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

193 THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
say's whinger, (dagger,) the man suddenly went
away *.
The situation in which Ramsay found the King
and Mr. Alexander is thus described: " Mr.
Alexander was upon his knees, with his head un-
der the King's arm, and endeavouring with his
hand to stop the King's mouth." Calderwood says,
«'* Mr. Alexander Ruthven was thrice as strong as
his Majesty." The King, from his infancy, was
of a weakly constitution, which he endeavoured to
strengthen by the frequent exercise of hunting.
The age of Mr. Alexander, at this time, was nine-
teen years and about seven months. It seems there-
fore certain, that the advantage which the King
now had over him, was the effect, not of a superior
bodily strength, but of the young man's venera-
tion of his Majesty, and of his own apprehension
of danger. His posture was that of a suppli-
cant f .
No words now spoken by Mr. Alexander are re-
lated. The King did not accuse him of any parti-
cular crime, nor commit him a prisoner, to be af-
* Ramsay's Deposition ; Henderson's Second Deposition,
f Ramsay's Deposition ; Henderson's Deposition,