The Declaration granted broad religious freedom in England by suspending penal laws enforcing conformity to the Church of England and allowing people to worship in their homes or chapels as they saw fit, and it ended the requirement of affirming religious oaths before gaining employment in government office.
By use of the royal suspending power, the king lifted the religious penal laws and granted toleration to the various Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, within his kingdoms. The Declaration of Indulgence was supported by William Penn, who was widely perceived to be its instigator.[3] The declaration was greatly opposed by Anglicans in England on both religious and constitutional grounds. Some Anglicans objected to the fact that the Declaration had no specified limits and thus, at least in theory, licensed the practice of any religion, including Islam, Judaism or paganism.[4]
In Scotland, Presbyterians initially refused to accept the Declaration of Indulgence. The King re-issued it on 28 June, giving the Presbyterians the same liberties as Catholics; this was accepted by most of the Presbyterians, with the notable exception of the Covenanters.[5] The Declaration of Indulgence, as well as granting religious liberties to his subjects, also reaffirmed the King's "Soveraign Authority, Prerogative Royal and absolute power, which all our Subjects are to obey without Reserve",[6] and thus espoused an absolute monarchy.[7]
The English version was welcomed by most non-conformists, but, as in Scotland, the Presbyterians were more reluctant to wholeheartedly accept it. There was concern that the toleration rested only on the King's arbitrary will.[8]
1688
The English Declaration of Indulgence was reissued on 27 April 1688, leading to open resistance from Anglicans. Few clergy read out the Declaration in Church.[9]
William Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, and six other Bishops presented a petition to the King declaring the Declaration of Indulgence illegal. James promptly had the seven bishops tried for rebellion and sedition; however, the bishops were acquitted.[10] Many Presbyterians were sceptical of the king's intentions, while other dissenters, including the Quakers and the Baptists, gave thanks to the king for the Declaration of Indulgence.[11]
^Sowerby, Scott (2009). "Of Different Complexions: Religious Diversity and National Identity in James II's Toleration Campaign" (PDF). The English Historical Review. 124 (506): 29–52. doi:10.1093/ehr/cen363 – via Oxford Academic.
^Harris, Tim. Revolution: The Great Crisis of the British Monarch, 1685–1720, Allen Lane (2006) p. 211
^Lodge, Richard. The History of England – From the Restoration to the Death of William III 1660–1702 (1910) p. 268
^Sowerby, Scott. Making Toleration: The Repealers and the Glorious Revolution. Harvard University Press (2013) p. 171
^Harris, Tim. Revolution: The Great Crisis of the British Monarch, 1685–1720, Allen Lane (2006) p. 173
^ The full text of Declaration of Indulgence at Wikisource
^Armitage, David. British political thought in history, literature and theory, 1500–1800, Cambridge University Press (2006) pp. 95–96
^Harris, Tim. Revolution: The Great Crisis of the British Monarch, 1685–1720, Allen Lane (2006) p. 217
^Fritze, Ronald H. and Robison, William B. (editors). Historical Dictionary of Stuart England, 1603–89, Greenwood Press (1996) p. 487
^Miller, John. William and Mary, Weidenfeld & Nicolson (1974) p. 87
^Sowerby, Scott. Making Toleration: The Repealers and the Glorious Revolution. Harvard University Press (2013) pp. 33–35
declaration, indulgence, 1687, this, article, about, 1687, declaration, james, 1672, declaration, charles, declaration, indulgence, 1672, declaration, indulgence, also, called, declaration, liberty, conscience, pair, proclamations, made, james, england, irelan. This article is about the 1687 declaration of James II For the 1672 declaration of Charles II see Declaration of Indulgence 1672 The Declaration of Indulgence also called Declaration for Liberty of Conscience 1 was a pair of proclamations made by James II of England and Ireland and VII of Scotland in 1687 The Indulgence was first issued for Scotland on 12 February and then for England on 4 April 1687 2 An early step towards establishing freedom of religion in the British Isles it was cut short by the Glorious Revolution The Declaration granted broad religious freedom in England by suspending penal laws enforcing conformity to the Church of England and allowing people to worship in their homes or chapels as they saw fit and it ended the requirement of affirming religious oaths before gaining employment in government office By use of the royal suspending power the king lifted the religious penal laws and granted toleration to the various Christian denominations Catholic and Protestant within his kingdoms The Declaration of Indulgence was supported by William Penn who was widely perceived to be its instigator 3 The declaration was greatly opposed by Anglicans in England on both religious and constitutional grounds Some Anglicans objected to the fact that the Declaration had no specified limits and thus at least in theory licensed the practice of any religion including Islam Judaism or paganism 4 Contents 1 1687 2 1688 3 See also 4 References 5 External links1687 EditIn Scotland Presbyterians initially refused to accept the Declaration of Indulgence The King re issued it on 28 June giving the Presbyterians the same liberties as Catholics this was accepted by most of the Presbyterians with the notable exception of the Covenanters 5 The Declaration of Indulgence as well as granting religious liberties to his subjects also reaffirmed the King s Soveraign Authority Prerogative Royal and absolute power which all our Subjects are to obey without Reserve 6 and thus espoused an absolute monarchy 7 The English version was welcomed by most non conformists but as in Scotland the Presbyterians were more reluctant to wholeheartedly accept it There was concern that the toleration rested only on the King s arbitrary will 8 1688 EditThe English Declaration of Indulgence was reissued on 27 April 1688 leading to open resistance from Anglicans Few clergy read out the Declaration in Church 9 William Sancroft Archbishop of Canterbury and six other Bishops presented a petition to the King declaring the Declaration of Indulgence illegal James promptly had the seven bishops tried for rebellion and sedition however the bishops were acquitted 10 Many Presbyterians were sceptical of the king s intentions while other dissenters including the Quakers and the Baptists gave thanks to the king for the Declaration of Indulgence 11 The declarations were voided when James II was deposed in the Glorious Revolution The Bill of Rights abolished the suspending power 12 See also EditReligion in the United KingdomReferences Edit Sowerby Scott 2009 Of Different Complexions Religious Diversity and National Identity in James II s Toleration Campaign PDF The English Historical Review 124 506 29 52 doi 10 1093 ehr cen363 via Oxford Academic Harris Tim Revolution The Great Crisis of the British Monarch 1685 1720 Allen Lane 2006 p 211 Lodge Richard The History of England From the Restoration to the Death of William III 1660 1702 1910 p 268 Sowerby Scott Making Toleration The Repealers and the Glorious Revolution Harvard University Press 2013 p 171 Harris Tim Revolution The Great Crisis of the British Monarch 1685 1720 Allen Lane 2006 p 173 The full text of Declaration of Indulgence at Wikisource Armitage David British political thought in history literature and theory 1500 1800 Cambridge University Press 2006 pp 95 96 Harris Tim Revolution The Great Crisis of the British Monarch 1685 1720 Allen Lane 2006 p 217 Fritze Ronald H and Robison William B editors Historical Dictionary of Stuart England 1603 89 Greenwood Press 1996 p 487 Miller John William and Mary Weidenfeld amp Nicolson 1974 p 87 Sowerby Scott Making Toleration The Repealers and the Glorious Revolution Harvard University Press 2013 pp 33 35 Stat 1 W amp M sess 2 c 2 External links Edit The full text of Declaration of Indulgence at Wikisource Declaration of Indulgence New International Encyclopedia 1905 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Declaration of Indulgence 1687 amp oldid 1148263455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
