Genealogy of the house and surname of Setoun

PREFACE. vii
from the family of Setoun out of the question, would have ensured the
safety of these venerable ruins.
Since Sir Richard Maitland's History has been put to press, an ac-
count of the Setoun family, compiled by Nisbet, and transcribed into one
of Robert Mylne's genealogical volumes (now in the Advocates' Library, lM C %/,. A . n
Edinburgh,) has been pointed out to the Editor^from this, the follow- ',
ing extracts are made, which contain sundry particulars not noticed by { f ' "^ *fct&y)
Sir Richard Maitland and Lord Kingston.
Axchievement of the Right Honourable George, 8th of that name, 12th Lord Seaton,
and fourth Earle of Winton.
Is quarterlie, first or, 3 crescents within a double tressure, counter floured gules (the
paternall coat of Setoun,) second, azur, 3 Garbs or (as a coat of pretentione to the Earle-
dora of Buchan,) 3d as ye 2nd, fourt as ye first; over all ane Escochion azur, charged
with a blaeen starr, within a double tressure, counter floured or (as a coat augmentative
assumed when the familie was honoured with the dignity and tytle of Earle,) above the
shield a crown and helmet suiteable to his Lordship's qualitie, ensigned with a ducall
crown in place of the wreath, and y r on for crest a dragon vert, spouting out fyre behind
and before, charged with 'a blazen starr or, on the wing. Supporters, two martricks pro-
per. (Mr Martin, in his Description of ye Western Islands, printed at London 1703, de-
scryveing the Isle of Harries, page 36, says, the mertrick, a four footed creature, about
the size of a big catt, is pretty numerous in this Isle; they have a fine skin, which is
smooth as any furr, and of a brown collour : they say y' ye dung of this animall yields a
sent like musk,) collared, and y r to chaynes affixed, passing betuixt y r foir leggs, and re-
flexed over y r backs, or; standing upon a compartment with thes words y r in, "Intamin-
atis fulget honoribus." All within a manteau gules, fringed or, and doubled ermyne, on
the laps y r of the fors d blazon ; and above all, on ane Escroll for motto, " Hazard zit
FORDWARD."*
Dougal de Setoun. " His armoreall bearing was or, 3 crescents gules, and it may
be reasonablie supposed y' ye lands of Setoun being formed by the sea in fashion of a halfe
moon, the crescents were assumed by ye s d Dougall, as we have already said of Burdeaux
and others.
" The frontispiece of Sinclair's Philosophical Dialogues, printed in 4to. at Rotterdam, 1669, and dedi-
cated to George Earl of Winton, consists of a large engraving of the Seton Arms ; hut the motto below is,
" Invia virtuti via nulla."