known as the “‘ Isle,’’ and granting permission to 
the Fergusons to bear the lion rampant of Scotland on their 
arms. The tower, in its present form, appears to have been 
completed in 1587. This is shown by a carved stone over 
the old gate at the entrance to the tower, bearing the lion of 
Scotland on a shield and the letters ‘J F’’ and ‘‘B R,”’ 
with the date “‘ 1587 ’’ and two sprigs of holly. 
Another old stone inscription of some interest is that on 
the courtyard side of the tower, consisting of the letters 
“ AL MA F 1700.” This refers to the marriage of Agnes 
Laurie (sister of Annie Laurie of song fame) to Alexander 
Ferguson of Isle. 
A Ferguson of Isle was a member of the Scottish Parlia- 
ment at the time of the legislative union with England, and 
was one of those who opposed the measure stoutly. 
Another interesting association of the Isle is the fact that 
Burns stayed here in the older portion of the house, abutting 
the tower, while Ellisland was being built. 
In olden days a branch of the river flowed round the west 
side of the tower. 
On the party completing a tour of the tower and the 
other buildings, General Dickson kindly invited the visitors to 
view the magnificent collection of rugs he recently brought 
from Persia. These were greatly admired, and possibly 
coveted by most of the party, in particular one pictorially de- 
picting various figures in world history. Henry VIII. was 
there, his value doubtless being assessed in Mohammedan 
eyes by the number of his wives. 
