I have read your discussion with interest and wanted to contribute a couple of things from the Scottish historical angle. The Jacobite rebellion of 1745/6 in Scotland, was not predominantly Catholic or highland; contrary to what many of the history books & later songs tell us. Researching the muster lists of the Jacobite army (which they seem to have kept quite accurately), tells us that the rebellion was in fact predominantly protestant and contained as many lowlanders as highlanders. In fact, many of the contemporary Jacobite songs allude to the lowlands role in the rebellion. Why then do we remember this as predominantly Catholic & highland ? England was soon afterwards in a full scale war with France, Scotland's oldest ally. The English had to pull Scotland firmly into Britain in order that the Scots would not let the French in through the back door and to ensure that Scotland would supply England with fighting men. It must be remembered that government troops were still coming under attack from armed Jacobites in the 1760's. A propoganda exercise therefore took place, which emphasised Scotland's links with England and placed responsibility for the rebellion at the door of an old Catholic, highland society and not with the current Scottish people. 'Others' had carried out the rebellion. The best propogandist was Sir Walter Scott who single handedly romanticised the whole Jacobite affair, making it both distant and harmless. The rebellion is currently being re interpreted, perhaps it was a popular rising of Scottish nationalism, reacting to the unpopular Act of Union with England in 1707 ? For a good book on the subject, try Murray Pittock's 'The Myth of the Jacobite Clans'. Hope that this is helpful & not too long winded !