Great precautions, therefore, were used by the Scottish malecontents in their representations to the king; but no redress was obtained.

Charles loaded them with caresses, and continued Lauderdale in his authority.
A very bad, at least a severe use was made of this authority.

The privy council dispossessed twelve gentlemen or noblemen of their houses;[*] which were converted into so many garrisons, established for the suppression of conventicles.

The nation, it was pretended, was really, on account of these religious assemblies, in a state of war; and by the ancient law, the king, in such an emergence, was empowered to place a garrison in any house where he should judge it expedient.
* In 1675.
It were endless to recount every act of violence and arbitrary authority exercised during Lauderdale's administration.
All the lawyers were put from the bar, nay, banished by the King's order twelve miles from the capital, and by that means the whole justice of the kingdom was suspended for a year; till these lawyers were brought to declare it as their opinion, that all appeals to parliament were illegal.

A letter was procured from the king, for expelling twelve of the chief magistrates of Edinburgh, and declaring them incapable of all public office; though their only crime had been their want of compliance with Lauderdale.