[English Bill of Rights]

Great Britain. Laws. [Collection of 80 parliamentary acts]. London: Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, 1685-1692

Folio (10 1/2 x 6 3/8 in.; 266 x 162 mm). Eighty title-pages with woodcut royal arms, various paginations; first title soiled with small stains at the bottom and lightly backed with tissue, a few marginal spots or inkstains, a few light marginal dampstains in last few quires. Old reversed calf, blindruled in a panel design, gilt-stamped title label on spine, in a red half morocco drop-box.

S.W. Kirkpatrick (ms. exlibris on front pastedown) — James S. Copley (bookplate). Acquisition: William Reese

first title soiled with small stains at the bottom and lightly backed with tissue, a few marginal spots or inkstains, a few light marginal dampstains in last few quires. Old reversed calf, blindruled in a panel design, gilt-stamped title label on spine.
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A collection of eighty Parliamentary Acts from the end of the reign of James II to the early part of the reign of William and Mary, including the first printing of the English Bill of Rights, passed by Parliament in December 1689.

The "Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject ... " provides for freedom from unilateral royal interference with the law including the imposition of new taxes, freedom of petition, freedom of election of members to Parliament, freedom of speech of members while in Parliament, freedom for Protestants to bear arms, and freedom from a standing army in times of peace. The Act was was foundation of modern British Parliamentary government, and served as a model for the founding documents of the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Also included are several key pieces of legislation leading to the Bill of Rights including acts concerning the assembling and sitting of Parliament, on the Coronation Oath, exemptions from penalties for Protestants dissenting from the Church of England, power to jail suspected traitors without bail, and on royal pardons. Other acts concern trade, the military, rebuilding St. Paul's Cathedral, and taxation on wine, beer, spirits and tobacco.