Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 1 Vol 4.djvu/63

 COWRIE. 65 GOWRIE. Amou!, with Gowry (now, together, forming the north and cast part of Perthshire), was ono of the seven original Earldoms [Mormaerdiips] of Scotland, f a ) the rulers of which (who, in the 10th century were styled "Moruakrs") were, early in the 12th century known as " Earls." Lou^ before that period, however, i.e., " after the Scottish dynasty was seated ou the throne, it was attached to the province of Fife and Fothriff. Gowry was the heart of the kingdom as within it was situated the Royal seat of Scone."( b ) Donald Bane, s. of Duncan L, King of Scotland -Earldom S.] ( mi. i0 ), is said to have been MORJIAER, or EARL OF GOWRIE L 1060? t&J He Bunted lauds of Invergowry, &c, in that district, to his nephew, Alexander (afterwards, 1107, King of Scotland), at his ,Qn 3 baptism. He himself became KING OF SCOTLAND, in 1093, and, subsequently, 1094 to 1097, when this Earldom merged in the Crown. II. 1581, 1. Wilwam (Ruthven), Lord Rdthven and Lord to Dmi.ETOUN" [S.], 2d but 1st surv. s. of Patrick, Lord Ruthven, &c. 1584. [S.], hy his first wife, Janet Douolas, illegit da. of Archibald (Douglas), Earl of Angus [S.], was 4. about 1545. lie was involved (with his father, who was the principal actor therein), in the murder (9 March 1566) of Rizzio ; sue. his father in the peeiage Barony [S.J, 13 June 1566 ; was one of the Lords who on behalf of King James [S.], received the resignation of Queen Mary [S.], in 1567 ; Treasurer [S.], 1571 ; one of the extraordinary Lords of Session [S.J, 157S, and was cr. 23 Aug. 1581, EARL OF GOWRIE [S.], receiving, on 20 Oct. following, the lands of the dissolved Abbey of Scone, &c.( c ) He IB. 17 Aug. 1561 at Perth, Dorothea, 2d da. of Henry (Stewart), 2d Loud Methven 8.1 by his second wife, Janet, da. of John (STEWART), Eahl, of Atholf. [S.] He was the principal actor in the seizure of the King, 23 Aug. 1582, called " the Raid of Eathven," for which, tho' he had received pardon, he was found guilty of treason and was executed at Stirling 2S May 15S4, when his honours became forfeited. His widow was living in and after 1600. » * * * • » III 158G. 2. James (Ruthven), Earl of Gowrie, &c. [S.], s. and h., lap. 25 Sep. 1575, at Perth, was restored in blood, honours, and state, in 1586, but d. 15SS num. in his 14th year. IV 1588, 5. Joiin (Ruthven), Earl of Gowrte [1581], Lord to Dirletou.y [1441 ?], and Lord Ruthven [148S], in the peerage of 1G00. Scotland, br. and h. He d. unm., aged about 24, being (together with his br. Alexander), slain 5 Aug. 1600, at Perth Castle by the King and his followers in consequence of what lias since been known as "the Gowrie conspiracy. "( d ) He was pronounced by Pari., 15 Nov. 1600, guilty of high treason, when all his honours were forfeited^) and even the name of Ruthven was declared to be abolished. (") See vol. i, p. 88, for fuller account of these seven Earldoms nil " Angus." ( b ) Skene's " Celtic Scotland " (1880), vol. iii, p. 275. (°) In the act of Par!., 29 Nov. 1581, confirming this grant, the destination of the Earldom of Gowrie was said to be to Lord Ruthven "and his heirs male and of entail." ( d ) The question as to whether this was a conspiracy of the Earl against the King or ' of the King against the Earl is still obscure. The matter is fully set out in Pitcaim's Criminal Trials [S.] (') See vol. iii, p. 151, note "b," as to the Barony of Dirletoun. F