In some of them devotion to their Church had extinguished every national sentiment.

Some were Irishmen, whose patriotism consisted in mortal hatred of the Saxon conquerors of Ireland.

Some, again, were traitors, who received regular hire from a foreign power.

Some had passed a great part of their lives abroad, and either were mere cosmopolites, or felt a positive distaste for the manners and institutions of the country which was now subjected to their rule.

Between such men and the lord of a Cheshire or Staffordshire manor who adhered to the old Church there was scarcely anything in common.