The Ecclesiastical Commission was an English court of enquiry established in July 1686 by
James II James II may refer to:
* James II of Avesnes (died c. 1205), knight of the Fourth Crusade
* James II of Majorca (died 1311), Lord of Montpellier
* James II of Aragon (1267–1327), King of Sicily
* James II, Count of La Marche (1370–1438), King C ...
under the Royal prerogative, and headed by Judge Jeffreys. It was declared to have jurisdiction over the governance of the Church of England also empowered to try all offences punishable under ecclesiastical law. It was disbanded shortly before the
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...
Triennial Act
The Triennial Act 1641 (16 Cha. I c. 1), also known as the Dissolution Act, was an Act passed on 15 February 1641,Catholicism by sanctioning those hostile to it, and enforce the king's religious policy generally. During its existence, the Commission suspended Henry Compton, the Bishop of London, from his activities as bishop, and the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge University,
John Peachell
John Peachell (1630–1690) was an English academic, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge at the moment when James II was aiming to impose his will on the universities.
Life
He was son of Rob ...
, for refusing the king's commands.
Due to the increasing unpopularity of James II's religious policy, the Ecclesiastical Commission was disbanded on his instructions after the acquittals in the Trial of the Seven Bishops.Montgomery Hyde, H. ''Judge Jeffreys'' London, Butterworth & Co, Ltd. 1948 Following James' overthrow in the
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...
, Parliament (with the assent of the new King
William III William III or William the Third may refer to:
Kings
* William III of Sicily (c. 1186–c. 1198)
* William III of England and Ireland or William III of Orange or William II of Scotland (1650–1702)
* William III of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ...
) passed the Bill of Rights 1689, which declared it and "all other Commissions and Courts of like nature" to be illegal.