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Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

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change was effected by the threats or promises of<br />

Tyrconnel, by the <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uations of his secretary<br />

Ellis, and, when these failed, by Quo-warrantos<br />

brought <strong>in</strong>to the Exchequer Court. New charters<br />

were granted, filled up chiefly with Romanists, or<br />

men of desperate or of no fortune; and a clause was<br />

<strong>in</strong>serted <strong>in</strong> every one of them plac<strong>in</strong>g them under<br />

the absolute control of the k<strong>in</strong>g, so that the Lord<br />

Lieutenant could put <strong>in</strong> or exclude from these<br />

corporations whomsoever he would. Thus the<br />

barrier of free Parliamentary representation <strong>in</strong><br />

Ireland was leveled with the dust.[6]<br />

All be<strong>in</strong>g now ready -- a Popish Lord<br />

Lieutenant, a Popish bench of judges, Popish<br />

corporations, and a Popish army be<strong>in</strong>g set up -- the<br />

civil rights of Protestants were largely confiscated.<br />

Odious and treasonable charges were laid at their<br />

door; these were supported by false oaths; f<strong>in</strong>es,<br />

imprisonments, and confiscation of estates<br />

followed. The Protestant was actually placed<br />

beyond law. If a Popish tenant owed his Protestant<br />

landlord his rent, he paid him by swear<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>in</strong>to<br />

a plot. If a Papist owed his Protestant neighbor any<br />

553

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