Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/206

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HE upreme executive power of thee kingdoms is veted by our laws in a ingle peron, the king or queen: for it matters not to which ex the crown decends; but the peron entitled to it, whether male or female, is immediately inveted with all the enigns, rights, and prerogatives of overeign power; as is declared by tatute 1 Mar. t. 3. c. 1. dicouring of the royal rights and authority, I hall conider the king under ix ditinct views:&ensp;1. With regard to his title.&ensp;2. His royal family.&ensp;3. His councils.&ensp;4. His duties.&ensp;5. His prerogative.&ensp;6. His revenue.&ensp;And, firt, with regard to his title. executive power of the Englih nation being veted in a ingle peron, by the general conent of the people, the evidence of which general conent is long and immemorial uage, it became neceary to the freedom and peace of the tate, that a rule hould be laid down, uniform, univeral, and permanent; in order to mark out with preciion, who is that ingle peron, to whom are committed (in ubervience to the law of the land) the care and protection of the community; and to whom, in return, the duty and allegiance of every individual are due. It is of the highet importance to the public tranquillity, and to the con- ciences