Epitaphium Magistri Ferchardi Frazer Decani Insularum; qui obiit 14 die Februarii Anno Domini 1680. Aetatis 74.
Pervigil et blandus; mitis, gravis atq. benignus;
Doctus et Eloquii deterritate fluens:
Pavicoves Christi pandens mysteria verbi;
Exemplum vitæ præbuit ipse gregi.
Luxfuerat populi lustris bis quinq. peractis,
Sacradocens, sancto munere functus obit.
Hic requiem tumulo corpus capit, inde regressus
Spiritus ad Dominum, qui dedit ante, volat.
Mr Johannes Frazerus, decanus insularum.
His mother's name was Janet M'Lean, daughter to Lauchlan M'Lean of Coll, an ancient family of that name and clan. His father, as he was careful to instruct others, so he did not neglect his son, our author, but having fitted him for the University, he sent him to the College of Glasgow, and committed him to the care of Mr William Blair, one of the regents there, who advanced him to the degree of master of arts, between the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth year of his age. From thence he went to the Isle of Mull, and was chaplain to Sir Allan M'Lean of Duart. Thereafter, viz. March 4th 1677, he was married to Mary Symson, the only surviving daughter of Mr Matthias Symson, some time minister of Stirling, who died November 1664. Two or three years before his father's death, (being canonically ordained presbyter,) he was admitted to his father's charge, in regard his father, partly by age, and partly by sickness, was rendered very unfit to serve the cure of these two islands, Teree and Coll, as also of Icolmkiln, which was also annext to it, and at a greater distance; however, such was his care and diligence in the work of the ministry, that, by the blessing of God upon his endeavours, he converted to the true Protestant faith 24 families in the Isle of Coll, (the laird himself being then ring-leader), that were deluded by Father O'Donald and others, his father not being able to oversee his flock, by reason of his foresaid condition.
His father dying in the year 1680, he served the cure thereafter, by constant and diligent preaching, baptizing, marrying, visiting the sick, and exercising all other duties incumbent on him; but at length, because his principles would not allow all the demands of the Synod of Argyle, his charge was declared vacant, and his stipend taken from him; notwithstanding whereof, there being no minister sent to oversee these islands, he went about the exercise of his ministry as formerly, being supplied by the charity and benevolence of his parishioners, who had an entire kindness for him; but his stipend, as said is, was taken from him and bestowed some other way. And thus he continued till about a month before his death, which was on the 25th day of August 1702, in which he changed this troublesome life for a better, leaving behind him a desolate poor widow, with several children, both sons and daughters, as also a sorrowful people, who were now wholly deprived of a spiritual pastor, and of such a one as was every way qualified for that charge; for he was not only a good and learned man, but was master of their language, being born and bred up in the Isles, understood their humours, conditions, and manners of life, and being a wise and sagacious person, complaisant, and of a winning deportment; all which good qualifications he was endowed with, as all which were acquainted with him, can sufficiently testify.
As for the subject of the following Discourse, (commonly called the Second Sight) though I think it might be more fitly called the First Sight, (because it for the most part sees things before they are), I shall not undertake to defend all the notions that he has of it, and whether they will agree with true philosophy, but shall refer that to others of a higher reach and deeper understanding than I ever durst pretend to; but this I will say in his defence, that, considering the place where it was written, even among the remote Isles, vervecum in patria, where he wanted the converse of learned men, and the benefit of books, two necessary qualifications for one that writes on such an abstruse subject; I humbly conceive, that the great clerks of this age, who have the benefit of books and converse, should not superciliously undervalue him that wants them. However, although I shall not pretend to maintain all that he writes, as to the causes, &c. of this Second Sight, nor do I believe all the stories that I have heard concerning it, yet the thing itself, or that there is such a thing as is commonly called the Second Sight, I do firmly believe, being induced thereto by the relations that I have received from persons of known integrity, and such as I suppose are wiser than to be imposed upon, and honester than to impose fables instead of truths, upon others. Among the relations that I have been told concerning this subject, I shall only single out one or two, and then I shall conclude.
A noble peer of this nation being one morning in his bed-chamber, and attended by several persons, when his servant had put a new coat upon his Lord, a gentleman standing by, presently cry'd out, for God's sake, my Lord, put off that coat; and being asked the reason, he replied, that he saw a whinger or poinard, stick in the breast of it. The noble peer esteeming this as a mere fancy, replied, 'this coat is honestly come by, and I see no reason why I may not wear it.' The gentleman still entreated, and earnestly craved, that it might be put off: upon which debate, the noble peer's lady being not far off, came in, and being informed of the whole affair, intreated her Lord to comply with the gentleman's desire, which he did; mean time one of the servants standing by, desired the lady to give it him, and he would wear it. She granted his request, who put it on, and ere night he was stabbed by a poniard, in that very place which the gentleman had pointed to in the morning. This relation I had from a very ingenuous and understanding gentleman, who was grand-child to the said noble peer.
I shall add another strange story, which I had from a reverend minister of the gospel, and my intimate acquaintance. 'Tis thus—In the year 1665, Alexander Wood, eldest son to the Laird of Nether Benholm, in Angus, having ended his prentiship with a merchant in Edinburgh, told Mr James Walker, that (in the year 1662 or 1663), he had been employed by his master to go to the Lewis to make up herring; and being there, and having a good tack of herring, their salt and casks were all made use of, and then they being idle, he began to fret that his master had delayed so long to supply them; and being one day drinking in a country house, and complaining, he went to the door of the house, and there followed him a country man, who said to him, If you will give me a small hire, I'll tell you what is become of the ship you are looking for; and without more ado, he set his foot upon the gentleman's foot, in which time he saw the ship in a great storm, ready to perish, and the seamen casting out their lading to lighten the ship; but when the country man's foot was off his he saw nothing. The ship at that time was about 100 miles from them, and about 48 hours thereafter, she came into the same harbour, and had been in the same condition he saw her in at that time the country man's foot was on his foot. It would be tedious to add any more stories that I have had from persons of undoubted veracity; and therefore, Reader, I shall only subscribe myself
Your humble servant in all duty,
Andrew Symson.