Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

Protestant schools throughout Ireland were shut
up, or converted into Popish seminaries. The
Protestant churches in many parts of the country
were converted into mass-houses. Their seizure
was effected with a mixture of violence and
devotion. The mayor, accompanied by the priests,
would proceed to the edifice, send to the sexton for
the keys, and if these were refused, break open the
door; the building entered, the pews would be torn
up, the floor cleared, mass would be said, and then
the church would be declared consecrated, and not
to be given back to the Protestants under pain of
sacrilege.
Death was not as yet decreed against the
Protestants, but they were called to endure every
violence and wrong short of it; and in not a few
instances this last penalty was actually meted out to
them, though not ostensibly for their Protestantism.
Many were murdered in their houses, some were
killed by the soldiers, some perished by martial
law, and others were starved to death in prisons.
Things were in train for a general slaughter, and
there is some ground to fear that the horrible
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