SETON, GEORGE [SSNE 8528]

Surname

SETON, SEATON, CETON, SEYTOUN, CEYTON, SITON, CITTON

First name

GEORGE, GEORGES

Title/rank

CAPTAIN

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Captain George Seton was an officer in Dutch and Spanish service in the 1570s and 1590s. It is possible that he began his career in the Gardé Ecossaise, as a George Seton appears in the unit's muster rolls from 1567 to 1578. 

In 1579, Seton appears as captain of a cornet of cavalry in the service of the States-General and Prince of Orange. In November, Seton's company was among 9 French companies under de la Noue who defeated a force under M. de Montigny. 

Seton continued to distinguish himself in the fighting which took place around Bruges in late 1580. On 16 October, it was reported that Seton's company defeated enemy cavalry which had been despoiling peasants on their way to Bruges, bringing in many prisoners and horses as prize. Around 19 November, Seton was present in an unsuccessful sally by Colonel Henry Balfour [SSNE 5011] out of Bruges. Seton was wounded and around 20 to 30 of his company were killed, along with Colonel Balfour. 

Seton had returned to Menin by 1582 and was present in its defense alongside 9 companies of Scottish infantry and another cornet of cavalry. By 1583, he was stationed in Eindhoven but was transferred into the regiment of Colonel Sir John Norreys.

It was in March 1584 that Seton made the choice which defined his career. On 31 March 1584, a plot was discovered in Dendermonde to turn the city over to the Malcontents and the Prince of Parma involving Captain Seton, Lieutenant Walter Seton [SSNE 8529], English captain Rowland Yorke, and Jan van Hembize, burgomaster of Ghent. Lieutenant Seton was imprisoned, tortured on the rack to exact a confession, and eventually hanged. Hembize was tried and beheaded in August. 

Captain Seton escaped and survived, entering Spanish service, and his cornet was transferred to the 'Lord van Tyligny' on 19 June 1584. In June 1585, Seton was reported to have arrived in Ghent. On 20 February 1589 Captain Seton 'who served in Ghent with horsemen' and 'Captain [William] Simple who betrayed [Lier]' were implicated in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. In 1592, the last reference to Seton is found in a letter from Brussels by his wife, Alison Hamilton [SSNE 8527]. Captain Seton appears to have been in Scotland in the presence of Robert, Lord Seton. 

 

Sources:

Anon., Sententie by myne heeren de Superintendent, Capiteynen ende Officieren der stede van Denremonde (n.p., 1584).

Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1583-1584, pp. 423-424.

Forbes-Leith, Scots Guards, II, pp. 169-183. 

Hatfield House, Cecil Papers, 163/85, Gavin to Lord Colonel Stewart, 7 June 1585.

Resolutien der Staten-Generaal, 1583-1584, pp. 47, 76, 80, 135, 386, 411.

Scottish Catholic Archives 4/9/6, Intertendos escosesis de lost res regimentos y tres companas de cabal[lleros?] escosesis, undated. 

TNA SP83/12, f. 113, Gilpin to Davison 22 Nov. 1579.

TNA SP83/13, f. 26, Summary of men-of-war, 8 May 1580.

TNA SP101/1, f. 67, Hoddeson to Burghley, Occurents, 16 Oct. 1580. 

TNA SP101/1, f. 74, Hoddesdon to Burghley, Occurents, 19 Nov. 1580.

TNA SP83/13, f. 74, John Brown to Leicester, 20 Nov. 1580.

TNA SP83/15, f. 68, Herle to Burghley, 18 March 1582.

TNA SP84/31, f. 57, The Congregation of [Flushing?] to the Queen, 20 Feb. 1589.

 

This entry created by Dr Jack Abernethy.

 

 

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE

Arrived 1579-01-01, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1584-03-31, as CAPTAIN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SPAIN, SPANISH NETHERLANDS

Arrived 1584-04-01, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1592-01-01, as CAPTAIN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY