Article: ON THE WIZARDS TRAIL; The man who sparked the Renaissance or a servant of the Devil? The truth about a Scots legend can finally be told.

Byline: MARGARET MALLON

FLAMES from the wizard's sulphurous fire play on the walls of the cave, casting ever-changing patterns. His eyrie in Bell Crag, which overlooks the sea south of the ancient Balwearie Castle near Kirkcaldy, was formed, legend says, by a bubble from Hell itself, forcing its way upwards through molten rock.

The wizard's eyes glaze; he sees visions of the future. He prophesies life, death, even his own death, by a stone falling from heaven. On the day this knowledge was foretold to him, he fashioned a helmet of brass to protect himself and wore it thereafter.

He knows other things too, things that perhaps should not be known: ...

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