(1661-65) Four acts, passed in England during the ministry of the earl of Clarendon, designed to cripple the power of the Nonconformists, or Dissenters. The first, the Corporation Act, forbade municipal office to those not taking the sacraments at a parish church; the Act of Conformity excluded them from church offices; the Conventicle Act made meetings for Nonconformist worship illegal; and the Five-Mile Act forbade Nonconformist ministers to live or visit within five miles of any place where they had ministered
(1164) Sixteen articles issued by King Henry II defining church-state relations in England. Designed to restrict ecclesiastical privileges and curb the power of the church courts, the constitutions provoked the famous quarrel between Henry and St. Thomas Becket. Among their controversial measures were the provisions that all revenues from vacant sees and monasteries reverted to the king, who had discretion in filling the vacant offices, and that clerics charged with serious crimes were to be tried in secular courts. Becket's martyrdom in 1170 forced Henry to moderate his attack on the clergy, but he did not repudiate the constitutions
born Feb. 18, 1609, Dinton, Wiltshire, Eng. died Dec. 9, 1674, Rouen, France. English statesman and historian. A successful lawyer, he was also well known in literary circles. As a member of Parliament, he became an adviser to Charles I, recommending moderate policies, but was unable to prevent the English Civil Wars. He helped bring about the Restoration of Charles II and was created earl of Clarendon in 1661. As lord chancellor (1660-67), he dominated most aspects of the administration. His criticism of the king's immorality eventually destroyed their friendship, and Parliament made him a scapegoat for the disasters of the Anglo-Dutch War of 1665. Dismissed as lord chancellor in 1667, he spent the rest of his life in exile in France, where he completed his History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England
born Jan. 12, 1800, London, Eng. died June 27, 1870, London British statesman. After serving as British ambassador to Spain (1833-39), he held various cabinet posts until Lord Aberdeen named him secretary of state for foreign affairs in 1853. Clarendon failed to prevent the outbreak of the Crimean War, and his performance during it was undistinguished, but he secured favourable terms for Britain at the Congress of Paris (1856). He continued in office under Lord Palmerston until 1858 and also served as foreign secretary under Earl Russell (1865-66) and William E. Gladstone (1868-70)