The Paternal Arms of Seton, afterwards Earls of Winton, were _Crescents_, for which no particular reason appears: but the Lords of Seton have for some hundreds of years carried, "Or, a Sword erected in pale, supporting an Imperial Crown Proper, betwixt Three Crescents within a Double Tressure, counter-fleured, Gules." This honourable Augmentation was granted by Robert the Bruce to his Nephew Sir Alexander Seton, of that Ilk, for the special and seasonable services performed by him and his Father Sir Christopher to that Monarch during the time of his troubles. Sir Christopher Seton, it seems, had lost two Estates of great value, one in Scotland, the other in England, together with his Life, in the Service of his King and Country; upon which account King Robert (whose Sister, Christian Bruce, Sir Christopher had married), when he had overcome his Enemies, restored his Nephew, Sir Alexander Seton, to the Lands in Scotland which his Father had lost, though he could not re-possess him of the English Estate; granted the Augmentation of the _Sword and Crown_ to his Paternal Coat-Armour, to perpetuate their gallant Actions; and added the Double Tressure, which at that time was given to none but such as had married, or were descended from, Daughters of the Blood-Royal[288]. One branch of the Family, _viz._ Sir Alexander Seton of Pitwedden (at one time a Lord of Session), upon the event of the death of his Father, who, in the Reign of King Charles I. (during the Civil Commotions) was killed by a Shot from the King's Enemies, with a Banner in his hand, assumed the Armorial Bearing of "An Heart distilling Drops of Blood[289]." [288] Nisbet, Cadencies, p. 191. [289] Ibid. p. 200. These, my Lord, I offer in the line of _Nobility_, as Historical Bearings; but many may likewise be found among the _Gentry_, who have Armorial Devices allusive to gallant actions, high employments, or other honourable circumstances. Of those, the few that follow, most easily occur, from the works of that laborious Herald, Mr. Alexander Nisbet. GRAHAM of Inchbrackie, descended of an eldest Son, of a second Marriage, of the first Earl of Montrose, gives, "Or, a Dyke [or Wall] fess-wise, Azure, broken down in several parts, &c." The Dyke there is assumed, to difference the Bearer from his Chief, and to perpetuate that action of Gramus (one of the Predecessors of the noble Family of Graham) in pulling down the Wall [anno 420] built by the Roman Emperor Severus, which was thereafter called "Graham's Dyke." N. B. By the Dyke the Scots seem to mean the Wall, _i.e._ the Vallum, which is formed out of the Dyke. CLARK