City Readers Digital Historic Collections at the New York Society Library

Samuel Johnson

A history and defence of Magna Charta. Containing a copy of the original charter at large, with an English translation; The Manner of its being obtained from King John, With its Preservation and Final Establishment in the Succeeding Reigns; with an introductory discourse, Containing a short Account of the Rise and Progress of National Freedom, From the Invasion of Caesar to the present Times. Also the Liberties which are confirmed by the Bill of Rights, &c. To which is added, An essay on Parliaments, Describing their Origin in England, And the extraordinary Means by which they have been lengthened from Half Yearly to Septennial ones.