The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24
THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY.

iaiid on August >, Ite0, has never
been fully cleared up. for the reason
thai III two Chief conspirators were
Killed before they had Z chance TO
explain. Ii Is a strange story. the
bunglinS way in which the Earl Of
Gowrie and his brother Alexander
Ruthven. tried TO murder their mon
arch, and II IS even limited that the
entire story was Il fake and hat il
was started to help the king in gain
ing popularity with his subjects.
On the morning of the day in which
inns event took place, the king and
his followers We're preparing at
taulkland TO go on d hunting expe-
dltion. As they were about 10 start
a young man of barely twenty wears
approached the party and engaged in
conversation with the king. This was
Alexander Ruthven. He told a most
unusual story OF a vagranr High
ander. who knew Of a secret treasure
and who might he c~cnversed with AT
GoWrie house in Perth.
The kings curiosity was excited
ana he decided 10 foreeo the hunting
trip and with a small party started
for the Gowrie house. They reached
the place in time for an early din
ner, and after the meal Ruthven CON
Quoted the King through a series Of
chambers. the doors Of which the
young man locked behind them.
4 iiidIlN lIfN III TO a Small tufrtt
closet. and when they were admitted
the king found before him "a man
completely armed. who was an at
tendant Of the Earl of GoWrie. Ruth
ven Snatched a dagger from the
man and told the kin2 that he was
a prisoner. held 50 on account of the
death of the conspirator's father.
Inc KING demonstrated and TOLD
RuthVen that he was a minor at the
time and was in no way concerned
with the death IF the father. but
instead had restored the family to It's
rank and estates. The King then
demanded what he wanted. and Ruth
ven informed him that he would
bring his brother to tell him.
During his absence the king in
duced the armed attendant to open
one Of the windows looking to the
neighbOring street, and while the
man was proceeding to open it. Ruth
ven rushed in and attempted TO bind
the king. A struggle ensue III which
the armed mar gave the king some
useful help. and James was just able
to get near enough to the window
to call out Treason"
The cry was heard by the com
p%aniOns of the king. and the armed
man was 50 overcome with terroI
that he Opened the door and let il
. Sir John Ramsay, who immediatel
. relieved his struggling master b
! stabbing Ruthven and thrusting hin
down the stairs. AS the ~cOnspirato
descended, wounded and bleeding, h
i was met by W. or three Others O
the kings attendants and by then
. he was despatched, saying as he fell
Alas. l had not the blame Of it."
| He was not able to give any othe
explanation Us to who was to blame
and consequently no n has eve
: been able to find out whether Gowri
:. and RuthVen were alone in the con
q spiracy. or whether it was a con
Q spiracy Of a much greater impor,
= Just about the time that RuthveI
y was disposed Of Gowrie and severa
I attendants rushed into the turre
closet and Gowrie was pierce
: through the heart by Ramsay. an
q his men ent wounded and discom
flied downstairs.
1t was certainly a peculiar inciden
: Gowrie and his brother were at
Q complished young men, in good favo
e at court, and popular in Perth.
y seemed una%ccountable that the
e would have undertaken, without civ
ing any previous hint. such a mul
e derous conspiracy. being so ill-prC
vided with the of carrying
out successfully.
An attempt was made to bring OF
is evidence to show that they had bee
l. led to frame a plan for the seizuI
re of the royal person, though whetht
n for the sake Of the influence the
n could thereby exercise in the govern
d ment or with some hazy design
n taking vengeance for their father
S. death, has never been made clear.
ar The king and his retinue wei
l. emphatic in their statement that II
RS foregoing facts given had Occurre
a and one eminent clergyman, Re
= / ID onor ~, "a -.
e nOunced in his disbelief of the stor
was compelled to undergo a banisI
N ment of thirty years. That the XIII
IA should have been able to have be-
decOSed in this way into a stran,
le house and allowed himself to be lie
10 unarped. through a series Of uni
no habited chamber was the real re
son for so much disbelief.
Of
in ITO A CHERRY