High Commission Court

High Commission Court, a court or judicial committee established in 1559 by Queen Elizabeth to investigate ecclesiastical cases, the members being nominated by the crown. In the reign of James I. disputes arose between the common-law courts and the High Commission as to the powers of the latter. In 1611 Coke decided that it had no right to fine or imprison, save in cases of heresy and schism. Laud employed it freely to enforce uniformity and prevent immorality; but the number of clergy punished by it was never great. In two years of its greatest activity only three were deprived and seven suspended. Complaints were made against this extraordinary tribunal, the counterpart for ecclesiastical persons to the Star Chamber for lay offenders, that it exceeded its powers, and was in itself illegal; and it was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. A new court of commission for ecclesiastical cases was established by James II. in 1686, only to be abolished by the Bill of Rights (1689). The High Commission Court established in Scotland in 1608 was abolished in 1638.