alleged Scottish conspirator, one of the principals in the “Gowrie Conspiracy” of 1600, slain in the presence of James VI (later James I of GB).: slain with his brother Hon Alexander Gowrie, Master of Gowrie, at Gowrie House by the followers of King James VI as a consequence of what is called the Gowrie conspiracy; it is does not look as if this was a planned conspiracy by either the King or the Gowries, but in fact an unseemly brawl that grew out of control with tragic consequences; what seems to have happened is that King James was dining with the Gowries at their home and after dinner he made a sexual advance on young Alexander Gowrie, who was said to be exceptionally good looking; Alexander Gowrie was not amenable to this and ended up fighting with the King in trying to fend off his advances; the King called for help and his men attacked and killed the Master of Gowrie, and in the ensuing sword fight the Earl of Gowrie was also killed. The dead bodies of the Earl and his brother were carried to Edinburgh, and an indictment of high treason was preferred against them. Witnesses being examined, the Parliament, 15 Nov 1600, pronounced sentence, declaring them to have committed manifest treason on all points contained in the summons; and therefore decerned their names, memory, and dignity to be extinguished, their arms to be cancelled, their whole estate, real and personal, to be forfeited and annexed to the Crown, their bodies to be taken to the Cross of Edinburgh and there hanged, drawn and quartered, the name of Ruthven to be abolished, and their posterity and their surviving brethren to be incapable of succeeding to or holding any offices, honours or possessions. Their lands were parcelled out among those who had supported the King during the slaughter.
John Ruthven 3rd Earl of Ruthven |
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