Editing Glorious Revolution (section)

===Timeline of events: 1686 to 1688===
[[File:The Seven Bishops committed to the Tower in 1688 from NPG.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|The [[Seven Bishops]] prosecuted for [[seditious libel]] in 1688]]

The majority of those who backed James in 1685 did so because they wanted stability and the rule of law, qualities frequently undermined by his actions. After suspending Parliament in November 1685, he sought to rule by decree; although the principle was not disputed, the widening of its scope caused considerable concern, particularly when judges who disagreed with its application were dismissed.{{Sfn|Miller|1978|pp=156–157}} He then alienated many by perceived attacks on the established church; [[Henry Compton (bishop)|Henry Compton, Bishop of London]], was suspended for refusing to ban [[John Sharp (Archbishop of York)|John Sharp]] from preaching after he gave an anti-Catholic sermon.{{Sfn|Carpenter|1956|pp=96–98}}

He often made things worse by political clumsiness; to general fury, the [[Ecclesiastical Commission of 1686]] established to discipline the Church of England included suspected Catholics like the [[Theophilus Hastings, 7th Earl of Huntingdon|Earl of Huntingdon]].{{Sfn|Walker|1956|p=81}} This was combined with an inability to accept opposition; in April 1687, he ordered [[Magdalen College, Oxford]], to elect a Catholic sympathiser named [[Anthony Farmer]] as president, but as he was ineligible under the college statutes, the [[fellow]]s elected [[John Hough (bishop)|John Hough]] instead. Both Farmer and Hough withdrew in favour of another candidate selected by James, who then demanded the fellows personally apologise on their knees for 'defying' him; when they refused, they were replaced by Catholics.{{Sfn|Harris|1993|p=130}}

Attempts to create an alternative 'Kings Party' were never likely to succeed, as English Catholics made up only 1.1% of the population and [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformists]] 4.4%.{{Sfn|Field|2012|p=695}} Both groups were divided; since private worship was generally tolerated, Catholic moderates feared greater visibility would provoke a backlash. Among Nonconformists, while [[Quakers]] and [[Congregational church|Congregationalists]] supported repeal of the Test Acts, the majority wanted to amend the 1662 Act of Uniformity and be allowed back into the Church of England.{{Sfn|Miller|1978|pp=171–172}} When James ensured the election of the Presbyterian John Shorter as [[Lord Mayor of London]] in 1687, Shorter insisted on complying with the Test Act, reportedly because of a "distrust of the King's favour...thus encouraging that which His Majesties whole Endeavours were intended to disannull."{{Sfn|Harris|2006|p=235}}

[[File:James Francis Edward Stuart c. 1703 attributed to Alexis Simon Belle.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|[[James Francis Edward Stuart]], circa 1703, whose birth in June 1688 created the possibility of a Catholic dynasty]]

To ensure a compliant Parliament, James required potential [[Member of parliament|MPs]] to be approved by their local [[Lord Lieutenant]]; eligibility for both offices required positive answers in writing to the 'Three Questions', one being a commitment to repeal of the Test Act.{{Sfn|Miller|1978|pp=127–129}} In addition, local government and town corporations were purged to create an obedient electoral machine, further alienating the county gentry who had formed the majority of those who backed James in 1685.{{Sfn|Jones|1988|p=146}} On 24 August 1688, writs were issued for a general election.{{Sfn|Jones|1988|p=150}}

The expansion of the military caused great concern, particularly in England and Scotland, where memories of the Civil War left huge resistance to [[standing armies]].{{Sfn|Childs|1987|p=184}} In Ireland, Talbot replaced Protestant officers with Catholics; James did the same in England, while basing the troops at [[Hounslow]] appeared a deliberate attempt to overawe Parliament.{{Sfn|Childs|1980|pp=96–97}} In April 1688, he ordered his [[Declaration of Indulgence (1687)|Declaration of Indulgence]] read in every church; when the [[William Sancroft|Archbishop of Canterbury]] and six other bishops refused, they were charged with [[seditious libel]] and confined in the [[Tower of London]]. Two events turned dissent into a crisis; the birth of [[James Francis Edward Stuart]] on 10 June created the prospect of a Catholic dynasty, while the acquittal of the [[Seven Bishops]] on 30 June destroyed James's political authority.{{Sfn|Harris|2006|pp=235–236}}