THE EXILE OF KING JAMES II

The Exile of the King James II

The flight of the king in 1688, after three years on the throne, ended a brief respite from persecution that Catholic recusants had enjoyed. William and Mary, who now headed the State, emphasized the predominance of the Protestant religion to the exclusion of Catholicism. In effect it meant that Catholics were made to suffer the rigours of the laws made against them, such as being heavily fined and imprisoned for practising their faith. The law which condemned priests and their associates to death was not carried out in the 18th Century, though priests continued to be harassed, imprisoned and exiled from their native land.

The immediate effect, following the accession to the throne of William and Mary, was to arouse Protestant fanatics to indulge in an orgy of destruction of Catholic premises. In Lincoln, the chapel Catholics had built during the short reign of James II, was destroyed by a mob of fanatics and the priests of the Lincoln residence severely harassed and imprisoned.

After the outburst of anti-catholic fervour that accompanied the accession of William and Mary, the18th Century would be one of comparative peace for Catholic recusants in N. Lincs. They still were burdened with fines for following their faith, which they were obliged to do in secret. Their priests could be arrested for being present in the country and Catholics were still barred from offices of State such as membership of the legislature and the House of Lords. The tolerant attitude of the government meant that the Jesuits were able to build a chapel in Lincoln to replace the one destroyed by a mob. This was situated in the Thornbridge area of the city. It was transferred to the upper room of a house in Bank Street in 1750. Mass was celebrated in these chapels behind locked doors.

George Young who lived in Kingerby Hall writes about the secrecy necessary for Catholic worship, “ I have been told by those who attended that they always had somebody watching during Mass, fearing informers. The vestments etc. were all taken after service, to my uncle’s house at Thornton where they were concealed in the roof”6. Elizabeth Rennel, mother of John Lingard, the historian, who lived near Claxby relates her experience when attending the celebration of mass. My family used to go in a cart to hear Mass, the priest in a round frock, resembled a poor man.

Priests were frequently in the hiding places at Kingerby Hall. The Rev. Henry Hall, vicar of Louth, tells the story of a woman, a member of his flock, who speaks of priests being concealed in these hiding place. The woman remembered when a child having been reprimanded told the priest she would inform of him. In the18th Century it was still a capital offence to harbour a priest.