The plot, directed against the Marquess of Argyll, the Marquess of Hamilton, and his brother the Earl of Lanark, is hatched by the Royalist, and rival of Argyll, the Earl of Montrose, who had already attempted to have Argyll charged with high treason.

The three are to be kidnapped and taken on board a ship at Leith, but on October 11, General Leslie, the leader of the Covenanter army, is informed of the plot by Sir John Hurry, a Scottish soldier who had been invited to join the conspiracy.

Argyll, Hamilton and Lanark are forced to flee from Edinburgh to Hamilton's property at Kinneil House, near Bo'ness.

The next day, Charles denies any involvement in the plot—or , as it is soon called, the Incident—and is soon forced to allow an investigation into the matter.

Charles is left with no option but to submit to the Covenanters' demands.

He assents to the abolition of episcopacy in Scotland, and appoints Covenanting nobles to the Privy Council of Scotland and other positions, before returning to England in November to face the increasing threat of civil war.