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

174 THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
locked into the Earl's Study. The Earl and one of his
Servants enter, armed, into the Gallery Chamber. His
behaviour. His Death. Remarks.
The plot which, I reckon, was now carrying on
against John Earl of Gowrie, and his brother Mr.
Alexander Ruthven, seems to have consisted of the
following parts :
1. The catastrophe in view was, that the Earl
and his brother should be put to death, as in a
sudden scuffle, in which, however, they were to be
made to appear as traitors.
2. The personal safety of the King, and of the
persons immediately employed, was to be secured
by corrupting some of the Earl's servants, and by
bringing a sufficient number of armed gentlemen
from the country.
3. A specious pretence was to be contrived for
the King's coming to Perth.
How the catastrophe was perpetrated will after-
wards appear. I have already noticed the means
which were used for the safety of the King, and of
the persons he employed. The remaining parts
of the plot seem to have been,