Old family; or, The Setons of Scotland and America

A.D. 1557] FOR SCOTLAND'S RIGHT. 41
himself with a handful of soldiers upon the English, and was
instantly overpowered and cut to pieces" (Tvtler, Hist, of
Scot., II., 10), vet not, savs Maitland, until he had hurt and
slain divers of the enemy. This perfect knight continued the
succession of fortunate marriages by which his House had been
consolidated, and which was to become a sort of tradition
among his descendants; for there is not, up to the eigh-
teenth century, another family in Scotland which made so
many advantageous marriages and gave so many younger sons
to heiresses. He married Isabel, daughter of Duncan, tenth
Earl of Fife. Her origin was from the ancient Thanes or
Maormors, whose line ended in the middle of the fourteenth
century, when the title reverted to the crown, and was con-
ferred on Robert Stuart, Earl of Menteith and Duke of Albany,
younger son of King Robert II. The wealthy Duffs — late
Earls, now Dukes of Fife — are comparatively modern people,
having no connection of blood or descent with Sir Alexander's
wife.
XII. Sir Alexander Seton (3). He succeeded to Sir
Alexander II., his father, and was truly a noble knight and
renowned in Scottish prose and verse. He was made captain
and keeper of Berwick in April, 1333, bringing, as his con-
tribution to the defence of this important town, one hundred
men-at-arms and five gallant sons. Berwick was closely be-
sieged and blockaded bv Edward III., but made a stout re-
sistance. In one of the sorties William Seton advanced so
impetuously that he was taken prisoner by the enemy; and
another time, in a boat-attack at night on the English ships,
an illegitimate son of the governor, name unknown, but
described bv Maitland as " a young and valiant man," was
drowned through falling short in a leap he made from one ves-
sel to another. Soon afterward Thomas Seton, a comely and
noble-looking youth, eldest son and heir of the governor, was
delivered a hostage to the king for the faithful carrying out of