Historical account of the family of Frisel or Fraser, particularly Fraser of Lovat

120
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
« Lovat's Memoirs,
and Arnot's Cri-
iiiinaJ Trials, 84.
' Arnot 83.
* Ibid, and Doug.
Peer. Vol. II. p.
1G9. Memoires de
la Vie du Lord
Lovat, 14, 15, 16.
Countess of Suf-
folk's Letters, Vol.
I. p. 189.
Ainot, 84.
* Lovat's Memoirs
54.
October, 1697.
cretary of State and Viceroy of Scotland for King William, conceived
the design of having the eldest daughter of Hugh, Lord Lovat, declared
heiress to the estate of her father, and of bestowing her upon one of his
own sons in marriage, persuaded that liis sister, the Dowager Lady Lo.
vat, would be pleased with the idea of thus aggrandizing her paternal
house. Simon communicated this design to his father, having previous-
ly taken the opinion of able counsel, and besought him to maintain
his rights, which were incontrovertible. Tullibardine subsequent-
ly abandoned his plan, and it was resolved by his father, the
Earl of Athol, to have the young lady united with the son of the .
Lord Saltoun, ^ as being a more popular method of carrying his
scheme for the ruin of Beaufort, whom he detested, into execu-
tion. With this view. Lord Salton was entreated to come north
and take the management of tlie clan, and, by the union of the
two families, thereby render it more flourishing and powerflil than
ever. Simon,* however, was anxious to obtain tlie young lady himself,
and, by his union with her, do away with all differences between tlie heir
of line and the heir-male ; and he had succeeded so far in gaining the
affections of the young baroness, as to induce her to elope with an emis-
sary of his own, Fraser of Tenecheil." But he, either dreading the resent-
ment of her friends, or acted upon by motives of venality or remorse, be-
trayed his trust, and reconducted her to her mother, to whom he dis-
closed the intiigue. It was no longer thought safe for the lady to re-
main at Castle Downie, the chief seat of the clan Fraser. She was there-
fore conducted, under a proper escort, to Dunkeld, a house of her uncle's,
the Marquis of Athol." Here she was prevailed upon, in furtherance of
his views, to accept the Master of Saltoun as a husband. The intended
bridegroom set out for Dunkeld, to celebrate the nuptials, accompanied by
Lord Mungo Murray. As Captain Fraser saw in this match the ruin of
his hopes, he resolved at all hazards to prevent her being gained by
Lord Saltoun's son. With this view, he passed the bridge of Invemessa
very early in the morning, attended by six gentlemen and two servants
on horseback, completely armed. They took post in the wood of Bun-