Before the rebuilding of the West Kirk in 1755 and of the East Kirk in 1837  much of the flooring of the whole Kirk was provided by grave slabs some of which were removed and left in the churchyard. A number of these were taken into St Mary’s Chapel for better preservation when it was restored in 1898 and were incorporated into the floor. This series of posts will deal with the three most prominent of these.

This post shows the gravestone for Robert Burnet. The inscription reads “Here lyes Robert Bvrnet, merchant, Burg of ABD who departed the 23 of March 1674”. In the centre can be seen the arms of Burnet of Leys, (three holly leaves above a hunting horn) with, in this case, a square in the centre to differentiate this holder from the head of the family.  These are combined with those of Gray family arms (a lion rampant) together with the initials RB and MG of husband and wife The Latin motto can be translated ‘Courage grows by wounding’.

The stone itself is central in St Mary’s Chapel just in front of the desk which featured a few weeks ago in these posts.