It was indeed asserted that some wounds were inflicted with much more formidable weapons, [269] Edinburgh, the seat of government, was in a state of anarchy.

The Castle, which commanded the whole city, was still held for James by the Duke of Gordon.

The common people were generally Whigs.

The College of justice, a great forensic society composed of judges, advocates, writers to the signet, and solicitors, was the stronghold of Toryism: for a rigid test had during some years excluded Presbyterians from all the departments of the legal profession.

The lawyers, some hundreds in number, formed themselves into a battalion of infantry, and for a time effectually kept down the multitude.