26 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



but subversive of the most established attributes of sovereign authority. At 

 length, having contrived to escape out of the hands of his " dictators," James 

 placed himself once more under the direction of Arran, and issued a proclamation 

 declaring his recent detention an act of treason. On this charge Gowrie,* as the 

 principal concerned, was tried, condemned, and executed for high treason, with 

 this declaration in his mouth, that " if he had served God as faithfully as he had 

 served his king he had not come to so disastrous an end." 



The next remarkable epoch in the house of Ruthven, and that which completed 

 its ruin, furnishes an event, justly termed one of the most problematical in 

 Scottish history, and well known as the Gowrie Conspiracy. The court version, 

 which James himself furnished for the satisfaction of his subjects, is briefly this. 

 On the 5th August, 1600, while residing at Falkland Palace, and when going out 

 to hunt in the morning, James was accosted by Alexander Ruthven, the earl of 

 Gowrie's youngest brother, who informed him, that on the preceding evening he 

 had seized a stranger, and found under his cloak a pot filled with a quantity of 

 foreign gold. Thinking the circumstance suspicious, he had detained him, and 

 now felt it his duty to inform the king. James, supposing him to be a foreign 

 priest, come to excite disturbance in the country, ordered the prisoner to be con- 

 signed over to the magistrates of Perth for strict examination. Ruthven, however, 

 eagerly advised the king to go thither in person. Accordingly, with a suite of only 

 twenty individuals, James set out for Perth, and, being met by the earl of Gowrie 

 and several citizens, who with much apparent loyalty invited him to partake of a 

 repast at Gowrie House, he complied with the desire of his subjects. While 

 sitting at table he was attended by the earl, but the latter, contrary to the etiquette 

 on such occasions, and insensible to the joy which a king's presence ought to 

 inspire, appeared thoughtful and embarrassed, as if some weighty matter pressed 

 upon his heart. 



When the repast was finished, and the royal attendants had withdrawn to dine 

 in another room, Ruthven cautiously suggested, that now was the time to visit 

 the chamber where the stranger priest was confined. To this proposal the king 

 assented, and Ruthven leading the way, conducted him through several apartments, 

 but locking every door behind him- till he came to a small turret chamber, 

 in which stood a man in complete armour, with a sword and dagger by his 

 side. The king, who expected to have found the "priest" under very different 

 circumstances, started back, and hastily inquired if this was the " stranger ?" But 



The earl of Gowrie was son of that Lord Ruthven who played the principal part in Rizzio's murder, 

 and was so little affected with remorse for his share in that tragedy, that on his death-bed he spoke with 

 great coolness of what he termed " the slaughter of David!" 



