page_title: Freskin
section_title: The Douglas connection
hierarchical_section_title: Freskin / The Douglas connection
context_page_description: Freskin was a Flemish nobleman who settled in Scotland during the reign of King David I, becoming the progenitor of the Murray and Sutherland families, and possibly others.
context_section_description: It is also quite possible that the house of Douglas descend from Freskin's family. Bricius de Douglas, son of William, Lord of Douglas, became Bishop of Moray in 1203. A man named Freskin of Kerdal is found amongst the benefactors of Spynie Cathedral, and Bricius refers to him as his uncle. The parentage of Freskin of Kerdal is not known, but he was undoubtedly a descendant of the original Freskin.
  The connection is further supported by the similarity of the families' arms: both bear three silver stars on blue, in varying arrangements.
  Belief in the common descent of the Murrays and Douglases was certainly extant in the early 15th century:
  "Of Murrawe and the Douglas,
  How that thare begynnyng was,
  Syn syndry spekis syndryly
  I can put that in na story.
  But in thare armeyis bath thai bere
  The sternys [stars] set in lyke manere;
  Til mony men it is yhit sene
  Apperand lyk that had bene
  Of kyn be descens lyneale
  Or be branchys collaterele"
caption: Comparison between Douglas and Murray arms