Nonjuring bishops

On 18th May, 1688, seven bishops from across England presented a petition to King James II, opposing the Declaration of the Indulgence issued by the king and declaring broad religious freedom in England. Anglican clergymen were opposed to the toleration of Roman Catholics and considered the declaration to be illegal. Two days later, the bishops would find themselves in the Tower of London, charged with the criminal offense of seditious libel. The petition presented by the bishops, had been printed and distributed around the streets of London, which the king regarded as a rebellion. Although the culprits were never identified, the 7 bishops were brought to trial in June of the same year. In a blow to the king and government, all of the bishops were found not guilty and released. The Declaration of Indulgence can be seen as the first freedom of religion on the British Isles. It set out to suspend penal laws which enforced conformity to the Church of England, allowing people to worship in their homes or chapels as they wished.