Lex Rex: Annotated

Is the Sovereign of a nation subject to the law, or as the Sovereign above the law? This was the dominant question of the political calamity that inaugurated the English Civil War in the mid-1600s in reaction to the autocratic interpretation of the law by King Charles I.
In 1644, Samuel Rutherford, a learned Scottish Presbyterian theologian, published “Lex Rex, or the Law and the Prince or King.” With “Lex” as the first word in the title, Rutherford was saying that the law precedes or comes before the king; thus, the king must obey the law. “Lex, Rex” contested with the royal absolutists who subscribed to the belief of rex est lex loquens — the king is the law speaking. The book eventually paved the way for a Constitutional Monarchy of Great Britain. It also gave rationale for the American Revolution and the founding of the American Republic.
Samuel Rutherford's Lex Rex was written when kings were thought of as being vessels of divine power. It brought forth a Scriptural standard of argument for the rights of the people and the answerability of government by Sovereigns with absolute power. This edition of the great classic is formatted in 11' Garamond type, A great many of the Latin terms have been translated for ease of reading this classic, which may not be found in other reprints of this title. Footnotes have been added in order the explain things that might not be familiar to the modern reader, making this book much easier to understand. While not taking away from the original, this particular reprint is easier to read than other version. An attractive and impressive addition to your library, that also makes an impressive gift.