Lex Parliamentaria, Or, A Treatise of the Law and Custom of the.. by Philips, George; Petyt, William - 1690

1690. An Important Work on Parliament That Advanced Whig Ideology P[hilips], G[eorge] [1599?-1696]. [Petyt, George (1636-1707), Attributed]. Lex Parliamentaria: Or, A Treatise of the Law and Custom of the Parliaments of England. By G.P. Esq; With an Appendix of a Case in Parliament between Sir Francis Goodwyn and Sir John Fortescue, for the Knights Place for the County of Bucks, I Jac. I. From an Original French Manuscript, Translated into English. Licenced Decemb. 6. 1689. London: Printed for Tim. Goodwin at the Maiden-Head over Against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-Street, 1690. [xvi], 320 pp. Two leaves of advertisements, usually at rear of text, bound before p. 1. Octavo (6-1/4" x 3-3/4"). Contemporary calf, blind rules to boards, blind fillets along joints, gilt-edged raised bands and later lettering piece to spine, "Lex/ Parl:" to fore-edge of text block in early hand. A few minor nicks and scratches to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with some wear to spine ends, joints starting at ends, corners bumped and lightly worn, early armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Light toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light foxing to a few leaves. A handsome copy. $1,750. * First edition. Formerly attributed to George Petyt, Lex Parliamentaria is an early handbook on parliamentary procedure. It is notable for its strongly Whiggish ideology. Published shortly after the end of the Glorious Revolution--a period that witnessed the deposition of King James II, the passage of the Bill of Rights and the accession of his daughter and her husband as queen and king--it asserts Parliamentary supremacy and the inferiority of monarchs. It was highly regarded by the American Founding Fathers. Jefferson, for example, owned a copy of this edition and often recommended it to others. Sowerby, The Library of Thomas Jefferson 2893. English Short-Title Catalogue R4908.