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

VI PREFACE.
might tend to promote a regard to serious re-
ligion, and a just abhorrence of vice ; and also
to excite in those persons, who, in some un-
important points, differ in their religious and
political opinions, charitable sentiments of one
another. The time will arrive " when there
was nothing covered, which shall not be re-
vealed, and hid, that shall not be known; when
every one shall receive according to the things
done in his body, whether his deeds were good
or bad."
I have prefixed some Preliminary Disserta-
tions and Family Statements, suitable to my
principal subject, and which may help to illus-
trate it. But having had to consider many
disputed facts, my narratives are thereby more
diffuse, and abounding with minute particu-
lars, than they otherwise might have been.
The King's Narrative, and the depositions
of the Witnesses examined at the trial of
the Earl of Gowrie, and his brother, are faith-
fully copied in Mr. William Panton's Disser-
tation on the Gowrie Conspiracy, which was