Antiquities.

Bruce.

This castle was in the hands of the English in the exAnecdote of pedition of King Edward the First. In 1306, Bruce having taken shelter in the isle of Arran, he from thence sent a person in his confidence into Carrick, to learn how his vassals in that territory stood affected to the cause of their ancient lord. He enjoined the messenger, if he saw that the dispositions of the people were favourable, to make a signal at a day appointed, by lighting a fire on an eminence above the castle of Turnberry. The messenger found the English in possession of Carrick; Percy with a numerous garrison at Turnberry; the country dispited, and in thraldom; none to espouse the party of Bruce, and many whose inclinations were hostile.

From the first dawn of the day appointed for the signal, Bruce stood with his eyes fixed on the coast of Carrick; noon had already passed when he perceived a fire on the eminence above Turnberry; he flew to the boat, and hasted over; night surprised him and his associates while they were yet on the sea. Conducting themselves by the fire, they reached the shore. The messenger met them, and reported that there was no hope of aid. “Traitor!" cried Bruce, "why did you make the signal?” "I made no signal," replied he; " but observing a fire on the eminence, I feared that it might deceive you, and I hasted hither to warn you from the coast."

Bruce hesitated amidst the dangers which encompassed him, what to avoid, or what to encounter. At length, obeying the dictates of valour and despair, he resolved to persevere in his enterprise. He attacked the English, carelessly cantoned in the neighbourhood of Turnberry, put them to the sword, and pillaged their quarters. Percy from the castle heard the uproar, yet durst not issue forth against an unknown enemy. Bruce with his followers, not exceeding 300 in number, remained for some

days near Turnberry; but succours having arrived from Antiquities. the neighbouring garrisons, he was obliged to seek shelter in the mountainous parts of Carrick. Some years after this, however, Bruce stormed the castle, though at the expence of the destruction of the building. We do not find that it was ever afterwards inhabited. We have already remarked, that it was one of the favourite maxims of the policy of Bruce to destroy the castles which he took. He saw that the English, by means of forts judiciously placed, had maintained themselves in Scotland with little aid from their sovereign. He wished to prevent such a misfortune from occurring for the future; and perhaps he apprehended that when the country came to . be settled in peace, the possession of fortified castles might render his own barons no less formidable to the crown than the English garrisons had been to the nation.

The situation of the castle of Turnberry is extremely delightful, having a full view of the frith of Clyde and its shores. Upon the land-side it overlooks a rich plain of about 600 acres, bounded by hills, which rise beautifully around. Little more than the foundations of this ancient building remain. There is still to be seen the vestige of a ditch, and part of the buttresses of the drawbridge.

There is a passage which opens towards the sea, arched above, leading to a large apartment in the castle, which by tradition is said to have been the kitchen. This castle has been built of whin-stone, and is remarkable for the very strong cement that has been used in building it. The ruins, as they now lie, cover an acre of ground.

abbey.

In the same parish, about two miles from the town of Crossrague Maybole, is the abbey of Crossraguel, Croceregal, or Crossragmol, founded in 1244 by Duncan, son of Gilbert Earl of Carrick. It is more entire than any other abbey in the west of Scotland. The situation is very low; the

In this the stair

Antiquities, surface of the ground is irregular, swelling into hills on all sides. The view from it is therefore extremely confined, excepting towards the east, where there is a small opening of the hills. It is supplied with abundance of excellent water. The walls of the church are almost entire, about 164 feet long and 22 feet high. Near the west end of the church, on the north side, is a door of a conic form, nine feet high, and at the bottom five feet broad; towards the east remains the niche where the principal altar stood. On the right of this is the vestry and the abbot's ecclesiastical court, all entire and arched, much in the style of the cathedral at Glasgow. There are besides several vaults and cells, all built of fine hewn stone. On the west end of the abbey stands the last house which the abbot inhabited. is entire from top to bottom of a tower 30 feet high, with several apartments, all of free-stone. At the south end a dovecot, of a very singular construction, is still extant. The shaft of it is circular, and surrounds a well of excellent water. About five feet from the ground is the floor of stone, which serves as a covering for the well, From the floor it begins to swell, and continues for six or seven feet, then contracts as it rises, till it comes to a small circular opening, which lights the whole; the sides within are full of square holes for pigeons. Its height is 16 feet, and its greatest diameter eight feet within. At the east of the abbey stand the ruins of the abbot's first house, with only the outer walls remaining. The whole building stands in the middle of eight acres of ground, commonly called the abbot's yard, or precinct of Crossraguell. This belongs to the chapel royal, and is set in tack to the family of Kilkerran. It is subset to one of the tenants of the barony of Baltersan, the property of the family; in the middle of which rich and beautiful ba