Blackstone and the ‘Theoretical Perfection’ of English Law in the Reign of Charles II
Robert Willman
In the final chapter of volume his magisterial Commentaries on laws England , Sir William Blackstone sketched the’rise, progress, and gradual improvements England’. Nearing end that chapter, he laid it down as considered opinion ‘that constitution had arrived to its full vigour, true balance between liberty prerogative was happily established by law in reign king Charles second’. Now this is not a self-evident truth, for more likely conjure up our minds (along with Nell Gwynn other strictly legal relationships) unhappy visions quo warranto proceedings against borough charters; perjuries Titus Oates; double jeopardy Stephen College; Scroggs George Jeffreys blaspheming their undignified brutal way through pages State trials . Why should have felt impelled say such patently silly thing?
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