passed by Edward II., dated York, 8rd February 1311, by which he declared ‘‘ that Geoffry de Fressinglaye has been an enemy for four years, that he held half the town (ville) of Wester Duddingston, worth in time of peace 100 shillings, and now five merks, except the yearly farm due to the Abbot of Kelso,” and alienated it from him and his heirs for ever.*
This he conferred with other lands upon one of his own favourites named ‘‘ Robert Hastang,” or Hastings, who had distinguished himself in the war. In all probability this was the Norman knight, Hastings, who bore the Scottish title of Earl of Athol.
He did not, however, hold the Duddingston property for any length of time. The expulsion of the English after the defeat at Bannockburn in 1814, and the re-establishment of Scottish independence, brought about the restoration of the forfeited estates to their rightful owners. Once more the family of the Fressinglayes were reinstated in their property.
On the death of King Robert the Bruce in 1329, the country again suffered from the inroads of the English. The fatal defeat at Halidon Hill for a time undid the victory at Bannockburn, and Edward III. made Scotland a province of England, with Edward Baliol as his vassal.
Geoffry de Fressinglaye, who in the interval had died, or more probably was killed in his country’s service, was succeeded in his estates by Sir William de Fressinglaye (or ‘‘ Freachelai”’). To him a charter of half the lands of the town of Wester Duddingston was granted by Abbot William of Kelso (1329-86), ‘‘according to its proper marches with all its pertinents in mills and waters,” &c., ‘*in fee and heritage for ever,” ‘‘ saving the right of the Rector of the Church and Vicarage,” &c.
If the annual money payment was not heavy—being only twelve merks of silver annually—this vassal of the Abbey was bound ‘‘to give such homage and service to the Abbot as might be required.”
How long Sir William retained possession we cannot say, but once more we find the family deprived of their rights through English usurpation. In the Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland his name—only slightly altered in the spelling to ‘‘ Freeshellay ’’—appears in the list of Scottish nobles whose estates were confiscated at the instance of the English King in 1386, as ‘‘an enemy of the King.” From this entry it appears the estate of
