James had treated them with a high hand and a proud heart.

Under Charles, wedded to a "Jezebel," a Catholic wife, Henrietta Maria, the Puritan hatred of such prelates as Laud expressed itself in threats of murder; while heavy fines and cruel mutilations were inflicted by the party in power.

The Protestant panic, the fear of a violent restoration of Catholicism in Scotland, never slumbered.

In Scotland Catholics were at this time bitterly persecuted, and believed that a presbyterian general massacre of them all was being organised.

By the people the Anglican bishops and the prayer-book were as much detested as priests and the Mass.