4

that the saids Alexander Ruthven, Harry Ruthven his brother, sons lawful to umqubil 'Alexander Ruthven of Freeland; Hugh Moncreif, brother to William Moncreif of that ilk; and Patrick Eviot, brother to Colin "Eviot of Balbousie; committed the crimes of 'Treason and Lese-majesty against our sovereign lord and his authority royal, in manner at length contain'd in the said summons: and 'therefore decerns and declares their persons, to underly the pains of Treason and Lesemajesty, and last punishment prescrib'd by the laws of this realm; and all their goods, 'moveable and immoveable, as well heritages as offices, benefices, and others whatsomever pertaining to them, or whilk is, might any ways belong, or appertain to them, to be 'confiscated to his majesty, and to remain with his highness in property for ever; and their 'posterity to be now, and in all time coming, uncapable and unhabil to bruik and possess within this realm, any honours, dignities, 'offices, benefices, successions, or other goods 'or gear, moveable or immoveable. And this 'I give for Doom.'

THE saids Lords and Estates of Parliament, ( finds, decerns, and declares, that the saids Alexander and Harry Ruthven, Hugh MonI creif, and Patrick Eviot, and ilk ane of them, committed, and did open and manifest treason against our sovereign ford in all points, articles, and manner contained in the said summons; and therefore it was given for doom by the mouth of David Lindsay, dempster of parliament, in manner and form as follows:

This court of parliament shows for law,

GOWRIE'S CONSPIRACIE: A Discovrse of the vnnatvrall and vyle Conspiracie, attempted against the King's Maiesties Person, at Sanct-Johnstovn, vpon Twysday the fifth of August, 1660. Edinburgh, printed, 1660, Cvm Privilegio Regio.

[From the Somers' Tracts, 4 Coll. vol. 1. p. 213.]

[This is one of the earliest Accounts of this re- |
markable Conspiracy, and therefore deserves
to be reprinted, not only as it is very rarely
to be found, but as it is very clear and ele-
gant, with regard to the dialect in which it
is written. In the language, though some
passages may appear uncouth, no alteration
has been made; both because we would not
depart from the fidelity that we promised,
nor, by changing expressions, give reason to
suspect, that we take the same liberty with
facts; and because the language may be, to
some, no less an object of curiosity, than the
events to others.]

HIS majestie having his residence at Falk-
land, and being daily at the buck-hunting, as
his vse is in that season, vpon the fifth day of
August, being Twysday, hee raid out to the
park, betwixt six and seuen hours in the morn-
ing, the weather beeing wonderfull pleasant
and seasonable. But, before his maiestie
could leap on horse-back, his hienes being now
come downe by the equerie, all the huntis-men
with the houndes attending his maiestie on the
greene, and the court making to their horses,
as his hienes self was; maister Alexander
Ruthven, second brother to the late earle of
Gowrie, being then lighted in the toun of Falk-
land, haisted him fast downe to ouer-take his
maiestie before his on-leaping, as he did
Where meeting his hienes, after a verie low
courtesie, bowing his head vnder his maiesties
kuce (although he was neuer wont to make so

low courtesy) drawing his maiestie a-part, he beginnes to discourse vnto him, but with a rerie dejected countenance, his eies euer fixed vppon the earth, how that it chanced him the euening before to be walking abroad about the fields, taking the air, solitarie alione, without the toun of Sanct Iohnstoun, wher his present dwelling was with the lord his brother; and there by accident affirmed to haue recountred a base like fellow, vnknowne to him, with a cloke cast about his mouth; whome at as he enquyred his name, and what his erand was, to be passing in so solitary a part, being from all wales. The fellow become at the suddain so amased, and his tongue so faultered in his mouth, that, vppon his suspitious behaviour, he begouth more narrowly to look vnto him, and examine him; and, perceauing that there appeared some thing to bee hid vnder his cloke, he did cast by the lappes of it, and so findes a great wyde pot to be vnder his arme, all full of coyned gold in great peeces. Assuring his maiestie, that it was in verie great quaintitie: Vpon the sight whereof, as hee affirmed, he took back the fellow with his burthen to the toun; where he privatly, without the knowledge of any liuing, took the fellow, and band him in a privie derned house, and, after lokking many dur es vppon him, left him there, and his pot with him, and had haisted himself out of Sanct-Iohustoun that day, by four houres in the morning, to make his malestie aduertised thereof, according to his bound dutie: Earnestlie requesting his maiestie, with

all diligence and secrecie, that his maiestie | the first seear thereof himself; which beeing might take order therewith, before anie knew thereof; swearing and protesting, that he had yet concealed it from all liuing, yea, from the carle his owne brother.

done, he woulde remit to his maiesties owne honorable discretion, how far it would please his maiestie to considder vpon him for his service. His bienes being stricken in great admi

His maiesties first answere was (after thank-ration, both of the vncouthnes of the tale, and ing him for his good-will) That it could not be- of the strange and stupide behauiour of the recome his maiestie to meddle any wayes in that porter; and the court being alreadie horsed, matter, since no mans treasure, that is a free wondering at his maiesties so long stay with and lawfull subiect, can by the lawe appertaine that gentleman, the morning being so fair, the vnto the king, except it bee found hid vnder game alreadie found, and the huntismen so long the earth, as this was not. Whereunto he an- staying on the fields, on his maiestie, he was swered, That the fellow confessed vnto him, forced to breake off onlie with these words: that he was going to haue hid it vnder the That hee could not nowe staye any longer from ground, but could not take leasure at that his sporte, but that hee would considder of the time to enquyre any further of him. Where- matter, and, at the end of his chase, giue him a unto his maiestie replyed, That there was great resolute answere, what order he would take difference betwixt a deed, and the intention of therein. Wherupon his maiesty parted in a deed; his intention to have hid it not beeing haste from him towardes the place where the alyke as if it had beene found alreadie bid. game was. Maister Alexander parting from Maister Alexander's answer was, That hee his maiestie verie miscontent, that indelaiedlie thought his maiestie over scrupulous in such a he raid not to Sanct-Iohnstoun, as he desired matter, tending so greatly to his maiesties pro- him; protesting, that his maiestie would not fite and that, if his maiesty deferred to med- finde euerie day such a choise of hunting, as dle with it, it might bee, that the lord his bro- he had offered vnto him; and that hee feared, ther, and other great men, might meddle with that his maiesties long delay, and slowness of it, and make his maiestie the more a-doe: resolution, would breed leasure to the fellow, Whereupon the king, beginning to suspect who was lying bound, to cry, or make such din, that it had been some forraine gold, brought as would disappoint the secrecie of that hail home by some Iesuites, or practising Papists, purpose, and make both the fellow and the therewith to sturre vp some newe sedition, as treasure to be medled with, before any word they have oftentimes done before, inquyred of could come from his maiestie: As also, that the said M. Alexander, What kinde of coine it his brother would misse him, in respect of his was, and what a fellow hee was that carried it? absence that morning; which if his maiestic His answere was, That, so far as hee could had pleased to haste, he might haue preucnted, take leasure to see of them, they seemed to arryuing there in the tyme of his brothers and bee forraine and vncouth strokes of coine; the whole townes being at the sermon; whereand, although that the fellow, both by his lan- by his maiestie might haue taken such secrete guage and fashion, seemed to bee a Scots fel-order with that matter, as hee pleased, before low, yet hee could neuer remember, that hee their outcomming from the church. But, his had seene him before. These speaches in- maiestie, without anie further answering of creased his maiesties suspition, that it was for him, leaping on horse-back, and ryding to the raine coyne, brought in by some practising Pa- dogs, where they were beginning to hunt, the pists, and to bee distributed into the countrie, said maister Alexander stayed still in that as is before said. And that the fellowe, that place wher hee left his maiestie; and, hauing carried it, was some Scots priest or seminarie, two men with him appointed by the late earle so disguised for the more sure transporting his brother, to carrie back vnto him the certhereof. Whereupon his maiestie resolved, taine newes, in al haist, of his maiesties commthat he would send backe with the said Mais-ing, as heerafter more particularlie shall in this ter Alexander a seruand of his own, with a same discourse be declared, hee directed one warrant to the prouost and baillies of SanctJohnstoun, to receaue both the fellow and the money off maister Alexander's hand, and after they had examined the fellow, to retaine him and the treasure, till his maiesties further pleasure were knowne: Whereat the said maister Alexauder sturred meruelouslie, affirming and protesting, that if either the lord his brother, or the baillies of the toun were put on the counsal thereof, his maiestie would get a verie bad compt of that treasure; swearing, that the great loue and affection, he bare vnto his maiestie, had made him to preferre his maiestie, in this cace, both to himself and his brother. For the which seruice he humblie craued that recompence, that his maiesty would take the paines once to ryde thither, that he might bee

e

of them, called Andrew Henderson, chalinerlane to the said earle, to ryde in all haste to the earle; commanding him, as hee loued his brothers honour, that hee shoulde not spare for spilling of his horse; and that hee should aduertise the earle, that hee hoped to moue his maiestie to come thither, and that hee should not yet looke for him, the space of three houres thereafter, because of his maiesties hunting, adding these words: Pray my lord my brother to prepare the denner for vs.

But his maiestie was no sooner ridden vp to a little hil aboue the little woode, wher the dogs were laid on in hunting, but that, notwithstanding the pleasant beginning of the chase, hee could not stay from musing and wondering vpon the newes. Whereupon, without making

said.

|

The cause

carried them to Sanct-Iohnstoun.
of his maiesties seruands following so fast, vn-
desired by him, being onlie grounded vpon a
suspition they had conceaued, that his maics
ties intention of ryding was for the apprehen
sion of the maister of Oliphant, one who had

anie bodie acquainted with this purpose, finding John Nesmith, chirurgian, by chance ryding beside him, his maiestie directed him back to bring maister Alexander with him; who being brought vnto his maiestie, and hauing newlie directed, as said is, one of his men, that was with him, back to my lord his brother, his ma-latelie done a vyle and proud oppression in Aniestie, vnknowing or suspecting that any man liuing had come with him, then tolde him, that hee had bene aduysing with himself, and, in respect of his last wordes so earnest with him, hee resolued to ryde thither for that erand in his own person, how soone the chace was ended, which was alreadie begun; lyke as his maiesty, vppon the verie ending of these words, did ryde away in the chase, the said maister Alexander euer following him at his back; no other lining being with his hienesse, but hee, and Iohn Hamilton of Grange, one of his maiesties maister-stablers, the reste of the court being all before in the chase, his maiestie onlie being casten back, vpon the staying to speak with maister Alexander, as is before The chase lasted from seuen houres in the morning, vntil alleuen and more, being one of the greatest and sorest chases, that euer his maiestie was at: All which tyme, the said maister Alexander was, for the most part, euer at his maiesties back, as said is. But there neuer was anie stop in the chase, or so small a delay, that the said maister Alexander omitted to round to his maiestie, earnestly requesting | him to haist the end of the hunting, that he might ryde the sooner to Sanct-Johnstoun: So as, at the death of the buck, his maiestie, not staying vppon the curie of the deir, as his vse is, scarcelic took time to alight, awaiting vppon the comming of a fresh horse to ryde on, the greatnesse of the chase hauing wearied his horse. But the said maister Alexander would not suffer the king to stay in the parke, where the buck was killed, whil his fresh horse, which was alredy sent for, was brought out of the equery to him, although it was not two flight shot of bounds betwixt the part, where the buck was killed, and his maiesties equerie; but, with verie importunitie, forced his maiestie to leap on againe vpon that same horse, that hee had hunted all the day vppon, his freshe horse beeing made to gallop a myle of the way to ouertake him; his maiestie not staying so much as vppon his sword, nor whil the duke and the earle of Mar, with diuerse gentlemen of his companie, had changed their horses onlie saying vnto them, that hee was to ryde to Sanct-Iohnstoun to speak with the earle of Gowry, and that hee would bee presently back againe before euen. Whereupon, some of the court galloped backe to Falkland, als fast as they could, to change their horses, and could not ouertake his maiestie, whill he come within four myle of Sanct-Iohnstoun. Others raid forward with their horses, weried as they were, whereof some were compelled to alight by the way; and, if they had not both refreshed their horses, bled them, and giuen them some grasse by the way, they had not

gus; for repairing of the which, they thoght,
that his maiestie had some purpose for his ap
prehension. But the said maister Alexander,
seeing the duke and the earle of Mar, with
diuers other of the court, getting fresh horses
for following of his maiestie, earnestlic desired
him, that hee would publish to his whole
traine, that, since he was to returne the same
euening, as is before said, they needed not to fol-
low him; especiallie, that he thought it meetest,
that his maiestie should stay the duke and the
earl of Mar to follow him, and that he should onlie
take three or four of his owne meane seruands
with him; affirming, that, if anie noble man fol-
lowed him, hee could not answere for it, but that
they would marre that whole purpose. Wher
upon his maiestie, half angerlie, replied, That he
would not mistrust the duke, nor the earle of
Mar, in a greater purpose nor that; and that
hee could not vnderstand, what hinder anie
man could make in that erand. But these
last speeches of M. Alexanders maid the king
to begin to suspecte what it could meane;
wherevppon manie diuerse thoughts begouth to
enter in the kings minde. But that his maiestie
could neuer suspect anie harm to be intended
against his hienes, by that young gentleman,
with whome his maiestie had bene so well ac-
quainted, as hee had, not long before, beene
in sute to be one of the gentlemen of his chal-
mer: So as the farthest, that the kings suspi
tion could reache to, was, that it might bee,
that the earle his brother had handled him so
hardlie, that the young gentleman, being af a
hie spirit, had taken such displeasure, as he
was become somewhat by himself, which bis
maiestie coniectured aswell by his raised and
vncouth stairing, and continuall pensiuenesse,
all the time of the hunting, as likewise by such
strange sort of vnlykelie discourses, as is alrea
die mentioned. Wherupon, his maiestie took
occasion to make the duke of Lennox ac-
quainted with the whol purpose, enquyring of him
verie earnestlie, What he knew of that young
gentlemans nature, beeing his brother in law?
And, If he had euer perceiued him to be sub-
iect to any high apprehension? His maiestie de
'claring his suspition plainelie to the said lord
duke, that hee thought him not well setled in his
wits; alwaies desiring my lord duke not to faile to
accompanie him in to that house, where the
alledged fellow and treasure was. The lord
duke wondered much at that purpose, and
thought it verie vnlikelie; yet he affirmed, that
he could never perceaue any such appearance
in that gentleman's inclination. But master
Alexander, perceyuing his maiesties priuie con-
ference with the duke, and suspecting the pur-
pose, as it appeared, came to the king, re-
questing his majestie verie earnestlie, that he

Ianie harm or punishment for the same. But his maiesties feare was, that hee could hope for no spairing at his hand, hauing such cruelty in his lookes, and standing so irreuerently, couered with his hat on; whiche forme of rigorous

maiestie, but present extremitie. But, at his maiesties perswasiue language, he appeareth to bee somewhat amased; and discouering his head againe, swore and protested, that his maiesties lyfe should be safe, if hee would behaue himselfe quyetlie, without making noyes, or crying; and that he would onlie bring in the earle his brother, to speak with his maiestie : wherupon, his maiestie enquyring, what the earle would do with him, since (if his malesties life was safe, according to promise) they could gaine little in keeping such a prisoner? His answere, onlie was, that hee could tel his maiestie no more, but that his lyfe would bee safe, in cace hee behaued him self quietlie; the rest the earle his brother, whome hee was

for his brother, as hee affirmed, hee turned him about to the other man, saying these wordes vnto him: I make you heere the kings keeper, vntill I come back againe, and look that ye keep him vppon your owne perill: and there

the dores lokked behind him, his maiestie entered into a little studie, where his maiestie did see standing, with a verie abased countenance, not a bound-man, but a free man, with a dagger at his girdle. But his maiestie had no sooner entered into that little studie, and maister Alex-behauiour could prognosticat no thing to his ander with him, but maister Alexander lokked to the studie dore behind him, and at that instant changing his countenance, putting his hat on his head, and drawing the dagger from that other mans girdle, held the point of it to the kings breast, avowing now, that the king behoued to be in his will, and vsed as he list: swearing manie bloody othes, that, if the king cried one word, or opened a windoe to look out, that dagger should presently go to his hart; affirming, that hee was sure, that now the kings conscience was burdened for the murthering of his father. His maiestie, wondering at so suddaine an alteration, and standing naked, with out any kynde of armour but his hunting horne, which hee had not gotten leisure to lay from him, betwixt these two traitors, which had con-going for, would tel his maiestie, at his commspired his life, the saide maister Alexandering. And with that, as hee was going forth standing, as side his, with a drawne dagger in his hand, and his sword at his side, but the other trembling and quaiking, rather like ane condemned man, then an executioner of such an enterpryse; his maiesty begouth then to dilate to the saide maister Alexander, howe hor-withall sayes to his maiestie, ye must content rible a thing it was to him to meddle with his maiesties innocent blood; assuring him it would not be left vnreuenged, since God had giuen him children and good subiectes; and if there were no more, God would raise vp stocks and stones to punish so vyle a deed. Protesting before God, that hee had no burthen in his conscience, for the execution of his father, both in respect that, at the tyme of his fathers exe-spiracie? Whose answere, with a trembling, cution, his maiestie was but a minor of age, and guyded at that time by a faction, which ouer-ruled both his maiestie, and the rest of the country; as also, that, whatsoeuer was done to his father, it was done by the ordinar course of law and iustice. Appealing the saide maister Alexander vppon his conscience, how well he, at al tymes since, had deserued at the hands of al his race: not only hauing restored them to al their landes and dignities, but also in nourishing and vpbringing of two or three of his sisters, as it were, in his own bosome, by a continual attendance vppon his maiesties dear-king to sweare, that he should not cry, nor open est bed-fellow in her privy chamber. Laying anie of the windoes, his maiestie commanded also before him the terrors of his conscience, the saide fellow to open the windoe with his especially that he made profession, according to hand? which he readelie did; so that, although his education, of the same religion which his hee was put in there to vse violence ouer the maiestie has euer professed: and namelie his king, yet God so turned his hart at that time, maiestie remembred him of that holie man, as hee become a slaue to his prisoner. While M. Robert Rollock, whose scholler he was, as- his maiestie was in this dangerous estate, suring him, that one day the said M. Roberts and none of his owne seruants nor traine knowsoule would accuse him, that hee had neuering in what part of the worlde he was in, as learned of him to practise such vnnaturall crueltie. His maiestie promising to him, in the worde of a prince, that, if hee would spare his life, and suffer him to go out againe, hee should neuer reueale to any flesh liuing what was betwixt them at that tyme, nor suffer him to incur

your selfe to haue this man nowe your keeper vntill my back-comming. And with these words he passes foorth, lokking the dore be hinde him, and leauing his maiestie with that man he fand there before him. At whome his maiestie then enquyred, if he was appointed to be the murtherer of him at that tyme? And how far he was vppon the counsell of that con

and astonished voice and behauiour, was: that, as the Lord should judge him, hee was neuer made acquainted with that purpose, but that hee was put in ther perforce, and the dore lokked behinde him, a little space before his maiesties comming; as indeede, al the time of the said maister Alexanders menassing his maiestie, he was ever tremblinglie requesting him for God's sake, and with manie other attesta tions, not to meddle with his maiestie, or to do him anie harme. But, because maister Alexander had, before his forth-going, made the

his maiesties traine was arysing in the hal from their dinner, the earle of Gowry being present with them, one of the earle of Gowries seruants commes hastelie in, assuring the earle his maister, that his maiesty was horsed and away through the Inshe; which the earle reporting