Robert Logan of Restalrig, for Accession to Gowry's 1600 IN the year 1608, George Home, Earl of Dunbar, was informed by a gentleman of his acquaintance, that there was one Sprott, a notary at Eyemouth, who had communicated to him some particulars relative to Gowry's conspiracy, which this Sprott had kept secret till the persons concerned in it were dead.* The Earl acquainted the Lord Advocate, and Sprott was instantly apprehended. He was examined before the Privy Council on the 5th of July, 160S, and afterwards underwent frequent examinations. His voluntary confession was made the subject of an indictment against him before the Court of Justiciary, as being in the treasonable forcknowledge of Gowry's conspiracy. He was tried capitally on the 12th of August, 1608, upon his own confession alone. He was convicted. He was condemned to be hanged that very day at the cross of Edinburgh, and his head to be put up on the tolbooth, beside the traitor Gowry's. He confessed he perfectly knew that Logan of Restalrig was in the foreknowledge of Gowry's conspiracy: that letters passed between the Earl and Restalrig on the subject, in the beginning of July, 1600; that a servant of Restalrig's, commonly called Laird Bour, was the messenger employed in these dispatch * Logan of Restalrig, and his servant, Laird Bour, died about the year 1606. es, had some of them in his keeping, and showed 1600 them to the prisoner in the house of Fastcastle, among other papers, he, Bour, being unable to read, and that he took the opportunity to secret them.* He confessed that he was often in company with Restalrig, as well as with Laird Bour, heard the conference which passed between them relative to a letter which Bour had brought back to his master from Lord Gowry: that he afterwards enquired of Bour what was going on between his master and the Earl of Gowry? to which Bour answered, He be'lieved that the Laird should get Dirleton without ' either gold or silver, but feared that it should be ás ' dear unto him;' and Sprott enquiring how that could be? Bour said, 'they had another pye in hand nor the selling of any land; but prayed Sprott, for "God's sake, he would let be, and not trouble ' himself about the Laird's business; for he feared, 'within few days, the Laird would be either landless or lifeless.' By this declaration he uniformly abode. He adhered to it on the scaffold, when he was performing the last solemn duties of penitence and prayer; and he declared that he should give the people a signal of its truth after he was thrown over the ladder; accordingly, to the astonishment of the spec * The summons of forfaulture against Logan's heirs, explains more particularly how Sprott came by these letters: that Laird Bour, when he got them back from the Earl of Gowry to be returned to Restalrig, detained the letters; that Sprott stole them from him, and Restalrig becoming apprehensive that Sprott or Bour would betray him, bribed them both with many presents, to keep the secret. See an excerpt from this summons in Appendix, No. 2. 1600 tators, he clapped his hands thrice when he was suspended on the gallows. All this is testified in the Records of Parliament under the subscription of the Lords of the Privy Council, the Archbishop of Glasgow, many noblemen, and the magistrates and ministers of Edinburgh, who were upon the scaffold during the time of his execution. The queue being thus given to Restalrig's guilt, a summons of treason was executed against Robert Logan, his eldest son and heir, and all others concerned, on the 15th of February, 1609, to appear before the King and estates of Parliament, on the 12th of April, and defend themselves from the charge of high treason exhibited against the late Logan of Restalrig. The cause was brought before Parliament on the 24th of June, and his Majesty's Advocate, for proving of the charge, produced George Sprott's declarations, and confessions before the Privy Council, the Court of Justiciary, and on the scaffold. His Lordship also produced the depositions of witnesses examined before the Privy Council, and the Lords of Articles; and the following letters of the deceased Logan of Restalrig LETTER I. Right Honourable Sir, my duty, with service remembered.-Please you understand, my Lord of Gowrie, and some others his Lordship's friends and well-wishers, who tenders his Lordship's preferment, * Register of Parliament, 24th June, 1609. are upon the resolution, you know, for the revenge of that cause: and his Lordship has written to me anent that purpose; whereto I will accord, in case ye will stand to, and bear a part; and before ye resolve, meet me and Mr. Alexander Ruthven, in the Canongate, on Thursday the next week; and be as wary as you can. Indeed, Mr. Alexander Ruthven spoke with me four or five days since, and I have promised his Lordship an answer within ten days at farthest. As for the purpose, how Mr. Alexander Ruthven and I has set down the course, it will be a very easy done turn; and not far by that form with the like stratagem whereof we had conference in T. S. But in case you and Mr. Alexander Ruthven forgather; because he is somewhat uncautious, for God's sake béware with his racklessness as to this of Padua; for he told me one of the strangest tales of a Nobleman of Padua* that I ever heard in my life, resembling the like purpose. I pray you, Sir, think nothing, although this bearer understand of it; for he is the special secretary of my life; his name is Laird Bour, and was old Manderston's man for dead and life; and even so now for me. And for my own part, he shall know of all that I do in this world, so long as ever we live together; for I make him my household man: he is well worthy of credit, and recommend him to you. Always to the purpose, I think best, for our plot, that we meet all at my house of Fastcastle: for I have concluded with Mr. Alexander, who, I think, What this story is of a Nobleman of Padua, a learned antiquarian of Italy may possibly be able to unfold. I despair of ever hearing it. Lord Gowry and his brother, as they travelled for their accomplishment, passed a considerable time at Padua. H 1600 1600 shall be meetest to be conveyed quietly in a boat by sea; at which time, upon sure advertisement, I shall have the place very quiet and well provided; and, as I receive your answer, I will post this bearer to my Lord: and I pray you, as you love your own life, (because it is not a matter of mowse,) be circumspect in all things, and take no fear but all shall be well. I have no will that either my brother, or yet M. N. R. my Lord's old pedagogue, know any thing of the matter, till all be done that we would have done; and then I care not who gets wit that loves us. When ye have read, send this my letter back again with the bearer, that I may see it burn't myself; for so is the fashion in such errands: and, if you please, write your answer on the back hereof, in case ye will take my word for the credit of the bearer, and use all expedition; for the turn would not be long delayed. Ye know the King's hunting will be shortly; and then shall be best time, as Mr. Alexander has assured me, that my Lord has resolved to enterprize that matter. Looking for your answer, commits you to Christ's holy protection. From Fastcastle, the 18th day of July, 1600. Your's to utter power ready, LETTER II. RESTALRIG. Laird Bour, I pray you haste you west to me about the errand I told you; and we shall confer at length of all things. I have received a new letter from my Lord of Gowrie, concerning the purpose that Mr. Alexander, his Lordship's brother, spoke to me be 1 |
