that nevertheless Gowrie made no
preparations at all. Gowrie, with four others, then met the King, on the
Inch of Perth says the apologist. James kissed him when they met, the
kiss of Judas, we are to understand. He entered the house, and all the
keys were given to James's retainers. The porter, as we saw, really had
the keys, and Gowrie opened the garden gate with one of them. The
apologist is mendacious.

Dinner was soon over. James sent the Master to bid Ramsay and Erskine
'follow him to his chamber, where his Majesty, Sir Thomas Erskine, John
Ramsay, Dr. Herries, and Mr. Wilson, being convened, slew the Master, and
threw him down the stair, how, and for what cause they [know best]
themselves.' Of course it is absolutely certain that the Master did not
bring the other three men to James, in the chamber where the Master was
first wounded. Undeniably Herries, Ramsay, and Erskine were not brought
by the Master, at James's command, to this room. They did not enter it
till after the cries of 'Treason' were yelled by James from the window of
the turret. A servant of James's, says the apologist, now brought the
news that the King had ridden away. Cranstoun, Gowrie's man, really did
this, as he admitted. Gowrie, the author goes on, hearing of James's
departure, called for his horse, and went out into the street. There he
stood 'abiding his horse.' Now Cranstoun, as he confessed, had told
Gowrie that his horse was at Scone, two miles away. By keeping his
horses there, Gowrie made it impossible for him to accompany the Royal
retinue as they went on their useless errand (p. 21, _supra_). In the
street Gowrie 'hears his Majesty call on him out at the chamber window,
"My Lord of Gowrie, traitors has murdered your brother already, and ye
suffer me to be murdered also!"'

Nobody else heard this, and, if Gowrie heard it, how inept it was in him
to go about asking 'What is the matter?' He was occupied thus while
Lennox, Mar, and the others were rushing up the great staircase to rescue
the King. James, according to the Ruthven apologist, had told Gowrie
what the matter was, his brother was slain, and slain by Erskine, who,
while the Earl asked 'What is the matter?' was trying to collar that
distracted nobleman. The Master had brought Erskine to the King, says
the apologist, Erskine had slain the Master, yet, simultaneously, he
tried to seize Gowrie in the street. Erskine was in two places at once.
The apology is