Seven Bishops

Seven Bishops, THE, the name given to the prelates who in May, 1687, drew up a petition at Lambeth, urging James II. not to enforce his order that the clergy should read his Declaration of Indulgence at divine service. They were tried on the charge or uttering seditious libel, but acquitted amidst general rejoicings (June 30), The bishops were Sancroft of Canterbury, Ken of Bath and Wells, White of Peterborough, Lloyd of St. Asaph, Trelawney of Bristol, Lake of Chichester, and Turner of Ely.