History of the Frasers of Lovat

XIII. SIMON, EIGHTH LORD FRASER. 1 55
in Bridge Street, Mackintosh of Mackintosh also lived in
the town, and the Earl of Moray occupied Castle Stuart
a few miles to the east of it. Fraser of Strichen lived at
Kinmylies, and Lord Seaforth at Chanonry, while several
noblemen and gentlemen lived within a short distance of
Inverness. Considerable gaiety prevailed among these
families. Between them a continual interchange of civilities
took place, and annual meetings were held by them at
which horse-racing at Tomnahurich for a cup and silver
spurs as the leading prizes were keenly competed for and
formed the chief amusements amongst them.
In 162 1, Lord Simon, his wife, Sir Simon of Inver-
allochy and his wife, were all residing at Castle Stuart,
in Petty, when Sir Simon suddenly became so dangerously
ill that he could not be conveyed to Lovat, but after a short
time he was taken to Dalcross, where he was confined to a
sick chamber, under the care of a physician, from Sep-
tember until March, 1622, when he died "as universally
lamented in death as he was in life universally beloved."
His mother received such a severe shock by his decease
that it hastened her own end, which took place in the
following June.
It was intended to bury Sir Simon with his ancestors in
Beauly Priory, but the River Ness suddenly rose in a great
flood to such a height, the bridge being down at the time,
that it was impossible to transport the great multitude of
horse and foot, that accompanied the remains, with safety
across it. It was decided to inter the body in Inverness,
and Lord Simon having received permission from the Cum-
mings to use their burying-place in the town, Sir Simon
was interred in their aisle, called St. Catharine's, in the
Rood Church, where a stately monument was erected to his
memory. His mother, on her death, a few weeks after, was
buried "with great funeral pomp" in the same place, beside
her son, at her own earnest and dying wish.
Lord Simon, by virtue of an apprising, in 1625, against
Munro of Fowlis, became superior of Achnagairn, which
was subsequently conveyed to the family of Fowlis.