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Biography of Simon Fraser -1306

1298 Battle of Falkirk

1300 Siege of Caerlaverock Castle

1302 Battle of Roslyn

1304 Battle of Happrew

1306 Battle of Methven

Simon Fraser was born to Simon Fraser.

Battle of Falkirk

On 22 Jul 1298 King Edward I of England (age 59) defeated the Scottish army led by William Wallace during the Battle of Falkirk at Falkirk [Map] using archers to firstly attack the Scottish shiltrons with the heavy cavalry with infantry completing the defeat.

John de Graham and John Stewart of Bonkyll (age 52) were killed.

The English were described in the Falkirk Roll that lists 111 men with their armorials including:

Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick (age 26).

Walter Beauchamp (age 55).

Roger Bigod 5th Earl Norfolk (age 53).

Humphrey Bohun 3rd Earl Hereford 2nd Earl Essex (age 49).

Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 24).

Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 37).

William Ferrers 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 26).

Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley (age 52).

Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley (age 27).

Henry Grey 1st Baron Grey of Codnor (age 43).

Reginald Grey 1st Baron Grey of Wilton (age 58).

John Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Wilton (age 30).

John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster (age 29).

Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 48).

Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 11).

William Ros 1st Baron Ros Helmsley (age 43).

John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave (age 42).

Nicholas Segrave (age 42).

Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford (age 41).

Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby (age 30).

Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 20).

Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 17).

John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey (age 67).

Henry Percy 9th and 1st Baron Percy (age 25).

Hugh Courtenay 9th Earl Devon (age 21).

Richard Fitzalan 8th Earl of Arundel (age 31).

Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan (age 19).

John Capet II Duke Brittany (age 59).

Philip Darcy (age 40).

Robert Fitzroger.

Robert Fitzwalter 1st Baron Fitzwalter (age 51), or possiby a Roger Fitzwalter?.

Simon Fraser.

Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 23).

John Wake 1st Baron Wake of Liddell (age 30), and.

Henry Lacy 4th Earl Lincoln, Earl Salisbury (age 47).

William Scrope (age 53) was knighted.

John Moels 1st Baron Moels (age 29) fought.

John Lovell 1st Baron Lovel (age 44) fought.

Siege of Caerlaverock Castle

Battle of Roslyn

John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation Book 4 Chapter 107. On the 27th of July 1302, [Note. The date here confusing since the Battle of Roslyn is reported to have taken place on 24 Feb 1303] took place the great and famous engagement between the Scots and English, at Roslyn [Map], where the English were defeated, though with great difficulty. From the beginning of the first war which ever broke out between the Scots and English, it is said, there never was so desperate a struggle, or one in which the stoutness of knightly prowess shone forth so brightly. The commander and leader in this struggle was John Comyn (age 33), the son. Now this was how this struggle came about, and the manner thereof. After the battle fought at Falkirk, the king of England (age 63) came not in person, for the nonce, this side of the water of Forth; but sent a good large force, which plundered the whole land of Fife, with all the lands lying near the town of Perth [Map], after having killed a great many of the dwellers in those lands. On the return of this force, with countless spoils, that king hied him home again with his host. Now this was brought about, doubtless, by God's agency: for had he made a lengthened stay then, or after the battle of Dunbar and the seizure of King John (age 53), he would either have subjugated the whole land of Scotland, and the dwellers therein, to his sway, or made it a waste with naught but floods and stones. But the goodness of God, Who alone tends and heals after wounds, so governed the actions and time of that king, that, being stirred up to battle, and engrossed with sundry wars, he could not put off all other matters, and give himself up to subduing this kingdom. So that king of England went back with his men, having first appointed the officers of the sheriffdoms, and the wardens of the castles, in the districts beyond the water of Forth, which were then fully and wholly subject unto his sway - with the exception of a few outlaws (or, indeed, robbers), of Scottish birth, who were lurking in the woods, and could not, because of their misdeeds, submit to the laws. But John Comyn, then guardian of Scotland, and Simon Eraser, with their followers, day and night did their best to harass and annoy, by their great prowess, the aforesaid king's officers and bailiffs; and from the time of that king's departure, for four years and more, the English and the Anglicized Scots were harried by them, in manifold ways, by mutual slaughter and carnage, according to the issue of various wars.

John of Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation Book 4 Chapter 108. 24 Feb 1303. When the aforesaid king (age 63) had got news of this, he sent off a certain nobleman, Ralph Confrere, his treasurer (Ralph de Manton, the Cofferer), a man stout in battle, and of tried judgment and wisdom, with a certain body of chosen knights, thoroughly well-armed, to seek out, in every hole and corner, those who troubled and disturbed the king's peace, and not to forbear punishing them with the penalty of death. So they entered Scotland, and went about ranging through the land, until they, at Roslyn, pitched their tents, split up into three lines apart, for want of free camping room. But the aforesaid John Comyn (age 34) and Simon, with their abettors, hearing of their arrival, and wishing to steal a march rather than have one stolen upon them, came briskly through from Biggar to Eoslyn, in one night, with some chosen men, who chose rather death before unworthy subjection to the English nation; and, all of a sudden, they fearlessly fell upon the enemy. But having been, a little before, roused by the sentries, all those of the first line seized their weapons, and manfully withstood the attacking foe. At length, however, the former were overcome. Some were taken, and some slain; while some, again, fled to the other line. But, while the Scots were sharing the booty, another line straightway appeared, in battle-array; so the Scots, on seeing it, slaughtered their prisoners, and armed their own vassals with the spoils of the slain; then, putting away their jaded horses, and taking stronger ones, they fearlessly hastened to the fray. When this second line had been, at length, overcome, though with difficulty, and the Scots thought they had ended their task, there appeared a third, mightier than the former, and more choice in their harness. The Scots were thunderstruck at the sight of them; and being both fagged out in manifold ways, - by the fatigues of travelling, watching, and want of food - and also sore distressed by the endless toil of fighting, began to be weary, and to quail in spirit, beyond belief. But, when the people were thus thrown into bewilderment, the aforesaid John and Simon, with, hearts undismayed, took up, with their weapons, the office of preachers; and, comforting them with their words, cheering them with their promises, and, moreover, reminding them of the nobleness of freedom, and the baseness of thraldom, and of the unwearied toil which their ancestors had willingly undertaken for the deliverance of their country, they, with healthful warnings, heartened them to the fray. So, being greatly emboldened by these and such-like words, the Scots laid aside all cowardice, and got back their strength. Then they slaughtered their prisoners, with whose horses and arms they were again - as it were - renewed; and, putting their trust in God, they and their armed vassals marched forward most bravely and dashingly to battle. The shock was so mighty and fierce, that many were run through, and bereft of life; and some of either host, after awful spear-thrusts, savage flail-strokes, and hard cudgelling, withdrew from the ranks, by hundreds, forties, and twenties, to the hills, time after time, fagged out and dazed by the day's fighting. There they would throw back their helmets, and let the winds blow upon them; and after having been thus cooled by the breeze, they would put away their wounded horses, and, mounting other fresh ones, would thus be made stronger against the onslaughts of the foe. So, after this manifold ordeal and awful struggle, the Scots, who, if one looked at the opposite side, were very few in number - as it were a handful of corn or flour compared with the multitude of the sea-sand - by the power, not of man, but of God, subdued their foes, and gained a happy and gladsome victory.

On 24 Feb 1303 at Roslyn a Scottish force commanded by Simon Fraser and John Comyn 3rd Lord Baddenoch (age 34) ambushed the English army led by John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave (age 47) who was captured and subsequently released.

Battle of Happrew

Around 20 Feb 1304 a chevauchée of English knights including Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 29), William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby (age 28), John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster (age 35), John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave (age 48) and the future King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland (age 29) attempted, unsuccessfully, to capture Simon Fraser and William Wallace at Happrew, Peebles during the Battle of Happrew.

In 1306 Simon Fraser was hanged.

Battle of Methven

On 19 Jun 1306 the forces of Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 31) including Robert Pierrepont ambushed and routed the Scottish army of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland (age 31) including Simon Fraser, Christopher Seton and John Strathbogie 9th Earl Atholl (age 40) at Methven during the Battle of Methven. John Strathbogie 9th Earl Atholl was captured as well as many others.

After 19 Jun 1306 Simon Fraser was captured by Thomas Multon 1st Baron Multon (age 30) and John Jose at Kirkencliff, Stirling.