Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/144

128 principal grounds of the fundamental laws of England. Afterwards by the tatute called , whereby the great charter is directed to be allowed as the common law; all judgments contrary to it are declared void; copies of it are ordered to be ent to all cathedral churches, and read twice a year to the people; and entence of excommunication is directed to be as contantly denounced againt all thoe that by word, deed, or counel act contrary thereto, or in any degree infringe it. Next by a multitude of ubequent corroborating tatutes, (ir Edward Coke, I think, reckons thirty two ,) from the firt Edward to Henry the fourth. Then, after a long interval, by the petition of right; which was a parliamentary declaration of the liberties of the people, aented to by king Charles the firt in the beginning of his reign. Which was cloely followed by the till more ample conceions made by that unhappy prince to his parliament, before the fatal rupture between them; and by the many alutary laws, particularly the  act, paed under Charles the econd. To thee ucceeded the bill of rights, or declaration delivered by the lords and commons to the prince and princes of Orange 13 February 1688; and afterwards enacted in parliament, when they became king and queen: which declaration concludes in thee remarkable words: “and they do claim, demand, and init upon all and ingular the premies, as their undoubted rights and liberties.” And the act of parliament itelf recognizes “all and ingular the rights and liberties aerted and claimed in the aid declaration to be the true, antient, and indubitable rights of the people of this kingdom.” Latly, thee liberties were again aerted at the commencement of the preent century, in the act of ettlement, whereby the crown was limited to his preent majety’s illutrious houe, and ome new proviions were added at the ame fortunate aera for better ecuring our religion, laws, and liberties; which the tatute declares to be “the birthright of the people of England;” according to the antient doctrine of the common law.