Bass, Isle

   BASS, ISLE, in the parish of North Berwick, county of Haddington. It is situated in the Frith of Forth, above a mile distant from the south shore, and is of stupendous height, inaccessible on all sides, except by one narrow passage. On the summit is a spring, sufficient to provide water for the garrison of a small castle; there is also pasturage for a few sheep, and a warren. This island was an ancient possession of the family of Lawder, and was purchased, in 1671, by Charles II., during whose reign, and that of James II., it was made a state prison, where the Cameronians, or Western people, were confined for being in arms against the sovereign. A cavern runs through the rock from north-west to south-east, in the centre of which is a deep pool of water. St. Baldred, the apostle of East Lothian, in the sixth century, is generally supposed to have made the isle his place of seclusion.

   See Berwick, North.