Frasers of Philorth > Volume 2

122 APPENDIX OF CADET FAMILIES.
with the same Sir Gilbert Fraser, and as Sir Nesius Fraser, he wit-
nessed a confirmation by Eoger de Mubray, of the Church of Dunmanin,
in favour of St. Mary's Church of Jedburgh; 1 but his name is only found
on these two occasions, and there is no record of his parentage, estates, or
posterity. His name might appear, at first sight, to afford an argument in
favour of the persons of the name of Nesius having been Frasers, but, in
reality, it militates against any supposition of that kind, for it shows that
Nesius was a personal name, and, therefore, Nesius de Londres could not
have been a Fraser, though Nesius Fraser probably received his Christian
name in consequence of the close alliance between the families.
JOHN FRASEE, Archdeacon of St. Andrews.
In 1296, John Fresel, del counte de Fyf, swore fealty to Edward I. at
Berwick, 2 and John Fresel, Archidiaconus of St. Andrews, had his lands
restored to him in the same year. 3
In addition to those already mentioned, there appear in Ragman Rolls
the names of William Frysel, del counte de Edinburgh, Robert Freser, del
counte de Dumfries, Ada Fraser, Prioresse de Eccles, and Sare la fielle
Thomas Frysel, as making submission to Edward I., but no other trace of
them is to be found. 4
Enumerating the names of the family on that Roll, the author of Cale-
donia says, " this specification evinces that the sword and the axe had spared
to Scotland a numerous race of Frasers;" 5 but he forgot that in 1296 the
sword had been but lightly at work, the axe scarcely at all, and that the
desperate struggle which endured for a quarter of a century and more, with-
out any interval of peace worthy of the name, and was so fatal to the
nobility of Scotland, had barely commenced. 6
1 Original in Register House, Edinburgh. remarks, in a note referring to those who es-
2 Ragman Rolls, p. 145. caped from the battle of Halidon, " Knyghton
3 Rotuli Scotia?, vol. i. p. 25. says William de Fresleye, if this does not mean
4 Ragman Rolls, pp. 134, 149, 150, 152. Frisel or Fraser, I know not what to make
6 Caledonia, vol. i., note to p. 555. of it." Lord Hailes was evidently unaware
6 Lord Hailes, in his Annals, vol. iii. p. 92, of the existence of a family of de Freslay