With all his diligence Essex had not succeeded in getting rid of the Tories and other disturbers of the peace. Orrery was an alarmist, but he found it hard to get even murder punished. One very bad offender had his bonds cut by an Irish constable, and many local magistrates 'living in lone houses, fearing their activity might cause revenge, are remiss.' Lord Massereene reported that the southern part of Londonderry county was full of idle people 'supporting themselves and their clans by the spoil of others.' In Connaught Dr. Thomas Otway, Bishop of Killala, was particularly active, and had an equally low opinion of the justices, but approved the conduct of some Scottish iron-workers who cut off the heads of such Tories as they could catch. 'This chopping of their heads doth much more terrify others from running out than hanging, though that doth pretty well when they come to it, but it is a long time first, they have so many friends not only Irish but English and some of them sitting on the bench ... all our justices are tantum non Presbyterians and I wish they were but tantum nons.' The Presbyterians, said Otway, were nearly as subtle proselytisers as the Jesuits, and many scandalous papers against episcopacy were in circulation. Even the gentle Margetson reported that there were great meetings for no good, though they were professedly only to 'hear the word.' Considering the state of Scotland at the time there was some cause for alarm.[115] [Sidenote: Ormonde returns to the Government.] [Sidenote: Irish doctors at Oxford.]