trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)

E52909

The trial of the Seven Bishops (1688) was a landmark English legal and political case in which seven Anglican bishops were prosecuted for seditious libel after petitioning against King James II’s Declaration of Indulgence, becoming a key event leading to the Glorious Revolution.

All labels observed (5)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historical event
legal case
political trial
charge seditious libel
chronologicalContext reign of James II (1685–1688)
country Kingdom of England
defendant Francis Turner
John Lake
Jonathan Trelawny
Thomas Ken
Thomas White
William Lloyd
William Sancroft
describedIn contemporary pamphlets and broadsides
later histories of the Glorious Revolution
followedBy Glorious Revolution
overthrow of James II
hasCause attempt by James II to enforce reading of the Declaration of Indulgence in churches
petition against the Declaration of Indulgence
hasPart arrest of the Seven Bishops
imprisonment in the Tower of London
jury trial and acquittal
impact contributed to invitation to William of Orange
strengthened public support for the Church of England
undermined political authority of James II
legalSignificance affirmed importance of jury independence in political trials
limited use of seditious libel charges against political petitioning
location Court of King’s Bench
Westminster Hall
mainSubject Declaration of Indulgence
religious toleration in England
royal dispensing power
seditious libel
opposed exercise of royal dispensing power by James II
outcome acquittal of all seven bishops
partOf constitutional conflict between Crown and Parliament in late 17th‑century England
pointInTime 1688
precededBy issuance of the Declaration of Indulgence (1687–1688)
order to have the Declaration of Indulgence read in churches
presidedOverBy Sir Robert Wright
prosecutedBy Crown of England
prosecutor Attorney General of England and Wales
religiousContext debates over toleration for Catholics and Protestant Dissenters
tensions between Anglican establishment and Catholic monarchy
significantEventFor Church of England
Glorious Revolution
history of English constitutional law
reign of James II of England

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (13)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

William Sancroft participantIn trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
subject linked to: Archbishop William Sancroft
Declaration of Indulgence relatedEvent Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Seven Bishops significantEvent Petition against the Declaration of Indulgence
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Seven Bishops significantEvent Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Seven Bishops legalProceeding King's Bench trial of 1688
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Declaration for Liberty of Conscience notableEvent trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Court of James II of England linkedEvent Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Lord Somers associatedWithEvent trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Francis Turner notableEvent Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Francis Turner participantIn Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Thomas Ken participatedIn Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Jonathan Trelawny participantIn Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)
Sir Robert Wright notableWork Trial of the Seven Bishops
linked to: trial of the Seven Bishops (1688)