Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

poor Vaudois broke over their mountains. Fire and
sword were carried through their land; their
homesteads and sanctuaries were razed, a
miserable remnant only were left of this once
flourishing people, and they, after languishing for
some time in prison, were carried to other
countries, and for the first time in history their
valleys were seen to be empty. Nor did these close
the list of Protestant reverses. The Electorate of the
Palatinate passed to a most bigoted Popish family.
In the same year, too, the structure of arbitrary
power in Scotland was advanced a stage. The
Parliament which met in May of that year was so
submissive that it passed two Acts: the first for "the
security of the Protestant religion" -- " that is," says
Dr. Kennet, "for the extirpation of the
Presbyterians;" and the second for settling" the
excise of inland and foreign commodities upon his
Majesty and heirs for ever." In the preamble of this
last Act, they declare "that they abhor all principles
that are derogatory to the king's sacred, supreme,
and absolute power and authority, which none,
whether private persons or collegiate bodies, can
participate of any manner of way, but in
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