James, Duke of York, brother of the late Charles II, now came to the
throne. He at once issued a Proclamation pledging himself to
"preserve the government in both Church and State as it is now by law
established." This solemn declaration was welcomed as "the word of a
king," but unfortunately that king did not keep his word. His first
great ambition was to rule independently of Parliament, so that he
might have his own way in everything; his second, which was, if
possible, still nearer his heart, was to restore the Roman Catholic
religion in England (SS370, 382, 477).
He began that restoration at once; and on the Easter Sunday preceding
his coronation, "the worship of the Church of Rome was once more,
after an interval of a hundred and twenty-seven years, performed at
Westminster with royal splendor."[1]
[1] Macaulay's "England."
Not long afterwards James brought the miscreant Oates to trial for the
perjuries he had committed in connection with the so-called "Popish
Plot" (S478). He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for
life; in addition he was publicly whipped through London with such
terrible severity that a few more strokes of the lash would have ended
his worthless life (1685). But in the next reign Oates was liberated
and a pension was granted him.