Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

154 THE FRASERS OF COWIE, DURRIS, AND PHILORTH.
Still vigorously pressing on his enterprise, on the 1st of July 1592 he
obtained from the king another charter of all the lands and privileges
granted in 1588, to which were added the estate of Inverallochy, recently
acquired by him ; and a grant of novodamus creating Faithlie a burgh of
regality, with a free port, and ordaining that the same shall in all time coming
be called the burgh and port de Fraser, and also authorising him to build
a college or colleges, and to found an university in the said burgh, that should
enjoy as ample rights, privileges, and immunities as those of any other uni-
versity in the kingdom, with power to him and his heirs to appoint and remove
the masters, teachers, and officials of the university, and to enact and cause to
be obeyed such rules and regulations as might be necessary for its government.
This authority for the foundation of an university was confirmed by Act
of Parliament on the 16th of December 1597, and the whole teinds and
emoluments of the churches of Philorth, Tyrie, Crimond, and Eathen were
granted for its support, under burden of providing for divine service in them ;
and on the 4th of April 1601, by a third charter, James vi. ratified and con-
firmed to Sir Alexander Fraser and his heirs all the grants mentioned in the
two former of 1588 and 1592, with all the extensive powers and privileges
conferred by them.
In virtue of the authority thus bestowed upon him, Sir Alexander Fraser
entered into a contract with the feuars of Fraserburgh in the year 1613,
appointing a Baron Bailie and Town Council, with other officials ; and this
contract, as modified from time to time by agreement between his descendants,
the heritable Provosts, and the feuars of Fraserburgh, controls the govern-
ment of the burgh at the present day.
The opposition attempted by the town of Aberdeen to the establishment
of the burgh of Faithlie in 1564 appears to have been greatly stimulated by
the founding of Fraserburgh.
On the 10th of March 1573, the Provost, Bailies, and Council of Aberdeen
sent a petition to the Begent by the hands of their commissioner, Mr. Patrick
Menzies, complaining of the lading of a Flemish ship within the port of
Faithlie, " in hurt and prejudice of the privilege of this burght, comoditie,
and jurisdictionne of the samen;" 1 and in the year 1605 the same authorities
1 Council Register of Aberdeen, vol. ii. p. 10.