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

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THE FAMILY OF BURNETT OF LEYS.
keynote of Burnet's character. In the letter, which is couched in
perfectly respectful and appropriate language, he boldly rebukes the
King for his mode of life, points out to him how he has lost the affection
of his subjects, and earnestly implores him to reform his Court by
dismissing those about him, "
especially the women," who are the causes
of his sin. There is little cause for wonder, after this utterance, that Burnet had few friends in high places.
outspoken
He continues
in lofty and eloquent language his appeal to the King:
" Sir, This counsel is almost as necessary for your affairs as for your
soul ; and altho' you have highly offended that God who has been
infinitely merciful to you in preserving you at Worcester fight and
during your long exile, and who brought you back so miraculously, yet
He is still good and gracious, and will upon your sincere repentance, and
change of life, pardon all your sins and receive you into favour. Oh !
Sir, what if you should die in the midst of all your sins? At the great
Tribunal, where you must appear, there will be no regard for the crown
you wear ; but it will aggravate your punishment that, being in so
eminent a station, you have so much dishonoured God."
And the writer of this letter is the man upon whom the venal politicians
of the day heaped all the coarsest abuse in their extensive vocabulary,
and accused, forsooth, of being a time server and a place hunter !
1683, the year of the Rye House plot, found Burnet strongly opposed
to the Court party. His friendship for Lord Russell, whom he attended
on the scaffold, and his subsequent vindication of his memory, were
offences not to be forgiven. On his return from a tour in France in 1684,
he was deprived of the Chaplaincy of the Rolls, and discharged from
lecturing
at St. Clement's. On the death of Charles II. he obtained
permission to leave England, where his position had become almost
intolerable, and, after travelling on the Continent for some time, settled
at the Hague, when he formed an attachment to William of Orange,
and his wife Mary, which lasted for the remainder of his life. At the
Hague, in 1688, Gilbert Burnet married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Scott,
" who is thus described by her son : A Dutch lady of large fortune and
"
noble extraction. Her ancestor on the father's side was a younger
"
brother of the family of Buccleugh, who upon a quarrel in Scotland
" went over to Holland ;
his son was a Brigadier General at the siege of
"
Middleburgh in 1574, and afterwards Deputy for the Province of