| Administrative History | Inscribed with Dedicatory epistle to Earl of Huntly, signed Penult of September 1691, WK (or WR); Scots College, Paris bookplate; in 'The History of the family of Gordon' by William Gordon of Old Aberdeen (vol 3, preface pp24-25) the author states that a History of the Gordon family down to 1691 was written (as he is told) by one Mr Burnet, a Priest of the Romish Church. This is D Burnet who was converted to Catholicism by Fr James Mambrecht SJ in France in the year 1600 and who entered the Scots College in 1661 and was there ordained Priest. He returned to Scotland in 1670. He was afterwards Prefect of Studies in Paris and in 1680 came back to the Mission. A scheme was then afoot to have a Bishop appointed for Scotland and Burnet was considered the most suited to that dignity. He served for some time in the Enzie and went to Edinburgh in 1687.There he was appointed Head Chaplain and Preacher in the Royal Chapel. In the Revolution of 1688 he made his escape and saved the Altar utensils. Making his way north by Leith, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Montrose to Speyside he lay concealed on the hill of Almore for some months. He then was deputed to make a journey abroad on behalf of the Catholics of Scotland. Passing through Badenoch, Lochaber and Mull, he arrived in Dublin, and from there proceeded to Paris. He returned to Scotland and died in Jan 1696. [Notes by Mgr David McRoberts, 2nd Keeper of the Scottish Catholic Archives] |