CHAP.

LXX.

1SUS.

State ofScotland.

State of. Ireland.

114 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

■was turned out of his office : The treasury wasput in commission, and Bella sis was placed at thehead of it. All the courtiers were disgusted, evensuch as had little regard to religion. The dilhonor,as well as distrust , attending renegades , mademost men resolve, at all hazards, to adhere to theirancient faith.

In Scotland, James’s zeal for proselytism wasmore successful. The earls of Murray, Perth,and Melfort were brought over to the court-religion; and the two latter noblemen made useof a very courtly reason for their conversion:They pretended, that the papers, found in thelate king’s cabinet, had opened their eyes, andhad convinced them of the preference due to thecatholic religion. Queenstierry, who showed notthe fame complaisance, fell into total disgrace,notwithstanding his former services , and theimportant sacrifices, which he had made to themeasures of the court. These merits could noteven ensure him of safety against the vengeance,to which he stood exposed. His rival, Perth, whohad been ready to sink under his superior interest,now acquired the ascendant; and all the com-plaints , exhibited against him , were totallyobliterated. His faith, according to a faying ofHalifax, had made him whole.

But it was in Ireland chiefly, that the maflewas wholly taken off, and that the king thoughthimself at liberty to proceed, to the full extentof his zeal and his violence. The duke of Ormondwas recalled; and though the primate and lord