Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

74 THE FRASERS OP TOUCH-FRASER, ETC., AND COW1E.
Cowie, Durris, and Aberdeen were in the hands of the powerful Comyn
family, as keepers of them, in the end of the thirteenth century, for Edward i.
ordered a mandate to be addressed to John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, in that
capacity in 1292, 1 and the charters of 1327 are certainly the first in which
any person of the name of Fraser is found connected with Cowie.
The various grants of land that have been enumerated in the preceding
pages show that Sir Alexander Fraser had acquired very extensive estates,
and these, together with his alliance by marriage to the royal family, must
have rendered him one of the most powerful and influential barons in the
north of Scotland ; and the lines in which Barbour describes the cause of the
steadfast friendship that existed between King Bobert and James de Douglas
are equally applicable to him —
" For he servit aye lelely,
And the other full wilfully,
That was both worthy, wicht, and wise,
Bewardit him wele his service." 2
Sir Alexander Fraser was Vicecomes or Sheriff of the Mearns or Kincardine.
He is so designated in a charter granted by Bobert Janitor (Forter) of
Kincardine, 3 to which he and his brother Simon were witnesses. He was
also Vicecomes of Stirling, 4 which office, as already noticed, descended to his
granddaughter, and had been enjoyed by his father, Sir Andrew Fraser, in
whom, therefore, it first became hereditary in the family, although at a former
period, 1234, held by Sir Bernard Fraser.
Upon the death of the great restorer of the independence of Scotland, the
good King Bobert Bruce, which event occurred on the 7th June 1329, the
quiet and prosperity which during the latter years of his reign had gladdened
and enriched his country, ere long gave place to scenes of a far different
nature.
Although the young King David II. was- but eight years of age when he
succeeded to the throne of his glorious father, two eminent guardians had
been appointed to protect his youth and inexperience; and had it pleased
1 Rotuli Scotise, vol. i. p. 10. 3 Arbuthnot Charter-cliest.
2 The Bruce, p. 40. 4 Chamberlain Rolls, vol. i. p. 13.