Of the Seton family The Great Historic Families Of Scotland says: 'The Setons are among the most illustrious of the great houses of Scotland, conspicuous throughout their whole history for their loyalty and firm attachment to the Stewart dynasty, in whose cause they perilled and lost their titles and extensive estates.' The family's founder, Seier de Seton (or de Lens), had been granted lands in East Lothian to which he gave his own name. His son, Walter de Seton (also called Dougall), married Janet de Quincy, hieress of that once powerful family, and gained the lands of Tranent bordering his own. He also acquired the lands of Wynchburgh, West Lothian. The family continued to marry into powerful alliances and later Sir Christopher Seton (Sir Chrystell) married Christian Bruce, sister of Robert the Bruce. After his legendary support of his brother-in-law he was captured by the English, taken to London, then executed at Dumfries. One of his brothers, Sir John Seton, shared the same fate. Alexander Seton, Sir Christophers son, survived the wars of independence to be a signatory of the Arbroath Declaration. He also was a recipient of King Robert's gratitude towards the family: the existing Seton lands were enlarged by means of adding those confiscated from anglo-supporters, and a large stretch of East Lothian coastline became Seton territory.

The family continued to play a distinguished and colourful part in the developing history of Scotland, marrying into other noble Scots-Flemish families and from time to time into the fringes of royalty. One interesting member of the main line was the fourth Lord Seton, who was one of James IV's Renaissance men par excellence. Towards the end of the fifteenth century he endowed a collegiate church in the small town that bears his name with support for a provost, six prebendaries, two choir boys and a clerk. He was an early scientist and is described as 'meikle given to leichery [medicine, not lustfulness], and as cunning in divers science as in music, theology, and astronomy'. In addition to his talent for learning he had a tremendous taste for extravagance, building houses as well as his church. As well, he spent vast sums of money on buying a great ship called the Eagle, for the sole purpose of conducting a personal vendetta against some Danish privateers who had plundered him on one of his many visits to France.