English Liberties: Or, the Free-Born Subject's Inheritance, Containing I. Magna Charta, The Petition of Right, The Habeas Corpus Act; and divers other most Useful Statutes . II. The Proceedings in Appeals of Murther . III. All the Laws against Conventicles and Protestant Dissenters

[Henry Care]

Published by George Larkin, London, 1682

About this Item

The extremely scarce first edition of this important legal work which defends habeas corpus and produces arguments for many legal freedoms based on the Magna Carta. Care's work was the first law book sold and circulated colonial America. Rebound in a very smart full cloth binding. This work draws on the radical reading of the Magna Carta to defend the personal freedom of freeborn Englishmen. It defends trial by jury and established the persisting legal freedoms based on the Magna Carta. (BL Online). This polemical work was influential and reprinted many times in the American colonies as well as in Britain. It was responsible for bringing the Magna Carta to the forefront regarding historical study and interpretation of British law. Care's writing is said to have strongly influenced the American colonies, as it was the first printing of the Magna Carta and other fundamental legal documents. It describes English law, history, government and the Jury system. ESTC No. R30882. The British Library notes that upon initial publication this work was condemned as 'seditious by the authorities but it was repeatedly reproduced into the 18th century, being regarded as a handbook of civil liberties.' Henry Care was a political writer and journalist, who specialised in anti-Catholic propaganda. He edited a paper called the 'Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome' which covered the history of the Protestant Reformation. He wrote this work to provide English persons who are uneducated or inexperienced regarding Law with their rights. One of three variant imprints, the others being 'G. Larkin, for Benjamin Harris', and 'G. Larkin, for John How'. The three imprints represent separate issues, rather than editions. This work has been bound without leaves L3 and L4 (pages 221-224). A very scarce and important work regarding the history of law. Rebound in a full cloth binding. Externally, very smart with minor shelfwear. A few light spots to the rear board. Label to rear pastedown, 'This book Re-Covered 1977'. Internally, firmly bound. Closed tear to D11. Chips to the extremities of first few leaves. B6 & C6 are closely cropped to the outer margin. B10 is chipped resulting in a loss to the pagination. The final two leaves are chipped to edges. Very Good.

Seller Inventory # 657L1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: English Liberties: Or, the Free-Born Subject's Inheritance, Containing I. Magna Charta, The Petition of Right, The Habeas Corpus Act; and divers other most Useful Statutes . II. The Proceedings in Appeals of Murther . III. All the Laws against Conventicles and Protestant Dissenters
• Publisher: George Larkin, London
• Publication Date: 1682
• Binding: Cloth
• Illustrator: None
• Edition: First edition.
• Condition: Very Good
• Book Type: book