According to Wikipedia (links in the original), the Gowrie conspiracy refers to a series of events unfolding on 5 August 1600 that are still shrouded in mystery: “John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie … was a Scottish nobleman who died in mysterious circumstances [on 5 August 1600], referred to as the ‘Gowrie Conspiracy’, in which he and his brother Alexander attempted to kill or kidnap King James VI of Scotland for unknown purposes. The king’s retinue killed both brothers during the attack, and the king survived….”

Crazy, right?