The Arraignement, Tryal, and Condemnation of Algernon Sidney, Esq. for High-Treason; For Conspiring the Death of King, And Intending to raise a rebellion in this Kingdom. Before the Right Honourable Sir George Jeffreys, Knight and Baronet, Lord Chief Justice of England, at His Majesties Court of Kings-Bench at Westminster, on the 7th. 21th. and 27th. of November, 1683
London: Printed for Benj. Tooke at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1684. First Edition. 4to, [4], 67ppp; modern cloth-backed boards, library binding with inner hinges reinforced with cloth. Bookplate and small abrasion on the front pastedown; a dampstain affects the upper corner of the first 28 pages though is scarcely detectable but for a small pull to the upper corner of p. 17, where two leaves likely became stuck together; printing of S1 (65-66) out of alignment. A bright, clean copy with ample margins. Item #205998
Algernon Sidney's trial was a political sensation. He was tried for treason for conspiring against Charles II on the basis of a single witness, although the law required two. Sidney was a prominent politician and political philosopher. His papers seized upon his arrest included manuscripts of his yet unpublished Discourses Concerning Government, arguing against monarchy. At trial, his own words, selectively quoted from his text, were used as the second witness against him. Sidney's trial and execution were controversial and had a lasting impact. His writings had an even longer impact His Discourses, finally published in 1698, were important among early works developing the ideas of democratic republican government. Along with John Locke, Sidney was a key theorist for the later Enlightenment founders of American democracy. This copy was withdrawn from the library of the University of Minnesota as a duplicate.
Price: $500.00