John Huddleston
Encyclopedia
Father John Huddleston (15 April 1608 – buried 13 September 1698) was a monk of the Order of St. Benedict who helped Charles II
during his escape
and was present when Charles converted to the Catholic faith on his deathbed.
, the second son of Joseph Huddleston from Hutton John, near Penrith
in Cumberland
. He was educated at the school at Great Blencow nearby, until he was fifteen. When he was twenty he was sent to St Omer's College, and on 17 October 1632, entered the English College in Rome
.
, Staffordshire
, as chaplain to Thomas Whitgreave's family, prominent local Catholics. After the defeat at the Battle of Worcester
on 3 September 1651, Charles II was taken conducted by Colonel Gifford to Whiteladies Priory on Gifford's Boscobel
estate. At Whiteladies, the King was sheltered by the five Penderell brothers who lived there. John Penderell happened to meet Father Huddleston, who suggested that the King should go to Moseley Old Hall
on the night of 7 September. Huddleston cleaned and bandaged the King's sore feet. On 9 September, Parliamentary troops questioned Whitgreave, while the King and Huddleston were hiding in the priest-hole. The troops were persuaded that Whitgreave had not fought at Worcester (though he had fought and been captured at the Battle of Naseby
in 1645). The troops left without searching the house.
at Bentley Hall, he promised to look after Huddleston when restored to his throne. Some time after this Huddleston joined the Benedictines of the Spanish Congregation. After the Restoration
in 1660, Huddleston was invited to live at Somerset House
, London
, under the protection of Queen Henrietta Maria. After her death in 1669, he was appointed chaplain to Queen Catherine
, with a salary of £100 pounds a year. During the disturbances produced by Titus Oates
's pretended revelations, the House of Lords voted on 7 December 1678 that Huddleston, Thomas Whitgreave, the brothers Penderell, and others involved in Charles II's escape should "for their said service live as freely as any of the King's Protestant subjects, without being liable to the penalties of any of the laws relating to Popish recusants".
When Charles II lay dying on the evening of 5 February 1684-5, Duke of York
brought Huddleston to his bedside, saying, "Sire, this good man once saved your life. He now comes to save your soul." Charles declared that he wished to die in the faith and communion of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Huddleston then heard the King's confession, reconciled him to the Church and absolved him, afterwards administering Extreme Unction and the Viaticum
. On the accession of James II, Huddleston continued to stay with the Queen Catherine at Somerset House.
.
Several portraits of Huddleston exist: Houseman's done in 1685 is at Hutton John; another is at Sawston Hall, Cambridgeshire
.
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
during his escape
Escape of Charles II
The Escape of Charles II from England in 1651 is a key episode in his life. Although it took only six weeks, it had a major effect on his attitudes for the rest of his life.-The fugitive king:...
and was present when Charles converted to the Catholic faith on his deathbed.
Early life and education
John Huddleston was born at Farington Hall, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the second son of Joseph Huddleston from Hutton John, near Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. He was educated at the school at Great Blencow nearby, until he was fifteen. When he was twenty he was sent to St Omer's College, and on 17 October 1632, entered the English College in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Chaplain to Thomas Whitgreave
In 1651 he was staying at Moseley Old HallMoseley Old Hall
Moseley Old Hall is a National Trust property located in Fordhouses, north of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. It is famous as one of the resting places of Charles II of England during his escape to France following defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.-Background:The Hall was built in...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, as chaplain to Thomas Whitgreave's family, prominent local Catholics. After the defeat at the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
on 3 September 1651, Charles II was taken conducted by Colonel Gifford to Whiteladies Priory on Gifford's Boscobel
Boscobel
Boscobel is a very small civil parish in the east of Shropshire, England, on the border with Staffordshire. To the north is the Staffordshire village of Bishops Wood....
estate. At Whiteladies, the King was sheltered by the five Penderell brothers who lived there. John Penderell happened to meet Father Huddleston, who suggested that the King should go to Moseley Old Hall
Moseley Old Hall
Moseley Old Hall is a National Trust property located in Fordhouses, north of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. It is famous as one of the resting places of Charles II of England during his escape to France following defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.-Background:The Hall was built in...
on the night of 7 September. Huddleston cleaned and bandaged the King's sore feet. On 9 September, Parliamentary troops questioned Whitgreave, while the King and Huddleston were hiding in the priest-hole. The troops were persuaded that Whitgreave had not fought at Worcester (though he had fought and been captured at the Battle of Naseby
Battle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was the key battle of the first English Civil War. On 14 June 1645, the main army of King Charles I was destroyed by the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.-The Campaign:...
in 1645). The troops left without searching the house.
The Benedictines of the Spanish Congregation
Before the King left to meet Jane LaneJane Lane, Lady Fisher
Jane Lane played a heroic role in the Escape of Charles II in 1651. The main significance of the story is the key part that the escape played in forming the character and the opinions of Charles.-Origins:...
at Bentley Hall, he promised to look after Huddleston when restored to his throne. Some time after this Huddleston joined the Benedictines of the Spanish Congregation. After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
in 1660, Huddleston was invited to live at Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, under the protection of Queen Henrietta Maria. After her death in 1669, he was appointed chaplain to Queen Catherine
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, with a salary of £100 pounds a year. During the disturbances produced by Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
's pretended revelations, the House of Lords voted on 7 December 1678 that Huddleston, Thomas Whitgreave, the brothers Penderell, and others involved in Charles II's escape should "for their said service live as freely as any of the King's Protestant subjects, without being liable to the penalties of any of the laws relating to Popish recusants".
When Charles II lay dying on the evening of 5 February 1684-5, Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
brought Huddleston to his bedside, saying, "Sire, this good man once saved your life. He now comes to save your soul." Charles declared that he wished to die in the faith and communion of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Huddleston then heard the King's confession, reconciled him to the Church and absolved him, afterwards administering Extreme Unction and the Viaticum
Viaticum
Viaticum is a term used especially in the Roman Catholic Church for the Eucharist administered, with or without anointing of the sick, to a person who is dying, and is thus a part of the last rites...
. On the accession of James II, Huddleston continued to stay with the Queen Catherine at Somerset House.
Illness and death
Shortly before his death his mind failed and he was placed in the charge of a trustee. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary-le-StrandSt Mary-le-Strand
St. Mary le Strand is a Church of England church at the eastern end of the Strand in the City of Westminster, London. It lies within the Deanery of Westminster within the Diocese of London. The church stands on what is now a traffic island to the north of Somerset House, King's College London's...
.
Several portraits of Huddleston exist: Houseman's done in 1685 is at Hutton John; another is at Sawston Hall, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
.