High Commission Court

E45864

The High Commission Court was a powerful ecclesiastical tribunal in England that enforced religious conformity and became notorious for its arbitrary and oppressive use of authority before being abolished in the 17th century.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ecclesiastical court
tribunal
abolishedBy Long Parliament 1640
surface form: Long Parliament
abolishedDuring reign of Charles I
appliesTo religious conformity
basedOn royal prerogative
canImpose excommunication
fines
imprisonment
suspension from office
characterizedBy arbitrary authority
oppressive procedures
country Kingdom of England
dissolvedIn 17th century
enforces Acts of Uniformity
royal injunctions on religion
governs offences against the established church
handles cases of heresy
cases of moral and disciplinary offences by clergy
cases of nonconformist worship
hasAuthorityOver clergy of the Church of England
laypersons accused of religious nonconformity
hasReputation instrument of religious persecution
symbol of Stuart absolutism
historicalSignificance contributed to tensions leading to the English Civil War
jurisdiction Church of England
languageOfRecord English
Latin
legalArea canon law
ecclesiastical law
locatedIn London, England
surface form: London
notableFor enforcement of religious uniformity
lack of jury trials
persecution of religious dissenters
use of interrogation and oaths ex officio
opposedBy Parliamentarians
Puritanism
surface form: Puritans

common lawyers
partOf Tudor and early Stuart religious policy
reasonForAbolition abuse of power
conflict with common law courts
opposition from Parliament
relatedTo Court of Arches
Star Chamber
subordinateTo monarch of England
timePeriod early 17th century
late 16th century

Referenced by (1)

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

Long Parliament 1640 abolishedInstitution High Commission Court
subject surface form: Long Parliament