But even under the rule of Rome it would not be easy to find thirty cases of martyrs burned at the stake by "the bloudie Bishops," between the fifteenth century and the martyrdom of Myln.

By 1560 the old Church was in such a hideous decline--with ruffianly men of quality in high spiritual places; with priests who did not attend Mass, and in many cases could not read; with churches left to go to ruin; with license so notable that, in one foundation, the priest is only forbidden to keep a _constant_ concubine--that faith had waxed cold, and no Catholic felt "ripe" for martyrdom.

The elements of a League, as in France, did not exist.

There was no fervently Catholic town population like that of Paris; no popular noble warriors, like the Ducs de Guise, to act as leaders.

Thus Scotland, in this age, ran little risk of a religious civil war.