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

FAMILY OF FRASEK. 121
chrew, and presently saw Lord SaJtoun and Lord Mungo Murray re-
turning from Castle Downie. Tlie Captain gave orders to seize Lord
Saltoun, dead or alive. ' Pistols were instantly levelled at him, whilst " Amot's Trials,
Lord Mungo was taken prisoner by Simon himself. Having been de-
prived of their horses, disarmed and mounted on ponies, these nobles
were then conducted to FaneUan, a house of the Lord Lovat's, where
they were guarded by some hundred clansmen, and confined in separate
apartments for about a week. ' ' Life and Adven-
'■ tares of Lord Lovafj
It came out in evidence upon the trial of Simon and his associates, ^ *° ^^•
upon which Mr Arnot ^ has made the observation— that it is one of the e p. 79.
jTiost singular prosecutions in our criminal record, whether we respect
the sti'etch of law that was made to convict the absentee, or the savage-
ness of his conduct, or the absolute dominion he possessed over his fol-
lowers, and directed to purposes the most shocking to human nature
that the Captain took the oaths of fidelity of such of the gentlemen of
his name as he suspected, and that they and the men were sworn upon
their dirks to be faithful, and never to desert him. The Fieri/ cross and
the Coronach were sent through the country ; and on a report that Lord
James MuiTay and a party of red coats were coming against him, Captain
Fraser again repeated the fiery signal.
Lord Saltoun and Lord Mungo Murray were next carried to Castle
Downie, " and the force commanded by Captain Fraser consisted of " Amot, sa
about 500 men, marching with two pair of colours. Sentinels were
placed on aU the rooms, particularly Lady Lovat's, both within and
without. This was a week after the seizure of the above gentlemen, and
the first time that the Captain, seeing himself disappointed of the heiress,
seems to have entertained the wild idea of compelling a marriage with
the Dowager, who, in right of her jointure, was in possession of a consi-
derable part of the estate of Lovat.' Her three waiting maids were car- ' ibid, and Letters
. I , ,. n ^ 11 -1 "f Henrietta Coun-
ried by lorce out 01 the room, and about two in the mornme, armed tess of Suffolk,
,1 n ^ 111 . , 1 , Vol. I. p. 189.
men brought one or them back to her mistress s chamber, whom she
found sitting on the floor, her hair dishevelled, her head reclining on
ft