But Laud’s plans were more successful in Ulster. There he gradually replaced Bishops of the Irish Church who had been tolerant of Presbyterian and Puritain ministers with prelates bent on compelling all clergymen to conform to the rules and ceremonies of the Episcopal Church. Most of the Presbyterian ministers, refused to conform to the new regulations. They were driven out of their churches and many of them, followed by some of their people, returned to Scotland. For five years the Scottish settlers were without ministers, but continued their religious devotions. They would steal away at night to lonely spots to hold meetings in which one of their number preached. Persecution of the Presbyterians was extended to the Puritans and Catholics in the campaign to bring all religious worship under the rules of the Episcopal Church. Only in 1640 was it relaxed when the King came in conflict with the English Parliament, a contest which resulted in civil war in England from which King Charles lost his head along with his crown. Then religious liberty was restored and people came flocking back from Scotland, a movement that suddenly stopped with the outbreak of the great Irish rebellion in 1641.