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

JOHN, EARL OF GOWRIE. 159
I am riding for. I am going to get a pose in
Perth." He then told him a story of a man who
had a pitcher full of gold coins of various kinds.
The Duke replied, " I do not like the story ; it is
not probable." But, said the King, " Take notice
where I go with Mr. Alexander, and follow me*."
The following anecdote has been preserved. Af-
ter the death of the Earl and his brother, the King
related to a gentleman of the family of Moncrief
how he had been deceived by the pretence of his
finding a man with a pot full of foreign gold. The
gentleman replied, " A likely like story, if it be
true, please your Grace."
When the King and a part of his company were
within two miles from Perth, Andrew Ruthven was
allowed to go forward to inform the Earl ; and
when they were within a mile, Mr. Alexander was
allowed for the same purpose to gallop towards the
town.
Tuesday, August 5, 1600, was the last day of the
Earl of Gowrie's life ; and, from the strict scrutiny
which was made after his death, a circumstantial
* King's Narrative, page 11. Lennox's Deposition.