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

200 THE LIFE AND DEATH, &C.
when he was making no resistance, especially if
it be true, what often has been alleged, that he
was wounded through the back. If there had been
no pre-concerted plan for the immediate taking of
his life, he could easily have been secured, and af-
terwards brought, if there seemed good ground for
it, to a justiciary trial. The King, in consequence
of the whole affair, and of some other deeds of a
similar kind, which were parts of what he called
king-craft, lost the confidence and good opinion of
a vast number of his subjects, who otherwise would
have loved and respected him, for the blessing they
enjoyed, during his reign, of being at peace with
all other nations.