Peoples Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted, in the Tryal
Item #77544
PENN, William. The Peoples Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted, in the Tryal of William Penn, and William Mead, at the Sessions Held at the Old-Baily in London... [bound with:] The Second Part of the Peoples Ancient and Just Liberties.... [London: Andrew Sowle], Printed in the Year, 1670. 62; 68pp. Small 4to. Modern calf, tooled in blind, gilt leather label. Each titlepage somewhat stained, with old tape repairs to verso. Text a bit toned, upper outer corner of final leaf of second part repaired (not affecting text). Very good. Lacking final blank in first part. Bronner & Fraser 10A, N4. ESTC R205173, R21970. Wing (2nd ed) P1334A, S2312. Smith, Descriptive Catalogue of Friends Books II, p.285, 671. Sabin 59723. Harvard Law Catalogue 1162. Marke 1038. An important work reporting the events of the trial of William Penn, comprised of the rare first state of the first edition of the first part and the only 17th- or 18th-century edition of the second part. ESTC asserts that the two parts were "probably intended" to be issued together, although they usually appear separately. Protecting its established Church, England prohibited Quaker religious meetings. In 1670 William Penn held a service on Gracechurch Street in London. Penn and fellow Quaker William Mead were arrested for unlawful assembly and disturbing the King's peace, and brought to trial. The bench attempted to intimidate Penn and Mead during the trial, and then tried to do the same with the jurors, who ultimately decided in favor of the defendants. The jury disobeyed the judge's several orders to find the defendants guilty, and after issuing threats, the judge locked up the jury for a time. "The stirring call of Penn to his jury whom the judges were trying to coerce, 'Ye are Englishmen, mind your privilege: give not away your right,' and their reply 'Nor will we ever do it' is one of the most dramatic incidents in Anglo-American legal history"- Marke. The case, with the jurors' successful writ of habeas corpus, vindicated the power of juries to override instructions of the court. The trial became a bellwether for reform of the arbitrary and oppressive English court system. Penn himself did not write the text, however, he is quoted verbatim from the trial record. Bronner and Fraser venture that Penn may have been the author of some of the mate.
Price: $8,500.00