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

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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
w Pennant, I. 226.
Garnet, I. 307.
* King's Muni-
inenta Antiqua,
Vol. III. p. 171.
' Garnet's Tour, 1.
329.
Ibid.
" Cordiner's Ruins
of North Britain,
>> Pennant, 1. 304-
* Shaw's Moray,
«09,
Every one is built with loop-holes, contrived to flank and defend the
whole cuilain of the rampart, as far as the next tower. The western is
called Cumine's tower, and the name of Bancho is stUl attached to a walk
below the Castle." Mr Pennant seems to consider the fortress as of no
older date than the reign of Edward I.
The next strong-hold which we read of, worthy of regard, is Ur-
quhart Castle. We have no notice of the age in which it was erected.
The principal tower is of very ancient structiu-e — attributable, perhaps,
to its ancient masters, the Cumines.'' It is certain that the fortress liad
attained its greatest extent at the commencement of the 14'th century,
when it attracted the cupidity of Edward I. Prior to tliat period, its
possessors held sway over an extended district, constituting a principali-
ty independent of the crown. On its reduction by Edward, Castle
Urquhart was made a royal fort ; and the domain, of which it was the
liead, annexed to the office of the Governor. The changes of revolu-
tion put it again in the power of its old rulers. Robert Lauder, Go-
vernor in 1334, maintained it against the BaUol faction.' In 1359, the
entire barony was vested in the Earl of Sutherland, by David II By
the end of that century, it had passed to the Earl of Huntly. The fa-
mily of Castle Grant obtained it in the year 1509, and secured their ac-
quisition in the reign of James VI.^ A small chapel, dedicated to the
Virgin, was erected in the 13th century, on the banks of Lochness, and
in the vicinity of the Castle of Urquliart.^
Urquhart was converted into a priory by David I., anno 1125, in ho-
nour of the Trinity. It was a cell of Dmifermline, served by Benedic-
tine monks. On the refonnation, Alexander Seton was made commen-
dator ; and the priory lands were purchased by the family of Gordon
about 1730."
Ruthven Castle, in Badenoch, was another seat of the Cumines.*
Queen Mary is said to have been a frequent visitor at this Castle, for
the pleasures of the chace in the adjoining forests. There is a rocky
mount which is called " Stroan ne Paren," — Carn-Queen, on which she