'History of the house of Seton' by Sir Richard Maitland

A copy of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington's history of the Scottish family of Seton with later additions by Alexander Seton, first Viscount Kingston.

Sir Richard Maitland (1496-1586) courtier, writer and poet born at Lethington Castle into a distinguished Scottish family, related to the Setons, one of the most important landowning and political families of the time. He was educated at St Andrews and studied law in Paris, circa 1514. As a trained lawyer he was appointed as one of the commissioners charged with settling disputes in the English and Scottish borders in 1552 and was knighted shortly afterwards. Despite becoming blind he continued in his judicial offices until 1584. In 1562 Queen Mary made him her keeper of the great seal for life. He died in 1586. He was also an accomplished poet and gave his name to the Maitland Club founded in 1828 which aimed to preserve early Scottish literary texts. His work on the history of the house and surname of Seton and table of the Kings of Scotland was published for the Maitland Club jointly with the Bannatyne Club in 1829.

Alexander Seton, first Viscount Kingston (1621-1691), nobleman and soldier, second surviving son of George Seton, third earl of Winton. He was a Catholic loyal to the crown in the English Civil War. He fought in a battle at Preston in 1648 and was defeated by Cromwell's army. He was created Viscount Kingston by Charles II only days after his coronation in 1651. He died in 1691 and was buried in the family vault at Seton Palace.

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Former location: MSS 6/i/15; bookplate of Sir George Douglas of Springwood Park, Kelso