In England and Wales, the High Court is a court of law which deals with very serious or important cases. a court of law that is at a higher level than ordinary courts and that can be asked to change the decisions of a lower court
In England, formerly the court presided over by the deputy of the admiral of the fleet. It was established 1360 to deal with matters of discipline and cases of piracy and prizes (ships and goods captured at sea), but it eventually had jurisdiction over mercantile and shipping matters. In 1875 it was merged with the other great courts of England into the High Court of Justice
English ecclesiastical court instituted by Henry VIII to enforce the Act of Supremacy (1534). It became a controversial instrument of repression, used against those who refused to acknowledge the authority of the Church of England. Its main function, and the most controversial, was administration of the oath ex officio, committing one to answer even self-incriminating questions; those who refused to take the oath were turned over to the feared Court of Star Chamber. Opposition, mainly from the Puritans and the common lawyers, resulted in the court's abolishment by Parliament in 1641. See also prerogative court