The Value of Family History

It were very good, honourable, pleasant and profitable that every great noble, and gentleman of heritage, and specially men of great houses, put in remembrance and made chronicle of their house and surname; of their beginning and progress of their predecessors' lives, particularly of
acts and deeds that they did in their time; what succession they had, with whome they were allied, and what was their end.

It were great pleasure to a man to know the origin and beginning of his house and surname, and how long it has stood; and it were right profitable, because when a nobleman remembers the good beginning of his house and surname, the long standing thereof, the honourable and
virtuous acts of his predecessors, it will give occasion to every man to conserve and maintain the house that his forebears has constructed, and he will be the more loth to do anything that may be the hurt or decay of the same. And moreover, when he hears or reads the noble acts of his predecessors put in writ; that howbeit they be dead bodily, their fame and honour is yet recent, it will give them occasion to exercise themselves in virtue and honour, so it may be written of them, as of their good predecessors; that their fame and name may live and last long, and many years after their body be dead.

And if any of their predecessors has been vicious, and their vice set forth in remembrance, it may give every man occasion to eschew all things dishonourable or detestable, in the event that it may be spoken of many years after their decease from this world, to their slander and shame.

George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton
 

Hugh Seton of Touch    Sir Archibald Seton of Touch    James Seton of Barnes

Lt.-Colonel Alexander Seton of Mounie