GOW. 91 GOWRIE CONSPIRACY. liad a wide reputation for liis skill with the bow. His compositions were mostly reels and (lances. His four sons wore also violinists. — X.Tn.xiEL Gow ( 17(iG-18.'il ), the younijest, was the pupil of his father. He became one of the King's trumpeters, a well-known teaclicr. and published a number of collections of Scotch music, in which several of the selections were by his father and brothers. He himself wrote the popular "Caller Herrin' " and many other compo- sitions. GOWAW, gou'f/n. Ogle Robert ( ITOfilSTfi) . A Canadian legislator. He was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and removed in 1829 to Canada, where he became distinguished as a commander of British troops during the Rebel- lion of 1837-38, rising to the ranlc of lieutenant- colonel. The name of 'The Queen's Royal Bor- derers' was conferred upon the regiment which he had connnanded. In 1831 he was elected a member of the Parliament of Canada, and served in that body till 1841. He was grand master of the 'Orange Lodges of Xorth America.' He wrote two books on the subject, and also as conspicu- ous in Masonry. GOWEB, . John (c. 1325- 1408). An English poet. He was probably connected with the family of Sir Robert Gower (died about 1349). a large land- holder in Suffolk and in Kent. He married (prob- ably for the second time) in 1397. He was then residing in the priory of Saint jSIary Overies, Southwark. In some way he made money, with whicii he bought land. It is inferred from his writings that he was a merchant, very likely an exporter of wool. Chaucer dedicated to him Troilus and Cressida, and before going abroad in 1378, nominated him one of his attorneys. Grower, in turn, paid Chaucer a compliment near the close of the Confessio Amantis (first version). In 1400 Ciower became blind. He died in 1408 (between August 15th and October 24th), and was buried in Saint Saviour's Church, Southwark. Gower souglit to rest his fame on three great poems, written in three languages, French, Latin, and English. To each poem he gave a Latin title. The first, "Speculum Meditantis" (as- signed to 1376-79), long supposed to be lost, was identified by G. C. Macaulay, in 1895, with a manuscript in the Cambridge University library, bearing the title "Jlirour de I'Omme." The poem aims to give a complete account of the moral nature of man and to explain God's dealings with him and the world. 'The second poem, "Vox Clamantis" (1382-84?), written in Latin elegiac verse, describes the insurrection led by Wat Tyler. Of the third poem, "Confessio Amantis," there are two versions, one dedicated to King Richard II. and the other to Henry of Lancaster. They are assigned respectively to 1383 and 1393. The poem, which contains about 30.000 octo- svUnliie lines, is divided into a prologue and eight books. After the long prologue descriptive of the degradation of the time, a lover appeals to Venus to cure his malady. Venus sends a con- fessor called Genius to shrive him. Then ensues a long dialogue, in which the confessor relates current moral stories for the purpose of warning the lover against the various vices. Besides these longer works. Gower wrote minor poems in French, Latin, and English. Among them are the Traim (1397?) and the Cinkantc Balades ( 1 399 ? ) , both in French verse. The former sets Vol. IX.— 7. forth the nature of the marriage state; the lat- ter, a collection of fifty-one ballades, contains more poetic feeling than (iower's other ])()eins. Chaucer called his contemporary 'moral Gower.' The epithet exactly describes the intent of all his work. Possessing no originality, Gower took tales from many sources and moralized them. Popular in his own time, and long re- garded as the equal of Chaucer, he has become for the modern reader tedious and monotonous. With some exaggeration, Lowell called liini "the undertaker of the fair mediaeval legend." His work, however, has very great philological inter- est. His Complete Works were edited by G. C. Macaulay (Oxford and New York, 1902). GOWER, Lord Ron'.vld Sutheblaxd (1845 ■ — ) . An English sculptor and author. He was born in 1845 at Stall'ord House, the youngest son of the second Duke of Sutherland, and was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge, Among his works of art arc "Marie Antoinette on Her Way to Execution," "The Old Guard at Water- loo," the "Shakespeare Monument" at Stratford, and "Christ," presented to the city of New York in 1889. Among his publications are the inter- esting Reminiscences ( 1883) ; Life of Joan of Arc (1893) ; Last Days of Marie Antoinette (1885) ; and The Tower of London (1901). GOWRIE CONSPIRACY. One of the most mysterious events in the history of Scotland. It took place in August. 1000. .John Ruthven, third Earl of Gowrie, was then residing on his estate at Perth, and with him lived his brother, Alexander Ruthven. There was ill feeling at the time be- tween the Earl and .James VI., afterwards James I. of England, who had put the Earl's father to death for treason, and who owed Gowrie a large sum of money. On the 5th of the month, the King, with a few attendants, visited Gowrie Castle in order, as Alexander told a servant, to confer with the Earl in regard to the debt. After dinner Alexander led the King to a private study on 'a quiet errand,' and Gowrie took the other guests into the garden to eat cherries. While the guests were thus engaged, a servant came ami told them that the King had quit the castle and had ridden off to the Inch. Gowrie left the company for a moment, and on his return confirmed the servant's report. While the guests were in great excitement, not knowing what to do, they heard the King shouting "Trea- son!" from the study window, and looking up. caught a glimpse of his face. Naturally sus- pecting Gowrie, they tried to seize him ; but as he esea])ed, four of them made their way to the study, where they are said to have found Alex- ander Ruthven struggling with the King. They killed Ruthven with their daggers, after which Gowrie, accompanied by his servant, Cranston, burst into the room with a sword in each hand. Though he fought desperately to avenge his brother, he was overpowered and killed. In the room with Ruthven the King had found a man in annor. who, it was afterwards alleged, was Henderson, Gowrie's chamberlain. This man testified in court that Gowrie had ordered him to go to the chamber, put on his armor, and do Ruthven's bidding. As it appeared that Hender- son had not raised his hand against the King, he was pardoned. The court used torture to ex- tort evidence from Gowrie's servants, and ac- cepted nothing in favor of their master. Three
