Papers relating to William, first Earl of Gowrie, and Patrick Ruthven, his fifth and last surviving son

William, Earl of Goivrie, etc. 3
blood ? Thou art my prisoner, and must be content to follow
our will, and to be used as we list. Seek not to escape ; utter
but a cry/ — James was now looking at the window and be-
ginning to speak, — ' make but a motion to open the window,
and this dagger is in thy heart.' The King, although alarmed
by this fierce address and the suddenness of the danger, did
not lose his presence of mind ; and, as Henderson was evi-
dently no willing accomplice, he took courage to remonstrate
with the Master (that is, with the Master of Ruthven, Master
being the Scottish designation of an heir) reminded him of
the dear friendship he had borne him, and ' as for your father's
death/ said he, ' I had no hand in it ; it was my Council's
doing ; and should ye now take my life, what preferment will
it bring you ? Have I not both sons and daughters ? You
can never be king of Scotland ; and I have many good sub-
jects who will revenge my death.' >n
Mr. Tytler has not stated whence the distinguishing fea-
tures of his narrative were derived ; but I believe I shall not
err in attributing them to an extract from Johnston's MS.
History of Scotland, printed by Mr. Pitcairn in his valuable
collection of c Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland.' 2 John-
ston alone mentions the striking incident of the picture, and
the several other circumstances in which Mr. Tytler's narra-
tive differs from that of the king. But it is evident that
Johnston's assertions are not to be literally depended upon.
He strives ambitiously after effect ; he occasionally puts very
grandiloquent speeches into the mouths of his actors ; and he
could not have possessed any personal knowledge upon the
subject. The King and Henderson were the only survivors
of that terrible scene ; and the statement of the latter, al-
though contradictory to the King's account in many minute
particulars, offers no support to the story of the picture, nor
1 Hist. Scotland, ix. 352.
2 Vol. ii. p. 293. Johnston's History is preserved in the library of
the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, and is referred to by Pitcairn
in the following manner. " Jac. v. 2. 2, fol. 633 b."
b 2