Declaration of Indulgence

In Britain, statement of government policy issued by order of the monarch with the aim of giving a lead to public opinion on religious tolerance.

There were four Declarations of Indulgence properly so called: (1) decree of Charles II 1662, proclaiming his intention to introduce a Bill suspending the penal laws against Dissenters in the Church of England. The bill was defeated in the Lords; (2) decree of Charles II 1672 guaranteeing freedom of worship and suspending all penal laws against Catholics and Protestant Dissenters. His attempt was blocked by Parliament 1673, obliging Charles to withdraw the Indulgence; (3) decree of James II 1687 allowing full freedom of worship. It suspended the operation of the penal laws and remitted all penalties for ecclesiastical offences, so endangering the Anglican monopoly in Church and State; (4) decree of James II 1688 reinforcing the earlier Indulgence and ordering it to be read in all Anglican churches. It provoked fierce opposition within the Church of England and led to the arrest and trial of seven bishops.