Bulldog, yes, there was an English Bill of Rights. Get a copy of 'That Every Man be Armed' by Stephen Halbrook. This book traces the history of the RKBA all the way back to Greek and Roman times, and includes a very long discussion of the English Bill of Rights.
The English Bill of Rights was the foundation for our own Bill of Rights, including the RKBA. Some English monarchs tried to restrict the RKBA, and occasionally they would get cute with game (hunting) laws that were transparent attempts to limit this right. Anyway, read Halbrook's book. IMHO, everyone who believes in the RKBA has an obligation to learn the long history of this philosophy.
Clearly, it is up to us to remind our fellow citizens that this is not just some cute, anachronistic invention of our American forefathers. It is not some obsolete artifact, as some fools (include here comedians and entertainers) would like us to believe. Rather, it is a critical philosophy of freedom, and those who have ignored it have often suffered grievously throughout history.
Regards from AZ.
[This message has been edited by Jeff Thomas (edited July 26, 1999).]