Annals of such patriots of the distinguished family of Fraser, Frysell, Sim-son, or Fitz-Simon, as have signalised themselves in the public service of Scotland

36
who made an insurrection in Argyllshire. John
Major falsely calls him John Fraser.
This Sir Simon is in many authentic records called
pater, father, to distinguish him from his son, who
was cotemporary with him, and is commonly called
jilius, son.
This Sir Simon, the father, was much at court
during the reign of King Alexander the Second, by
whom he was made high sheriff of the county of
Tweedale : We have authentic evidence of his enjoy-
ing his office in the beginning of the reign of Alex-
ander the Third *.
King Alexander the Second, intending to go in
pilgrimage to Jona or Icolnmcill, was accompanied
by Sir Simon in his journey, and never left him in his
sickness at the island of Bernera, where the king died
after his return from Icolnmcill; and was one of those
who conveyed the king's body, without ever leaving
him, till he was solemnly interred at Melross, accord-
ing to his own desire '(".
Though the Cumings ruled all at court at this
time, yet Sir Simon continued in a great degree of
favour with the queen dowager in the minority of
Alexander the Third, both on account of his relation
to her royal husband, and his constant attendance on
him in his last sickness, and that he was one of those
* Chartulary of Kelso, ad. an. 1266.
■f Memoirs of the House of Lovat, MSS.