‘ ' ' 14 ro72 11s)zece S I R WILLI M SE COND LOR R UT HVE N 1 2 8 4 2 K E E P ? A , D , 5 55 , E R 0 1 T H E PR I VY S E L AN D PROVOST OF PE RT H 1 2 A , , 5 9 T H E R U T H V E N FAMI LY PAPERS R uthven Version of the Consp iracy and ’ A ssassination at Go wrze H ouse P rth 5 h Au ust 1600 e , t g CRI TI C ALLY R E VI SE D AND E D I TE D BY SAMUEL C OWAN , J . P . T HE R YAL HOUS E OF S TUART T HE L RD C HA N E LL R O , O C O S " “ OF SC TLAN D T HE AN I ENT A PI TAL OF S C TLAND O , C C O “ ” “ LI F E OF MARY QUEEN O F S COTS LI FE OF " , N A R A RE T E T . E T UEE M G c C. Q , , q 1 L LONDON I MPK I N M R LL H M L K E NT S , A SH A , A I TON, CO . 19 12 I LLU S T RATI O N S S I R WILLI S EC O O RU VE . AM , ND L RD TH N L Y LILI U VE HI S D UG ER M RRI E O D VI LOR AD AS R TH N, A HT , A D T A D , D L DRUMMOND OF S TOBHA L . L Y B RB R RU VE HI S D UG ER M RRIE To THE S I" AD A A A TH N, A HT , A D TH O G A L RD R Y . M IE RU V E D U E O P ICK U VE WI E O AR TH N, A GHT R F ATR R TH N AND F F I R O A D C K S ANT NY V N Y . (Fr o m the original in the Munich Gallery) G E L P ICK R U V L O FO B E O EN RA ATR TH EN, EAR F RTH AND R NTF RD , O IC E CO I I N THE O GU S VU S OLP U S FF R MMAND NG ARMY F TA AD H , - - AND COMMANDER I N CHI EF OF THE TROO PS UNDER CHARLES I . F om th ori inal in the I m e ial Museum S tockho lm ( r e g p r , ) ES I LO R RU VE O F EEL . JAM , F FTH D TH N F R AND M D U E O E C PBE O S HAW FI ELD ARY , A GHT R F WALT R AM LL F I LAY AND S , WIF E OF THE FIFTH LORD R UTHV EN OF FREE LAND . E U V E BO 1 8 1 I I E I E R I S COU S I J AN R TH N, RN 7 (MA N L N ); MARR ED H F R T N, E S U VE BO 1 8 . JAM R TH N, RN 7 3 E S U VE O I I M R B R 1 2 M L E . JA TH N, N 75 ( A N N ) O RU VE O I I B 1 L E . J HN TH N, RN 753 (MA N N ) ES RU VE BO 1 8 I I E JAM TH N, RN 7 3 (MA N L N ). S O THE L O GO IE ARM F EAR F WR . P IV E S E F THE ’ O I R AT AL O EARL OF G WR E . AUTHOR’S PREFACE H I STORICAL events affecting Scottish history , or S O indeed any history , and occurring far back as 1600 r , o fully three centuries ago , are rarely called o f in question even by students history , nor is it desirable t o encourage what would challenge the accuracy and integrity Of the generally accepted historical record , unless the material so produced were beyond doubt and unchallengeable . In that so - notable and momentous event , the called Gowrie Of Conspiracy , which we have now unquestionable proof , there has always been mystery surrounding o n Of it , evidently founded the refusal the Scottish Of Clergy and Magistrates Perth , and the majority o f the Scottish people Of that period , to recognise f ’ it as a conspiracy O the Ruthvens , and the Clergy s ’ refusal to pray for the King s deliverance ; be liev ing , as many of them did , that the King was himself the author Of the plot . It is a notorious ’ fact that it is the King s version Of the plot , and n o other version , that has been before the public these three hundred years , notwithstanding there are historians who have pointed out that no narrative by the Ruthven family has ever been forthcoming . 5 AUT H OR ’S PREFACE That point is now set at rest by the issue of this volume . It now app ears that a Ruthv en narrative has been o r bona written by the Ruthven family , at least by a fid e member o f it . On a careful inspection recently Of the Ruthven Family Papers , at the request Of Lord Ruthven Of Freeland , we have discovered this a a e r document ; p p Of historical value , i n respect that it confirms the views of the Scottish Clergy and Of 1600 Magistrates Perth Of , that the King , and not Gowrie , was the conspirator , and stamps the King S ix and his nobles , amongst whom were divided the SOle illegally confiscated Gowrie estates , as the con S irat o rs p , enterprisers , and negotiators Of the plot , and alone responsible for the consequences Of that catastrophe with all its brutalities , cruelties and persecutions . The narrative from the Ruthven charter chest ought to have been published long ago , but though late in the day in reaching publication it will be regarded by all unprej udiced readers as Of supreme importance . The Scottish Parliament Of that period was evidently not an impartial tribunal . The political circumstances of the time rendered im partiality impossible , and the reader is referred fo r information o n this point to the narrative o f the o n 1 - 1 1 Privy Council Register pages 45 5 . In such im art ialit turbulent times p v could not be expected , 6 AU TH OR ’S PREFACE and the Ruthven family , by means Of a fraudulent and an utterly mysterious and unexpected co n s irac p y , were driven from their estates and homes , o f the heads the family Slain , the dead bodies o ut raged , and the Gowrie estates divided among the six satellites Of the King who committed the in I famous deed . t now turns out that all this was f V I . done at the instigation O James , was homolo gated by the Scottish Parliament without adequate Of reason , and it is to be regretted that the Acts this Parliament and the Offi cial records of the time are ad nauseam Simply full , , of this piece of wholesale ” butchery , falsely called Gowrie Conspiracy . The reader may well ask what can be the ex d planation Of all this , and we can o nothing but refer him fo r answer t o the following pages . The Ruthv en family of to- day recognise with pride that many Of their distinguished ancestors were promi nent men on the political platform Of the Ancient Of Kingdom Of Scotland , at a trying period Scottish history ; and , notwithstanding their persecution and supposed extinction , the main branch never was extinct , but has been vigorous and representative through all these centuries , while the Freeland branch Of the family is represented to- day by Lord R as uthven , and , will be seen from the Kalendar , many Of its members rose to an eminent position in the government and administration Of t he kingdom . 7 AU T H O R’S PREFACE The first Lord Ruthven was the friend and supporter Of King James I I I . , and provided his sovereign with 3 000 men at the battle Of Sauchie a burn , where the King lost his life . The M ster Of Ruthven , son of this Lord Ruthven , fell , sword in Flo dde n 1 1 hand , at the battle of , in 5 3 ; and down to the catastrophe o f 1600 the heads Of the House Of o f Ruthven , in the administration the kingdom , - occupied a position that was supreme ; but , while saying so , we are not to be understood as endorsing all the political acts Of Patrick , Lord Ruthven , and Of his son William , first Earl Gowrie , who were men to be reckoned with in the reign Of Queen Mary . Lord William was fo r a limited period Lord Of Treasurer Scotland , and was the champion who conceived and carried out the Raid Of Ruthven and capture of the boy king . A noble Scottish family was the Ruthvens , Of whom the nation had reason "who i e i to be proud ; but , alas can resist the n v t Or able , fight with the vicissitudes Of fortune ; and S O the elder branch Of this ancient and venerable ’ S O family , long identified with Scotland s imperial 1600 administration , passed , in , from the region of Of f politics to that citizens O the realm .