History of the life and death of John, Earl of Gowrie

JOHN, EARL OF GOWRIE. 153
In the evening of Monday the fourth of August,
when the Earl was preparing for the journey he
was to take the next day, he and his brother Alex-
ander were surprised by a letter from the King, in
which Alexander was required to be at Falkland
early the next morning. The young man was very
unwilling to go, for he considered himself as being
under the King's displeasure ; but, after delibera-
tion, it was judged best that the King's command
should be punctually obeyed, to prevent any ground
of complaint. That such a letter or message was
received is confidently affirmed in the MSS. before
me, and by general tradition ; and Calderwood says,
that " the Earl deferred his journey on account of
Mr. Alexander's going to Falkland." He wished
first to know what kind of a reception his brother
had met with.
Andrew Henderson, the Earl's factor on the es-
tate of Scoon, says, in his depositions, that the Earl
ordered him to attend Mr. Alexander Ruthven to
Falkland, and to return when his brother should
desire him. No doubt the Earl would be anxious
to know as early as possible how his brother was
received. But it seems not to be certain that Hen-
derson really went to Falkland, or was ordered to