Locke‟s formal „contractual‟ view of government was one that, as much as absolutism, could threaten the unwritten constitution as an organic informal arrangement of overlapping ancient liberties.18 Contemporaries were far from convinced that the creation of formal parliamentary checks and balances was „progress‟, and the Bill of Rights of 1689 declared its aim was „the vindicating and asserting [of] ancient rights and liberties.‟