Story 006 | The King’s Messengers and the Private Letters

 

Long ago in England, a man named Mr. Entick was a writer. One day, four of the King’s messengers burst into his house. They didn’t have a specific reason; they just had a “general warrant” to take all his books and letters to find evidence of a crime. They broke open his locked drawers and pried into his secret affairs for four whole hours! Mr. Entick sued them for trespassing. The judge made a very famous ruling: “Our law holds the property of every man so sacred, that no man can set his foot upon his neighbor’s close without his leave”. He said the King’s men must follow the rules just like everyone else. Should anyone be allowed to read your private letters without a very good reason?