This is the second of the series on grave slabs in St Mary’s Chapel. It records one of the more tragic incidents in Aberdeen’s history. The gravestone is shown here.

Around the edge the inscription reads “Heir lyes Thomas and Andrew Bvrnet brothers, bvrgesses of ABD qvho departed this lyf 13 Septr 1644″. The brothers were killed in the ‘cruell and bloodie feight and conflict quhiche was fochten betuixt the Crabstane and the Justice Mylnes”. The fight took place because Aberdeen (then dominated by the Covenanting party and reinforced by militia from Fife) refused to surrender to the Royalist Marquis of Montrose. In those days, to be a Burgess of the City meant that you had to be prepared to take arms and fight to protect the City. It was a tragic loss for the family.

Also mentioned on the gravestone is ‘Alexander Burnet, son of Thomas Burnet who died on 29th April 1686 and Sicklyke Agnes Moir, his wife, who died on 18th June 1686’.   The stone has been broken diagonally across the centre at some time, but it does show a finely carved representation of the Burnet arms (three holly leaves over a hunting horn – the horn of Leys) with a helmet and mantling together with the initials of the brothers.