Frasers of Philorth > Volume 2

THE FRASERS OF OLIVER CASTLE. 89
How far this order, with its accompanying bribe, influenced the conduct
of those to whom it was addressed, cannot be traced with any certainty, but
none of those whose names are mentioned in it appear to have actually gone
into banishment, and in 1305 Sir Simon Eraser's estates were again restored to
him, subject to a tine of three years' rental, which, in his case, and all similar
ones, was to be levied in the following manner : —The estates were to be valued
by the Chamberlain and the Lieutenant of Scotland, and one half of the rents
was to be applied to the payment of the fine each year until the whole was
paid, the other half of the rents being left to the owners for their support. 1
Scotland having been more completely subdued than it ever was before,
and the heroic Sir William Wallace, who alone refused submission, having
been betrayed, taken prisoner, and put to death with great cruelty, at London,
in August 1305, Edward i. probably anticipated no further outbreak in that
country ; but in this he was disappointed, for the next year was to witness
the rise of England's most formidable adversary, although at first even his
exertions seemed futile against her power.
In the spring of 1306, when Eobert de Bruce assumed the crown, Sir
Simon Fraser was one of the first to join his standard ; and at the disastrous
battle of Methven, fought on the 19th of June, he greatly distinguished him-
self, according to an author, who, applying to him the epithet of " Bellator,"
states that King Eobert, having been thrice unhorsed, was thrice rescued
and remounted by him. 2
These gallant efforts, however, could not avert the crushing defeat which
for a time appeared to render the cause of Bruce utterly hopeless, and either
in the pursuit, or soon afterwards, for accounts differ on this point, Sir Simon
Fraser was taken prisoner by Sir David de Brechin, and consigned to the
custody of Sir John de Segrave or Sir Aymer de Valence, 3 by one of whom
he was to be strictly guarded, his estates being granted to the one who had
him in charge, such being the importance attached to his capture that Henry
de Prendergast obtained a grant of lands for bringing the news of it to
Edward i.*
The view taken by that monarch as to the measures necessary for the
1 Rymer's Fcedera, vol. ii. pp. 969, 970. 3 Rymer's Fredera, vol. ii. p. 1014.
2 Prynne, p. 1123. 4 Palgrave, p. 310.
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