High Commission, Court of
High Commission, Court of
a court established in England in 1559 to take cognizance of spiritual or ecclesiastical offences, and to inflict penalties for the same. The Puritans complaining loudly of the jurisdiction of this court, a bill passed for putting down both it and the Star-Chamber in the year 1641. Neal, Hist. of Puritans, 1, 89 sq.