The K-Zone: Petition of Right

In 1628 Parliament was able to compel the reluctant King (Charles I Stuart) to accede to the provisions of this Petition which included, among other things, protection for subjects from arbitrary imprisonment, restrictions on taxation, and prohibition of martial law during peacetime. Charles, however, did not accept that the Petition reduced the scope of his Prerogative powers, and in the end this led, of course, to the Civil War. Afterwards, Parliament was able to enforce stricter control over the monarchy in the BillOfRights and later the ActOfSettlement1700.

See: ConstitutionalLegislation

LegislativeInstruments