The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

seemed to be all struck of a heap; and whether, from
the great terror that had seized all the inhabitants, they
thought ane immediate enquiry would be fruitless, or
whether, being a direct insult upon the prerogative of
the crown, they did not care rashly to intermeddle; but
no proceedings was had by them. Only, soon after, ane
express was sent to his Majestie’s Solicitor, who came to
town as soon as was possible for him; but, in the meantime,
the persons who had been most guilty, had either
ran off, or, at least, kept themselves upon the wing until
they should see what steps were taken by the Government.
“When the Solicitor arrived, he perceived the whole
inhabitants under a consternation. He had no materials
furnished him; nay, the inhabitants were so much afraid
of being reputed informers, that very few people had so
much as the courage to speak with him on the streets.
However, having received her Majestie’s orders, by a letter
from the Duke of New castle, he resolved to sett
about the matter in earnest, and entered upon ane enquiry,
gropeing in the dark. He had no assistance from
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the magistrates worth mentioning, but called witness
after witness in the privatest manner, before himself in
his own house, and for six weeks time, from morning to
evening, went on in the enquiry without taking the least
diversion, or turning his thoughts to any other business.
“He tried at first what he could do by declarations, by
engaging secresy, so that those who told the truth should
never be discovered; made use of no clerk, but wrote all
the declarations with his own hand, to encourage them
to speak out. After all, for some time, he could get nothing
but ends of stories which, when pursued, broke off;
and those who appeared and knew anything of the matter,
were under the utmost terror, lest it should take air
that they had mentioned any one man as guilty.
“During the course of the enquiry, the run of the town,
which was strong for the villanous actors, begun to alter
a little, and when they saw the King’s servants in
earnest to do their best, the generality, who before had
spoke very warmly in defence of the wickedness, began
to be silent, and at that period more of the criminals
began to abscond.