Gowrie: Difference between revisions
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==Probable Genre(s)==
==Probable Genre(s)==


<List possible genres of the play: if noted by a critic, cite them, e.g. "Comedy (Harbage)". If an original speculation, simply list the genre.>
History (Harbage?)




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The great oddity about this play is that the King's players put it on during their first year as servants of King James, yet it is rumored to have upset enough nobles enough to risk being taken down. Why put it up if it was a risk?
The great oddity about this play is that the King's players put it on during their first year as servants of King James, yet it is rumored to have upset enough nobles enough to risk being taken down. Why put it up if it was a risk?
The Gowry conspiracy, like so many popularly lurid events, spawned jests, as in the following:
<blockquote>When ''Gowry'' (who attempted to kill King ''James'') was had to the Tower, a friend of his told him, Ah, my Lord, I am sorry you had no more Wit. ''Tush'', (quoth he) ''thou knowest not what thou sayst, when sawest thou a fool come hither''?</blockquote>




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==Works Cited==
==Works Cited==


<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Anon. ''Poor Robin's Jests; or, the Compleat Jester''. London, 1667.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Cowan, Samuel. ''The Gowrie Conspiracy and its Official Narrative''. London: Sampson Lowe, Marston & Co., Ltd., 1902.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Cowan, Samuel. ''The Gowrie Conspiracy and its Official Narrative''. London: Sampson Lowe, Marston & Co., Ltd., 1902.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">— — —. ''The Ruthven Family Papers''. London: Simpkin, Markshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 1912.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">— — —. ''The Ruthven Family Papers''. London: Simpkin, Markshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 1912.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Davies, J. D. ''Blood of Kings: The Stuarts, the Ruthvens and the 'Gowrie Conspiracy'''. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 2010.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Davies, J. D. ''Blood of Kings: The Stuarts, the Ruthvens and the 'Gowrie Conspiracy'''. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 2010.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Forde, Thomas. ''Virtus Rediviva: a Panegyrick on our Late King Charles the I ...''. London, 1661.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Foxe, John. ''Christs Victorie ouer Sathans Tyrannie. ...''. London, 1615.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Hacket, John. ''A Century of Sermons upon Several Remarkable Subjects ...''. London, 1675.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Hart, William. ''The Examinations, Arraignment & Conuiction of George Sprot ...'''. London, 1608.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Holyday, Barten. ''A Sermon Preached at Pauls Crosse, August the 5. 1623''. London, 1626.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Holyday, Barten. ''A Sermon Preached at Pauls Crosse, August the 5. 1623''. London, 1626.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Lang, Andrew. ''James VI and the Gowrie Mystery''. New York: Longmans, 1902.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em">Lang, Andrew. ''James VI and the Gowrie Mystery''. New York: Longmans, 1902.</div>

Revision as of 16:05, 18 February 2012

Anon. (1604)


Historical Records

Letter; John Chamberlain?


Theatrical Provenance

King's players


Probable Genre(s)

History (Harbage?)


Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

(under construction)


References to the Play

Information welcome.


Critical Commentary

(under construction)


For What It's Worth

The great oddity about this play is that the King's players put it on during their first year as servants of King James, yet it is rumored to have upset enough nobles enough to risk being taken down. Why put it up if it was a risk?

The Gowry conspiracy, like so many popularly lurid events, spawned jests, as in the following:

When Gowry (who attempted to kill King James) was had to the Tower, a friend of his told him, Ah, my Lord, I am sorry you had no more Wit. Tush, (quoth he) thou knowest not what thou sayst, when sawest thou a fool come hither?


Works Cited

Anon. Poor Robin's Jests; or, the Compleat Jester. London, 1667.
Cowan, Samuel. The Gowrie Conspiracy and its Official Narrative. London: Sampson Lowe, Marston & Co., Ltd., 1902.
— — —. The Ruthven Family Papers. London: Simpkin, Markshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 1912.
Davies, J. D. Blood of Kings: The Stuarts, the Ruthvens and the 'Gowrie Conspiracy'. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 2010.
Forde, Thomas. Virtus Rediviva: a Panegyrick on our Late King Charles the I .... London, 1661.
Foxe, John. Christs Victorie ouer Sathans Tyrannie. .... London, 1615.
Hacket, John. A Century of Sermons upon Several Remarkable Subjects .... London, 1675.
Hart, William. The Examinations, Arraignment & Conuiction of George Sprot ...'. London, 1608.
Holyday, Barten. A Sermon Preached at Pauls Crosse, August the 5. 1623. London, 1626.
Lang, Andrew. James VI and the Gowrie Mystery. New York: Longmans, 1902.


Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 18 February 2012.