From that time it was clear that what he really wanted was not liberty of conscience for the members of his own church, but liberty to persecute the members of other churches.

Pretending to abhor tests, he had himself imposed a test.

He thought it hard, he thought it monstrous, that able and loyal men should be excluded from the public service solely for being Roman Catholics.

Yet he had himself turned out of office a Treasurer, whom he admitted to be both loyal and able, solely for being a Protestant.

The cry was that a general proscription was at hand, and that every public functionary must make up his mind to lose his soul or to lose his place.