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

338 THE LIFE AND DEATH OP
I formerly noticed the cautious manner in which
Mr. David Calderwood, for his own security, wrote
concerning the Gowrie conspiracy. He did not
directly deny the truth of it, but he shewed his
disbelief, by confidently stating the incredible cir-
cumstances with which it was said to be accom-
panied. It became more safe for writers, after the
revolution of government in the year 1688, freely
to express their opinion of the cruelty and injus-
tice of King James VI. in the affair of the Earl of
Gowrie ; especially after the unsuccessful issue of
the insurrection in 1745, in favour of the Prince,
who bore among his friends the title of King
James VIII.
I have declared, as gathered from the circum-
stantial evidence I have examined, that my own
opinion is in favour of the innocence of the Earl
and his brother. Perhaps a time may arrive when
a more direct proof can be obtained. Some au-
thentic documents may be found, either among the
old government papers, or in the repository of
some private family, which would effectually put
an end to the controversy relating to that histori-
cal event, which has hitherto been agitated rela-
ting to the death of John, Earl of Gowrie. I