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liar from his birth; and Anders Keith,1 who was
rapidly-rising in King John’s favour, and had just been made
Governor of Vadstena Castle (1574).
The conspiracy- originated with Mornay, who, shortly
after the arrival of the Scots in June 1573, taunted them
with having sought the services of a king who was so poor
that he would not be able to pay them one month’s wages.
He would send them out of the way to a place where
they would die of hunger and cold. Mornay advised
them not to allow themselves to be separated, but to
remain together until their claims should be satisfied.2
Having thus prepared the soil by sowing the seed of
discontent and arousing the perfervidum ingenium of the
Scottish officers, he ventured a step further. In the
month of August, when both Ruthven and Balfour were
in Stockholm, more definite proposals were made. Jean
Allard promised them 100,000 Thaler each, and three
months’ pay for their men, if they would liberate King
Eric, and Mornay settled other details. According to
Messenius, the Swedish historian,3 King John was to be
slain at the Royal Palace during a performance of the
Highland sword-dance, which was new to the Swedish
1 Anders (Andrew) Keith of Dingwall came to Sweden about 1569.
The king used him on a number of diplomatic missions, for instance to
England and Queen Elizabeth in 1583. In Oxenstjerna’s letter of
introduction he is called “ eques aureatus ” and “ affinis meus.” He was
married to Elizabeth Grip. The wedding took place at the king’s own
expense, the bride being a grand-daughter of Margaretta Vasa. He
continued to be one of the king’s most trusted counsellors. His house in
Stockholm in the Vitra Langgatan, behind the Palace, is still to be seen
with his crest and motto, “Auxilium meum in Domino.” It was
afterwards bought by King Sigismund, who wanted to make a Roman
Catholic chapel of it.
2 Gilbert Balfour’s statements in Mornay’s Rättegångsacter. Riks A
See also, Odberg, l.c.9 p. 57.
3 Messenius, Scandia illustrata, vii. 24.
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