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

CHAPTER VI.
BURNETTS OF CRIMOND.
ROBERT BURNETT, LORD CRIMOND, 1592-1661. Besides James
of Craigmyle, the first Baronet of Leys had another brother of
note, the father of the celebrated prelate, whose name is more widely
known than that of any of the other members of the Burnett family.
Robert Burnett of Crimond was an eminent lawyer at the Scottish bar,
of great learning, and high moral and religious principle. Unlike his
two brothers, he was an opponent of the Covenant, and that although
his wife was a sister of Johnston of Warristoun.
He was born in 1592, and was sent abroad at an early age to prosecute
his study of the law. He spent seven years in France, and in 161 1 writes
to his elder brother, Thomas, complaining of the difficulties he found in
himself abroad :
maintaining
"
Louing Brother
"
I meruell werie much that sene I am in france ze haue
neuer daingzeid to wreit vnto me, I hauing wreit vnto zow so oft, albeit
I knaw ze micht haue haid the commoditie and occasion werie oft. I am
now no more w l Mr Gilbert bot left him the 16 of September, efter I haid
werie weil God be
passed my courss ouer againe, quhairin I profited
praised. I haue gotten ane condition of my meat and 40 libb, qlk will
not in this countrey fournise me cloths for half ane zeir. And zit it is as
good ane condition as is in this countrey for ane priuat condition. The
natur of it is such (as of all vthirs in france) that I haue not half ane
hour in the day to reid in ane priuat studie, and so I am compelled to
tyne and spend the best of my age, and most meit for studies in teaching
bairns, quhen I sould imploy it in studieing to the Lawis, bot I protest
befor God the causs is not in me, for I must rather tyne my time so, then
die for hunger. My father dealls our hardlie w* me, and haid rather I