Clan Fraser in Canada

4<D THE FREZELS OF FRANCE.
that Alexander mounted the throne not earlier than tio/,
when the Frasers had already achieved historic prominence.
While these remarks may suffice to indicate how valueless
are the reasons put forward by Mr. Skene, they do not touch
other theories pointing to a French origin prior to the reign of
Malcolm Ceanmor. But these other theories having been
rejected by Mr. Skene and his school, we may conclude that
they rest their case on the statements just alluded to and
disposed of.
Annalists and Clan historians have, however, gone into
particulars of the Norman-French theory. According to some
the name was derived from the /raise or 'strawberry' leaves in
their arms, and it was related that they sprang from the Frezels
of France. Others give different origins ; but, before laying
before you the serious objections to the Norman-French
theory, it is right that I should repeat what has been in many
quarters regarded as strong circumstantial evidence in its favor.
I refer to the bond entered into, as late as the first part of the
eighteenth century, between Simon Lord Lovat (who was
beheaded) and the Marquis de la Frezeliere. Lord Lovat
was a fugitive in France at the time, and he was befriended
by the Marquis. He wrote his life in French, afterwards,
translated into English and published in 1796. In it he
makes the following statement : —
" The house of Frezel, or Frezeau de la Frezeliere, is
one of the most ancient houses in France. It ascends by
uninterrupted filiation, and without any unequal alliance, to
the year 1030. It is able to establish by a regular proof sixty-
four quarterings in its armorial bearings, and all noble. It
has titles of seven hundred years standing in the abbey of
Notre Dame de Novers in Touraine. And it is certain,