The 1st Seton Family Charter

Philip de Seton recieved from King William the Lion, in 1169, a charter confirming to him certain lands which remained with the family for almost six hundred years.  It is one of the oldest charters in existence.  It conveys three Baronies, that of Seton, Winton and Winchburgh, with all of the baronial privileges, fixes the reddundo at one knights service, expresses the formal authentication of a goodly array of witnesses, and is comprised in seven short lines. 

The original in the possession of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.

Here follows the Charter:

Willielmus Dei grat.  Rex Scotorum, episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, vice comitibus, ministries et omnibus probes (hominibus) totius terrae nostrae, clericis et laicis, salutem.  Sciatis praesentes et futuri me concessis, et hac carta mea confirmasse, Phillipo de Seytune terram quae patris sui, scilicet Seytune, et Wintune, et Winchelburgh, tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis in feodo et haereditate ; in bosco et plano, in terris et aquis, in pratis et pascuis et in omnibus earundum terrarum justis pertinentiis ; cum sacca et socca, tholl et them, et infangthief, cum furca et fossa ; libere, quiete, plenary, et honorifice per servitium unius militus.  Testibus D. Davide fratre meo, comite Dunecano justiciaro, Ricardo de Morvill constabulario, Waltero Olefer justiciaro, Alano dapifero, Waltero de Bercly camerario, Willielmo de Lind., Ricardo de Humphraville, Joanne de London ; Apud Striviling.

Some of the Latinized words are derived from the Saxon and are common terms of Feudal Law:

- Sacca et socca, signify the full right of holding court and administering law in one's own barony.

- Tholl et them, the privilege of holding own's own market and exercising freely to all matters pertaining to villains attending it.

- Infangthief, the right of summary decisions for thieves taken in the seigniory of the lord.

- Furca et fossa, execution by gibbet and pit, male criminals being hung, and females drowned in a well or pit filled with water.