AN INSURRECTION IN FAVOUR OF THE HOUSE OF STEWART, 1715—BATTLE OF SHERIFFMUIR—FLIGHT OF JAMES III. AND VIII—ESCAPE OF THE EARL OF NITHS­DALE—POPULAR FEELING HOSTILE TO CATHOLICS—IDEA OF TOLERATION ENTERTAINED BY SOME—SECRETARY OF STATE STANHOPE, PROPOSES A MITI­GATION OF THE PENAL LAWS—THE MISSION CONSTITUTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE A LIVING CHURCH—THE STATUTA MISSIONIS ADOPTED—ADMINIS­TRATORS APPOINTED—IN 1703, SEVENTEEN SECULAR PRIESTS, SEVEN JESUITS, FOUR BENEDICTINES AND FIVE FRANCISCANS—PRESHOME THE BISHOP’S RESI­DENCE—500 CATHOLICS IN BRAEMAR WHERE THE CHURCH OWNED NO LAND— A PRIEST DRAGGED FROM THE ALTAR—DEATH OF BISHOP NICHOLSON, 1718.

In the time of Bishop Nicholson there occurred an event which was the occasion of serious annoyance to the Catholics of Scotland. A discontented nobleman of the Court of London, the Earl of Mar, came in 1715 to Scotland, his native country, and raised an insurrection against the reigning family in favour of the heir male of the House of Stewart, the Chevalier St. George, or, as he was styled by his adherents, James the third and eighth. The adventurous Earl succeeded in collecting a small army consisting of Highlanders and some enthusiastic Jacobites of the Lowlands. There were some ineffectual skirmishers in Scotland. A battle was lost in the north of England; and finally, at Sheriffmuir in Scotland, the Earl of Mar, at the head of his force, met the army of the existing government commanded by the Duke of Argyle. Neither party succeeded in defeating the other; but, the result was practically a victory for Argyle, the Jaco­bites under the leadership of Mar retiring to the City of Perth. They were joined there by the exiled Prince, a circumstance which, far from adding to their strength, tended to destroy any little prestige they may have possessed. The unmilitary appearance of James the third and eighth was but little calculated to raise the courage of the soldiery. He kept aloof from them, never reviewing them or seeing them on parade. He seemed to think that mere ceremony could make a King. He had himself crowned, with all the grandeur imaginable, at Scone, where the ancient Monarchs of Scotland were inaugurated; and as if this had made him King, he surrounded himself with all the pomp and circumstance of royalty. Assuming command in place of his Lieu­tenant, the Earl of Mar, he gave orders that the country between Perth and Sheriffmuir should be laid waste in order to prevent the advance of the enemy. This was a cruel measure which he only believed to be justified by the necessity of the case. To his credit, let it be said, that he after­wards sent a sum of money to the Duke of Argyle to be distributed as compensation to the people whose property he had caused to be destroyed. His hard precaution was of no avail. The enemy bravely made their way over the snow and through the desolated villages. Another battle was not risked. The Jacobite army, that had fought so gallantly at Sheriffmuir, had no heart to renew the fray, and the whole force, on the approach of Argyle’s men, melted away like snow beneath the summer sky. The Prince himself was among the first to seek safety in flight. He escaped in disguise, and, in due course, reached the coast of France.

Now came the justice of a strong and stern government. Several noblemen who had been leaders in the rebellion were condemned to death. The rank and file were more mercifully dealt with. In some cases the headsman was disappointed of his prey. The Earl of Nithsdale escaped through the cleverness and daring of his wife. The Countess of Nithsdale had so far gained by liberal presents the good will of the guards of her husband’s prison in the Tower of London, that they allowed her access to him whenever she pleased. It became a lady of such high ranks to be attended by a maid or a relative. This also was permitted. On the day before that on which Lord Nithsdale was to be executed, the Countess, accompanied by a tall lady the same height as her husband, visited the prison. The tall lady gave her dress to the prisoner and he was carefully arrayed in it, the Countess altering somewhat the colour of his face and concealing his beard. He then assumed the attitude of the lady who had come in, bending down, oppressed with sorrow, shedding tears and holding a handkerchief to her face. In all this the prisoner’s imitation was perfect and he passed the guards in safety. To give him time to reach some place of refuge, the Countess held a pretended conversation with him in his prison, speaking to him and then imitating his voice in reply. Lord Nithsdale escaped to France, where he was soon joined by the Countess, and where they spent the remainder of their days in peace and happiness. A record of this wonderful escape was written by the Countess of Nithsdale herself, and is carefully preserved by the family to this day. The manuscript of the Countess has been wrought into a beautiful and interesting narrative by Lady Dacre.

As most of the parties engaged in the ill-fated insurrection were either Catholics or non-juring Episcopalians, the former who had, for some time, been gaining in popular favour, incurred a new measure of odium. It does not appear that any extreme persecution was carried on against them. But there was a persecution of popular feeling which rendered it more difficult for the clergy to exercise the duties of their office. There were those, nevertheless, wha considered that the penal laws ought to be mitigated and Catholics placed more on an equality with their fellow-citizens. This happy idea, indicative of a more enlightened time, found its way into the cabinet of King George and the British Parliament. Secretary of State Stanhope, in proposing a measure of toleration to the House of Commons, “desired to repeal not only the act against occasional conformity, the schism act and the test act, but also to mitigate the penal laws against Roman Catholics.” (Knight, Hist. of Eng.) This was too much for the time; but it says something for the improving spirit of the age, that, although this clause was rejected, it was not without powerful support in Parliament. The very idea of placing Catholics on a juster footing of equality with the rest of the people, would not, for a moment, have been entertained by the Parliament of King William which enacted the cruel penal laws in opposition to the strongly expressed will of their Sovereign.

To return to Bishop Nicholson. It had been regulated in the time of the second and last Prefect that each priest for the more effectual discharge of his duties, should limit himself to a certain district. This regulation was imperfectly complied with, there not being sufficient authority to enforce it. It was now renewed, and having the sanction of the bishop, came into full operation. It gave a new character to the mission investing it with the form of a living church, each priest having what might be called his parish, and he himself being a quasi parish priest. None could act in his district without his permission, and none but such as were approved by the bishop could obtain that permission.

The bishop also prepared a body of regulations for the disciplinary guidance of the clergy, which were called statuta missionis. They were unanimously adopted at a general meeting of the clergy, held in 1700, and continued in force till they were extended by Bishop Hay. The same meeting resolved on another beneficial measure which greatly facilitated the management of the mission, Seven of the most experienced priests were appointed Administrators in order to attend to the interests of the clergy generally, to represent them and act for them, whilst they should also give the bishop the benefit of their advice, and, subject to his supervision, manage the temporal affairs of the mission. Their number was afterwards, in the time of Bishop Nicholson’s successor, 1719, increased to nine.

A very full and interesting report of the state of the mission, presented to the congregation of Propaganda in 1703, shews that, at that time, there were seventeen secular priests, two of whom were Irishmen, in Scotland. There were also seven Jesuits, four Benedictines and five Irish Fran­ciscans, in all thirty-three missionary Priests. It may appear extraordinary, but, it is, neverthe­less, related as a fact, that the seven Jesuits were not subject to the jurisdiction of the Bishop Vicar Apostolic. The Benedictines and Franciscans were so subject.

The Bishop’s residence was at Preshome in the Enzie, county of Banff. He could not, however, very often be there, as he was almost always engaged in episcopal visitations. It was also the home of the Procurator of the mission and the principal missionary station. There, the clergy, for the most part, held their meetings. There was no place where they could be more free from molestation, the influence of the Gordons being predominant in that, part of the country. This influence also moderated the rulers of the land, who, besides, were beginning to act on more liberal principles. There still remained some twelve Catholic barons who afforded powerful protection to their brethren in religion, especially on their own estates.

In 1706, the absence from the country of the Earl of Mar, who had a great antipathy to the Cath­olic religion, gave the bishop an opportunity of visiting Braemar. It would have been dangerous, if at all possible at any other time. He found there as many as five hundred Catholics. When so many fell away all around them, how happened it, we may inquire, that they remained steadfast in the faith? They themselves ascribed this blessing to the fact that the Church possessed no lands among them, and hence none were tempted to apostatize far the sake of gain. No doubt this was one of the chief causes. But, they owed much to their parish priest of the time, who was a very pious man, courageous as well as pious, and much loved by his flock. Instead of retiring in the evil days, yielding to the storm of persecution that raged so violently, he remained with his people, encouraging them by his presence and example, and exhorting them to persevere in their religion, It was not to be supposed that so zealous a priest should always escape the atten­tions of the ever persistent enemy. Nor was it so. He was dragged from the altar one day by a band of fanatics. But even this sacrilegious outrage did not shake his fortitude. The moment of danger over, he fearlessly returned to the exercise of his sacred calling.

Bishop Nicholson died on the 23rd of October, N. S., 1718, at Preshome, where he usually resided when not engaged in visiting the missions. He was buried on the site of the ancient altar, in the chapel of St. Ninian’s there, of which there now remains only one corner stone. Bishop Gordon, his successor, composed an epitaph which is still to be seen on the flat slab which covers the grave of the deceased bishop. It is Latin and is of considerable length. It ends with these words, having passed a high eulogium on the departed Prelate.

VIXIT
ANNOS CIRCITER 76. OBIIT
QUARTO IDUS OCTOBRIS
ANNO REPARATAE SALUTIS
1718.