The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

DEESIDE BURNETTS: XIII. SIR THOMAS. 71
ryder that shall happin to be my servant in the first rank for the tyme at
my death, an hunderth merks usual money of this realme, to my wyfis
gentlewoman for the time forty punds money aforesaid, to the Stewart
for the tyme alsmuch, to the cooke for the tyme alsmuch, to my grieve
or principall orficiar for the tyme alsmuch ; to every on of the rest of my
household servants men and women a peice, or to ech of them twenty
pounds overhead ; and this to be payed to them of the readiest of my
exequitry goods and gear, my said spous Dame Jeane Moncreffe being
first payit of the foresaid thousand punds left to her, as said is, and that
by and attouer their severall fees which shall happen to be resting to
them the tyme of my deceasse, which I ordeen to be thankfully payit to
them without hearing, as lykwayes merchant compts and small unwritten
debts that can be proven justly owing to any living, I ordeen all to be
payed be my said air and successour without hearing, as he would wish
God to blisse him, and my blissing to overtake him and his. And this I
doe declare to be my testament and latter will, which I ordeen my said
air and successour be advyse forsaid to fullfiil and put to dire execution
in all points (especially in as far as concerns my said spouse, Dame Jean
Moncreffe), that he would neither wrong her himselfe nor suffer her to be
wronged by any, but that he defend her and not greive her, as he would
wish the blissing of God and myn, and as he would eschew the cursse of
God and my malediction, and as he would wish to be obeyed himselfe by
his owen children (if any he shall have) in the lyk caise according to the
tenour of this present will, which I declare to be seasoned with no double
or doubtsome curiosity (which I did ever abhore in myselfe and others),
but with trew sincerity and simplicity, as the words in my ignorant and
rude maner are set downe, having God and a good conscience befor my
eyes. And if any doubt shall happen to aryse, I ordeen the same to be
resolved and composed by the amicable decreet and determination of my
sonnes being of perfect age, with any thrie or fouer of my forsaids
approven frends nominat by me curatours forsaids, and in caise of not
agreement, I ordeen Mr. Robert Burnet my sonne above written sine quo
non curatour forsaid, to be oversman for the final decerning and decreeting
and concluding any such doubt and controversie."
The date of Sir Thomas Burnett's death is given in the retour of his
grandson and heir as 27th June, 1653. His portrait at Crathes by the
eminent Scottish painter, George Jamesone represents him with a