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Trial of the Seven Bishops

Type Event Region Europe Time 1688

In May 1688, seven bishops led by Archbishop Sancroft of Canterbury petitioned against reading James II's second Declaration of Indulgence;…

Timeline

  1. 1688Whitehall · LondonSancroft and the other six bishops refused to read the second Declaration of Indulgence and presented a petition to the king, arguing that only Parliament could repeal statutes. James had them sent to the Tower of London on charges of seditious libel.
  2. 1688Westminster Hall · WestminsterThe Court of King's Bench heard the seditious libel charges, and the jury acquitted the seven bishops on 30 June. London crowds cheered, the Church and court authority openly clashed, and anti-James political mobilization escalated.

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