The Tudor Society

August 5 – The suspicious deaths of two brothers in Scotland

On this day in Tudor history, 5th August 1600, John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, and his brother, Alexander Ruthven, Master of Ruthven, were killed in mysterious circumstances at Gowrie House near Perth in Scotland.

They were killed as they allegedly tried to kidnap, King James VI of Scotland, who, in 1603, inherited the English throne from Queen Elizabeth I and became King James I. The plot was known as the Ruthven Conspiracy or Gowrie Conspiracy.

But what happened? Did these men really try to kidnap the king or was there more to the story?

And on this day in 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII, administrator Sir Reynold or Reginald Bray died.

Who was Bray? What offices had he held? And what are his links to Westminster Abbey and St George's Chapel?

Find out more in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts...

And on this day in 1549, the Battle of Clyst St Mary took place...

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August 5 – The suspicious deaths of two brothers in Scotland