The roots of liberty: Magna Carta, ancient constitution and the Anglo-American tradition of rule of law

Presented with an introduction and an epilogue, four essays by eminent scholars present evidence that the modern-day understanding of liberty under law, commonly traced to 17th-century English and 18th-century American roots, can in fact be traced back to the depths of English constitutional and political history. The essays deal with early developments in the 13th century, the common law mind of the 16th century, the struggle for power and authority in the 17th century, and the expression of these themes in the 18th-century struggles. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.