The Seven Bishops Committed to the Tower in 1688

Artistback to top

• Robert White (1645-1703), Engraver. Artist associated with 560 portraits, Sitter associated with 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

• Thomas Ken (1637-1711), Bishop of Bath and Wells. Sitter associated with 20 portraits.
• John Lake (1624-1689), Bishop of Chichester. Sitter associated with 13 portraits.
• William Lloyd (1627-1717), Bishop of Worcester. Sitter associated with 19 portraits.
• William Sancroft (1617-1693), Archbishop of Canterbury. Sitter associated with 29 portraits.
• Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Bt (1650-1721), Bishop of Winchester. Sitter associated with 15 portraits.
• Francis Turner (1638?-1700), Bishop of Ely. Sitter associated with 14 portraits.
• Thomas White (1628-1698), Bishop of Peterborough. Sitter associated with 13 portraits.

This portraitback to top

When James II began to infringe the religious monopoly of the Church of England he lost the support of many Anglican clergy. After the second Declaration of Indulgence (1688) whcih suspended the Test Act, William Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, and six other bishops petitioned the the King against it; they were sent to the Tower and tried for seditious libel but were acquitted; the bishops became popular heroes and the episode was a blow to James's authority.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D18862: The Seven Bishops committed to the Tower in 1688 (impression from same plate as)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 354

Subject/Themeback to top

• On display at the Gallery