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

JOHN, EARL OF GOWKIE. 193
terwards tried ; which could easily have been ac-
complished, because of the young man's defence-
less condition. The King's immediate words were,
" Fy ! strike him laigh (low), because he has a
pyne-doublet (plaitted doublet) upon him *." Mr.
Alexander may have put on such a doublet in the
morning when he went to Falkland, suspecting
that it might there be necessary for his safety.
The King having given the cruel words of com-
mand, Ramsay cast away the hawk from him, and
having drawn his dagger, struck with it the almost
prostrate young man. But it appears that he did
not aim at the lower part of his body, but wound-
ed him in the neck and head. The King then
dragged the unresisting youth to the stair-head,
and having returned, was so cold blooded, and so
much at his ease, that he kept his foot upon the
leash of the hawk to prevent it from flying away.
But Ramsay, immediately after he had wounded
Mr. Alexander, looked out from the window, and
seeing Sir Thomas Erskine, who was waiting for
the signal, cried aloud, " Fy ! Sir Thomas, come
up this turnpike, even to the head t."
* Ramsay's Deposition. f Ramsay's Deposition.