Gowrie

Anon. (1604)

Historical Records

Letter: John Chamberlain

John Chamberlain to Ralph Winwood, 18 December 1604:

… the tragedie of Gowrie with all the action and actors hath ben twise represented by the Kings players, with exceding concourse of all sortes of people, but whether the matter or manner be not well handled, or that yt be thought unfit that prices should be plaide on the stage in theyre life time, I heare that some great counsaillors are much displeased with yt: and so is thought shalbe forbidden. …

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 Gowrie conspiracy, like so many luridly popular 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.