unt, had been making every preparation to
leave for Dirleton, which involved arrangements about their horses.

In any case, Mr. Robert Oliphant, in a house in the Canongate, in
November or early December 1600, declared that Cranstoun, who, he said,
knew nothing of the conspiracy, had been hanged, while Henderson, _who
was in the secret_, _and had taken the turret part_, escaped, and
retained his position as Chamberlain of Scone. Henderson, at the
critical moment, had 'fainted,' said Oliphant; that is, had failed from
want of courage. Oliphant went on to say that he himself had been with
Gowrie in Paris (February-March 1600), and that, both in Paris and at
home in Scotland later, Gowrie had endeavoured to induce him to take the
part later offered to Henderson. He had tried, but in vain, to divert
Gowrie's mind from his dangerous project. This talk of Oliphant's leaked
out (through Lyn as we know), and Oliphant, says Nicholson, 'fled again.'
{75}

Of Oliphant we learn no more till about June 1608. At that time, the
King, in England, heard a rumour that he had been connected with the
conspiracy. A Captain Patrick Heron {76} obtained a commission to find
Oliphant, and arrested him at Canterbury: he was making for Dover and for
France. Heron seized Oliphant's portable property, 'eight angels, two
half rose-nobles, one double pistolet, two French crowns and a half, one
Albertus angel; two English crowns; one Turkish piece of gold, two gold
rings, and a loose stone belonging to one; three Netherland dollars; one
piece of four royals; two _quart decuria_; seven pieces of several coins
of silver; two purses, one sword; one trunk, one "mail," and two
budgetts.' Oliphant himself lay for nine months in 'the Gate House of
Westminster,' but Heron, 'careless to justify his accusation, and
discovering his aim in that business' (writes the King), 'presently
departed from hence.' 'We have tried the innocency of Mr. Robert
Oliphant,' James goes on, 'and have freed him from prison.' The Scottish
Privy Council is therefore ordered, on March 6, 1609, to make Heron
restore Oliphant's property. On May 16, 1609, Heron was brought before
the Privy Council in Edinburgh, and was bidden to make restitution. He
was placed in the Tolbooth, but released by Lindsay, the keeper of the
prison. In March 1610, Oliphant having again gone abroad, Heron
expressed his readiness to restore the goods, except the trunk and bags,
which he had given t