Old family; or, The Setons of Scotland and America

192 AN OLD FAMILY. [a.d. 1601
names, but by that of their estates — a style, now at least,
peculiar to Scotland and derived originally from France. Peers
always sign by their titles. But all peerages are founded on a
barony ; hence, even in modern times no one is created a peer,
no matter by what higher title, without an inferior one of baron
being annexed to it — and all baronies were originally the estate
of the peer.
Such things as abstract baronies — making a man baron of a
place where he does not hold an acre of land — are modern
inventions.
Sir David is mentioned for the last time (Register of Acts
and Decreets) on jth February, 1592— 1593. He died on
the 24th November, 160 1. His son Robert was " Ex-
ecutor-dative Surrogate" of his will. He was the most
distinguished man of the Setons of Parbroath, and raised his
family to a high degree of prosperity, from which it almost
immediately and unaccountably fell.
Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet * says of him: " David Seton
of Parbroath, was comptroller in Oueen Mary's time, but his
son disponed the whole lands, and they are now in the pos-
session of the Earl of Crawford ; so that the memory of that
family is extinguished, albeit, it was very numerous, and
brave men descended thereof."
He was Comptroller in Kino; James's time, but seems to
have been a faithful servant of that monarch's mother. The
most precious heirloom in the family which represents Par-
broath is a small portrait of Mary Stuart, of which my friend
Mr. Laurence Hutton writes :
" An interesting miniature of the Scottish Queen is now in America.
As it has never been engraved or publicly exhibited it is little known to col-
lectors. It represents her at half length. The dress is black, trimmed
around the neck, arms and upon the bosom with eider-down. Between the
large ruff of the down about her neck and the neck itself, is a fine, upright
collar of stiff lace. On the head and falling back over the neck is a black
* Staggering State of Seottish Statesmen : Comptrollers, 4.