e. In April, 1594, Atholl, signing for himself and Gowrie, and
Bothwell, signing for his associates, wrote a manifesto to the Kirk.
They were in arms, they said, for Protestant purposes, and wished
commissioners from among the preachers to attend them, and watch their
proceedings. {126} Bothwell then took action, he made a demonstration in
arms against Edinburgh, but the forces of Atholl and Gowrie did not
arrive and Bothwell retreated. Atholl was threatened for this affair,
but pardoned by the King, and died in August.

In the same month Gowrie informed the Town Council of Perth that he was
going to study abroad. They retained him in the position of Provost. He
went, with his tutor, Mr. Rhynd, to Padua, an university where
Protestantism was protected by the toleration of the Republic of Venice,
and where there was an Anglo-Scottish 'Nation' among the students. In
'The Return from Parnassus,' a satirical play of 1601, we find Gullio,
the admirer of Shakespeare, professing to have studied at Padua. Gowrie
is said to have been elected Rector, but I cannot find his name in the
lists. He does appear in the roll of Scottish scholars, some of them
characterised (unlike the English scholars) by personal marks. Most have
scars on the face or hand; Archibald Douglas has a scar on the brow from
left to right. James Lindsay, of Gowrie's year (1596-1597), has also a
scar on his brow. Next him is Andrew Keith, with a scar on his right
hand, and then _Dominus Ioannes Ruthuen_, _Scotus_, _cum signo albo in
mento_, 'with a white mark on his chin.' Then we have his luckless
tutor, Mr. Rhynd, who was tortured, _Scotus cum ledigine super facie_.
Robert Ker of Newbattle ('Kerrus de Heubattel') is another of Gowrie's
college companions. All were students of law. Magic was not compulsory
at Padua, though Gowrie was said to have studied that art. {127a}

Concerning Gowrie's behaviour at Padua but a single circumstance is
known. Probably through one of his fellow-students, Douglas, Ker, Keith,
Lindsay or another, the report reached Scotland that the young Earl had
left in Padua 'a strange relique,' an emblematic figure emblazoned; and
had made, on the subject, a singular remark. The emblematic figure
represented 'a blackamoor reaching at a crown with a sword, in a
stretched posture:' the remark of Gowrie, 'the Earl's own _mot_,' was to
the effect that the emblem displayed, _in umbra_, or foreshadowed, what
was to be done _in fa