The Castle of Leys (7)
There is a long-standing folk story told about this island called 'The Phantom of the Loch!'  Once again I will copy it, more or less in full, as told by Fenton Wyness in his inimitable style, in 'Legends of North-East Scotland':-

<i>Crathes castle was built towards the end of the 16th century, but prior to this the Burnetts stayed in their stronghold on the Loch of Leys, a short distance north-west of their present castle.  The Loch of Leys has long since been drained, but even today the site of the Burnetts' island home can still be seen.

In this stronghold lived Alexander Burnett, 8th laird of Leys </i>(6th by my calculations, but never mind!).<i>  He married late in life, Agnes Lechtoun, a proud and ambitious woman, who bore him a son also called Alexander.

When the boy was about six years of age the laird died, so that the duties of the barony fell to Lady Agnes.  These duties suited her well, for she was a domineering woman who loved to exercise her power over others.

One evening when Lady Agnes and the young laird, who was now nearly seventeen years of age, were sitting in the great hall of the castle, a servant came running in to tell them that a nobleman and his retinue were calling for boats to bring them to the island.  Lady Agnes and the young laird hastened to prepare for the arrival of the stranger, and in a short time Sir Roger Bernard, from France, and his daughter Bertha were announced.

The de Bernards  were related to the Burnetts through a cadet branch of the family which had settled abroad many generations before.  Roger de Bernard had always longed to visit the ancestral home of the family, and as France was in a very unsettled state, he had taken the opportunity of bringing his daughter with him.

Lady Agnes and the young laird welcomed their relatives, and to celebrate the occasion a great banquet was arranged for the following evening.

The banquet was attended by many of the neighbouring lairds and their wives, and was a great success.  After the feasting was over, Lady Agnes made a speech of welcome, which was replied to by Sir Roger.  He thanked Lady Agnes and the young laird for their welcome, and said that he proposed his daughter Bertha in the safe keeping of his kinsmen while he returned to France to settle up his affairs, after which he would come back to Leys.

Alexander, the young laird, jumped to his feet and said that he was honoured to be allowed to look after Bertha de Bernard, and his words were applauded by all.  But one of the company did not relish the arrangement.  This was Lady Agnes, for she had already noted the friendship that had sprung up between her son and Bertha.

Lady Agnes made other plans.  She had decided that the laird of Leys should marry into the noble family of the Lords of Lorne, and she did not intend to let anyone upset her scheme.  In a day or two Sir Roger de Bernard bade farewell to his daughter and left for France.

It was summer and Alexander and Bertha de Bernard spent most of their time in the saddle galloping over the hills and moors, and visiting friends and neighbours.  Wherever they went they were popular, for their natural charm was a joy to see, and it was evident that they were deeply in love.  Only Lady Agnes disapproved.

In autumn, Alexander was obliged to go south to see the Abbot of Arbroath about a land dispute.  He was uncertain how long his business would take him, and Bertha dreaded his going.  She knew only too well that Lady Agnes resented her friendship with her son, so after he left Bertha hardly ever came down from her room in the tower.

Winter came and there was no sign of Alexander returning to Leys.  Bertha fell ill of some wasting disease, and by the time spring came around, little hope was held for her recovery.

One day towards the end of June, Alexander returned home, but to his surprise there was no welcome awaiting him.  Everything was quiet on the island.  Something was obviously amiss.  He crossed to the island and hurried to the great hall to find out what was wrong.  Imagine his horror when, in the centre of the lofty room, he saw a bier on which lay his beloved Bertha.

His mother, Lady Agnes, crossed the room to comfort him.  His brain reeled and he felt faint. Alexander reached for a cup of wine standing on a table nearby, but his mother snatched it from his grasp and dashed it out of the window into the loch.  Not a word was spoken between them, but Alexander understood that Bertha de Bernard had been poisoned.

It was a bitter blow for the young laird, but with the passage of time the memory of Bertha faded from his mind and life at the castle gradually returned to normal.  About a year after Bertha's death, the family were sitting at supper in the hall.  Suddenly the door swung open and into the room strode Sir Roger to Bernard.  He had come back for his daughter.

On his way over from France he had heard of her death and, as he stood at the end of the table, he accused Lady Agnes of killing her.  A terrible scene followed and Sir Roger called down curses upon Lady Agnes who, he said, had broken faith with him and cruelly killed his daughter to further her own ends.

A curious chill seemed to enter the room.  The hangings on the walls moved as if by some sudden wind.  Lady Agnes sat bolt upright in her chair.  She seemed transfixed with horror.  Slowly she rose to her feet a screamed 'She comes, she comes!' - then with a horrible laugh sank to the floor dead.

When the awful memory of the tragedy was forgotten, Alexander Burnett, 9th laird of Leys, married Janet Hamilton, kinswoman to Archbishop Hamilton and they were very happy together.  Alexander decided that the old island castle of Leys would be better left to its tragic memories, so in 1533 commenced to built the present Crathes Castle, but did not live to see its completion.

Once a year, it is said, at the witching hour of midnight, the ghostly figure of a woman rises from the site of the old castle of Leys and glides slowly over the hill of Banchory to Crathes Castle.  Some say it is the wraith of Bertha de Bernard going to see the beautiful castle built by her lover, while others maintain it is the shade of Lady Agnes, forever earthbound on account of her terrible crime.</i>

The truth behind the story is known only to the folk that passed it down from generation to generation over many centuries.  And probably not to most of them!  The Burnett family members however, are historical figures.  Agnes Lechtoun, the daughter of  a Forfarshire family, did indeed marry Alexander Burnett, although he died before his father and was therefore never the laird.  The 'young laird' inherited when his grandfather died in 1525/26.  He duly married Janet Hamilton, started the construction of Crathes castle and sired eleven children.  He died, probably exhausted, in 1574.
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