Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

r 1 6 The. Earls of Middleto7i.
limiting the fines to one year's rent, which should be
imposed only on those who had offended since the
previous Act of Oblivion.
This measure had some show of plausibility on
the face of it, but in its carrying out it degenerated
into a mere pretext for enriching Middleton's friends
and himself. A secret committee for levying fines was
appointed, which was not called on to give account of
its proceedings. Lists of offenders, framed more in
respect to their means of paying than to their culpa-
bility, were drawn up, and fines affixed to their
names. When these were made public, it was found
out that many of those mentioned had been mere
infants at the time of the late disturbances ; others
had been living abroad, and had taken no part in
them whatever ; but, to all remonstrances, it was
answered that at the proper time each man should be
heard in his own defence. If any objected to pay
the fine he might do so, but on penalty of forfeiting
the benefit of the Act, which none were found hardy
enough to venture. 1
On 1 2th June, 1662, Middleton's elder daughter,
Lady Grizel, was married to William, 2 tenth Earl of
1 Wright; Hume.
" William Douglas, tenth Earl of Morton. The grandfather of this
nobleman, William, eighth earl, was, before the breaking out of the
Civil War, one of the richest and greatest subjects in the kingdom.
Espousing the royal cause zealously, he advanced considerable sums for