An Ardrossan Legend

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An Ardrossan Legend

From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 09/08/1856

The Spanish Armada
Observing in the Glasgow Herald of Wednesday last some allusion in " Jottings from Cumbrae" to the opening of some of the tumuli or burrows on the north-east of the island of Little Cumbrae, by the late Earl of Eglinton, we turned up a tile of old M.S S. which had been kindly furnished to us by Mr Weir of Kirkhall, three years ago when we published sketches of the Parish of Ardrossan in the hope of finding further particulars. Nor were we disappointed. Not only had the late Mr Weir made certain excavations into these interesting mounds, but we learn that the particulars had been furnished to the Glasgow Courier, and Edinburgh papers, of July, 1673.
Amongst other interesting memorandums, we found that Mr Weir had noted a legend, once believed in the district, connected with the sinking of one of the ships belonging to the Spanish Armada, and as it may be unknown to a large circle of our readers, we give it currency.
Early one morning in August, 1588, Lord Eglinton, from the Castle of Ardrossan, espied a large ship off the coast, beating up the Clyde. On further examination it proved to be one of the ships belonging to the ill-fated expedition fitted out against Queen Elizabeth by the Spanish monarch, which was so signally defeated by Admiral Howard. The appearance of the ship created great consternation; and Lord Eglinton made all haste to Giles Buchanan, one of his tenants, who lived at Parkhouse, in the neighbourhood of the Castle. This lady was a famous witch; and his Lordship addressing her, said, "Giles, if ever you did anything in your life, now is the time, when the Armada is in the Clyde." Giles seemed none alarmed; but as a token of friendship gave him a drink of milk. After his lordship had taken a draught, she informed him that the milk which he had just drank was part of all kinds of milk on earth, but one kind; and then insisted that he make all haste up the Clyde, and she would follow. With her spindle and distiff, in the shape of a crow, Giles took her station on the main top gallant mast, and instantly fell to work in spinning. And as Giles span, down the spindle went; and on its reaching the deck the ship began to sink, and went down off Portencross, to the no small joy of Lord Eglinton and those assembled on the heights opposite.
Such is the legend. Of the sinking of the ship there is no doubt, and Mr Weir further notes, that in 1740, the Government appointed Sir Archibald Grant of Munnymusk, and Captain Roe to dive for her. The spot where she had sunk was easily found, her main topgallant mast having remained above water for sometime, and therefore the place was fresh in the memory of the inhabitants on the shore. The diver found the vessel entire with a great number of guns on board greatly sanded up. The first gun they brought up was one that lay on the bow of the ship; it was brass, and measured more than nine feet. On the breech was a rose, with an E on the one side, and an R on the other, and the inscription—" Richard and John Philips, brethren, made this piece, anno 1584." This gun was supposed not to belong to the ship's compliment, under the impression that E. R. meant Elizabeth Regina, and that the Rose was emblematic of England. Ten brass, and ten iron guns were got out of the ship, and all, with the exception of the one which remains on the beach at Portencross, were sent to Dublin. Mr Weir's grandmother was a witness to the guns being brought on shore. The topgallant mast was cut or came ashore; and at one time during the last century, graced the roof of one of the farm-houses on the Estate of Hunterston.