Lyons of Cossins and Wester Ogil

34 THE LYONS OF COSSINS AND WESTER OGIL.
Morton in 1581, an association was formed among the Scottish nobles to over-
throw the king's favourites, Lennox and Arran. In promotion of this object
the earl of Gowrie, in august 1 582, invited James VI. to Ruthven castle, ostensibly
to join in a great hunting expedition, the real intention being to secure the
king's person and obtain supreme control of the administration. Associated
with Gowrie were the earl of Mar, lord Lindsay, sir Thomas Lyon of Auldbar,
tutor of Glamis, John Lyon, younger of Cossins, and many others. The king
accepted the invitation, but when he saw the company assembled to meet him,
all friends of the late regent, he attempted to escape. " But when he rose and
went towards the door of the apartment, the Tutor of Glamis, a rude stern man,
placed his back against it, and compelled him to return. Affronted at this act
of personal restraint and violence, the king burst into tears. ' Let him weep
on/ said the Tutor of Glamis, fiercely ; ' better that bairns weep, than bearded
men.' " r The king was accordingly detained, and Ruthven and his allies
assumed control of the government. In the following year the king contrived
to elude his captors, and marching against them with a strong force, took the
earl of Gowrie prisoner, and caused him to be beheaded at Stirling, 4 may 1584.
John Lyoun, younger of Cossynis, and the other principal members of the
conspiracy, were indicted for treason in the parliament held at Edinburgh,
20 august 1584, and two days afterwards the doom and forfeiture of treason
was pronounced against them. John was relieved from the attainder in the
parliament held at Linlithgow on 1 december 1 585.2
On 12 april 1577, Margaret Drummond, relict of John Campbell of Murthlie,
and then spouse to John Lyoun of Cossines, with consent of her husband
granted a tack of Murthlie to John Campbell of Lawers.3 Observe the omission
of the word " younger " after Lyoun.
"On 11 July 1580, Margaret Drummond, relict of mr Robert Spittell, and
John Lyoun, apparent of Cossynis, now her spouse, raise an action against
Cristean Spittell, sister and heir of the deceased mr Nicoll Spittell, who was
father's brother and heir to the deceased Sybilla Spittell, which Sybilla was
daughter and heir of the deceased mr Robert Spittell, for the purpose of having
a contract made between the deceased William Drummond of Balloch, Issobell
Craumond, his spouse, and the above Margaret Drummond, their daughter, on
the one part, and the above mr Robert Spittell on the other part, dated 30 may
1552, transferred to Cristeane, as sister and heir of Nicoll.4
At Dalkeith, on 29 June 1581, a gift passes the privy seal in favour of John
Lambie of Dunkanie, of the escheat of John Lyoun, apparent of Cossynnis, who
was at the horn at the instance of David, earl of Crawford, for not fulfilling a con-
tract between them ; also a gift of the liferents and conjunct fees which pertained
to John Lyoun, and Margaret Drummond, his spouse, relict of John Campbell
1 "Tales of a Grandfather," chap, xxxii. 3 Reg. of deeds, vol. xxxv. fol. 241, H.M. gen.
2 Pitcairn's "Criminal Trials,'' I. 187*- 199.* reg. ho. Edin.
Also acts of pari., ill. 332.344.383. 4 Acts and dec, lxxxii. 14.