GOW'RIE CONSPIRACY. One of the most mysterious events in the history of Scotland. It took place in August, 1600. John Ruthven, third Earl of Gowrie, was then residing on his estate at Perth, and with him lived his brother, Alexander Ruthven. There was ill feeling at the time be tween the Earl and -Tames VI., afterwards James I. of England, who had put the Earl's father to death for treason, and who owed Gowrie a. large sum of money. On the 5th of the month, the King, with a few attendants, visited Gowrie Castle in order, as Alexander told a servant, to confer with the Earl in regard to the debt. After dinner Alexander led the King to a private study on 'a quiet errand,' and Cowrie took the other guests into the garden to eat cherries. While the guests were thus engaged. a servant came and told them that the King had quit the castle and had ridden off to the Inch. Cowrie left the company for a moment, and on his return confirmed the servant's report. While the guests were in great excitement, not knowing what to do, they heard the King shouting "Trea son!" from the study window, and looking up, caught a glimpse of his face. Naturally sus. pecting Gowrie, they tried to seize him; but as he escaped, four of them made their way to the study, where they are said to have found Alex ander Ruthven struggling with the King. They killed Ruthven with their daggers, after which Cowrie, accompanied by his servant, Cranston. burst into the room with a sword in each hand. Though lie fought desperately to avenge his brother, he was overpowered and killed. In the room with Ruthven the King had found a man in armor, who, it was afterwards alleged, was Ifenderson. Gowrie's chamberlain. This man
testified in court that Cowrie had ordered him to go to the chamber, put on his armor, and do pitliven's bidding. As it. appeared that Hender son had not raised his hand against the King, lie was pardoned. The court used torture to ex tort evidence from Cowrie's servants, and ac cepted nothing in favor of their master. Three servants were hanged, the estates of the Ruthvens were confiscated, their name and honors were abol ished, and the house in which the strange event took place was destroyed. In explanation of the mystery it has been suggested that the Ruthvens were the tools of Queen Elizabeth, who may have wished to secure possession of the King's person in order to control Scotland in his name, but in her own interest. Possibly, however, there was no plot—a quarrel over the debt may have led to violence, after which the King, with the help of the Court, may have contrived the story to hide his own fault. Consult: Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vi.; Acta Parl. Scot., iv.; Mackenzie, An Historical Account of the Con spiracies by the Earls of Gowry and Robert Logan of Restalrig Against King James VI. (Edinburgh, 1713) ; White, The Earl of Gowry: A Tragedy (London, 1845) ; I3arbe, Tragedy of Gowrie House (Paisley, 1887) ; Winwood, Memorials of Affairs of State in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James (London, 1725) ; Pitcairn, An cient Criminal Trials in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1833) • Calderwood, History of the Kirk of Scot land (Edinburgh, 1842-49) ; Spottiswoode, His tory of the Church of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1851) ; Laing, History of Scotland, i. (London, 1819).