A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



afternoon, in all 991, whereof about 300 were parishioners of Penrith," 

 feats of human endurance characteristic of this extraordinary prelate, as 

 well as incontestable evidence of the influence and zeal of the parochial 

 clergy. 



The political troubles which preceded the Hanoverian accession 

 were a source of much embarrassment to a small section of the com- 

 munity which was suspected of disaffection to the government. As 

 early as 1706 parliament had acquainted the Queen 'with several cir- 

 cumstances of the very great boldness and presumption of the Romish 

 priests and papists in this Kingdom,' and the privy council notified to 

 the bishops ' that a distinct and particular account should be taken of 

 all papists and reputed papists with their respective qualities, estates and 

 places of abode.' 2 The Acts of 1708 were put in force without delay 

 in Cumberland. At the Midsummer Sessions of that year eighteen 

 reputed papists were summoned to appear and conform to the law. In 

 the following August Bishop Nicolson informed the primate that ' popery 

 has advanced by very long strides of late years in this country and too 

 many of our magistrates love to have it so. At the very time that the 

 French were on our coasts and our people daily expected the news of 

 their being landed, the wealthier of our papists, instead of being 

 seized, were cringed to with all possible tenders of honour and respect, 

 and those very gentlemen, who were entrusted with the taking of 

 them into custody, seemed rather inclined to list themselves in their 

 services.' 3 The rigour of the law was sorely felt by the papists during the 

 period of the abortive insurrection of 1715. While the panic lasted 

 stringent measures were adopted for the security of the county. The 

 bishop issued a circular letter to his clergy on 1 5 October, in which he 

 stated that ' there being now a most unnatural and dangerous rebellion 

 raised in the neighbourhood of this diocese by several papists and other 

 wicked enemies to our happy establishment in church and state, I cannot 

 but think it a necessary duty on this pressing occasion to exhort you and 

 the rest of my brethren to animate and encourage your respective 

 parishioners in defence of their religion, laws and liberties against all 

 such traitorous attempts towards the destruction of his majesty's royal 

 person and the subversion of his most gracious government.' 4 The 

 civil authorities had not been backward in preparing for emergencies. 

 At the Hilary Sessions, 17145, the high constables handed in lists of 

 papists or persons so reputed in their respective wards who had been 

 summoned to appear. As the vigilance of the justices increased, a 

 greater number of papists was discovered. At the Sessions of January, 

 1715 6, no fewer than fifty persons, esquires and yeomen, rich and 

 poor, were summoned to take the oath of allegiance, ' being persons by us 

 suspected to be dangerous or disafected to his majesty or his government.' 



1 Trans. Cumb. and Westmor. Arch, Soc. new series, ii. 177-9, ! 8i ; Miscellany Accounts of Dio. 

 of Carl. pp. 133, 147- 



Letters of Wm. Nicolson, pp. 330-2. 8 Add MS, 6116. 



Letters of Wm. Nicolson, p. 432, 



104 



