Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/201

Ch. 2. of a law, as was neceary by the civil law with regard to the emperors edicts: becaue every man in England is, in judgment of law, party to the making of an act of parliament, being preent thereat by his repreentatives. However, a copy thereof is uually printed at the king’s pres, for the information of the whole land. And formerly, before the invention of printing, it was ued to be publihed by the heriff of every county; the king’s writ being ent to him at the end of every eion, together with a trancript of all the acts made at that eion, commanding him “” And the uage was to proclaim them at his county court, and there to keep them, that whoever would might read or take copies thereof; which cutom continued till the reign of Henry the eventh.

act of parliament, thus made, is the exercie of the highet authority that this kingdom acknowleges upon earth. It hath power to bind every ubject in the land, and the dominions thereunto belonging; nay, even the king himelf, if particularly named therein. And it cannot be altered, amended, dipened with, upended, or repealed, but in the ame forms and by the ame authority of parliament: for it is a maxim in law, that it requires the ame trength to diolve, as to create an obligation. It is true it was formerly held, that the king might in many caes dipene with penal tatutes : but now by tatute 1 W. & M. t. 2. c. 2. it is declared, that the upending or dipening with laws by regal authority, without conent of parliament, is illegal.

VII.&ensp; remains only, in the eventh and lat place, to add a word or two concerning the manner in which parliaments may be adjourned, prorogued, or diolved. Rh