MAGNA CARTA MAGNA CARTA CIVIL RIGHTS/EQUALITY U.S CONSTITUTION REGION EUROPE U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION GLOBAL RELATIONS 1215 JOHN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF ENGLAND LORD OF IRELAND DUKE OF NORMANDY AND AQUITAINE AND COUNT OF ANJOU TO THE ARCHBISHOPS BISHOPS ABBOTS EARLS BARONS JUSTICIARS FORESTERS SHERIFFS STEWARDS SERVANTS AND TO ALL HIS BAILIFFS AND FAITHFUL SUBJECTS GREETING KNOW THAT WE OUT OF REVERENCE FOR GOD AND FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOUL AND THOSE OF ALL OUR ANCESTORS AND HEIRS FOR THE HONOUR OF GOD AND THE EXALTATION OF HOLY CHURCH AND FOR THE REFORM OF OUR REALM ON THE ADVICE OF OUR VENERABLE FATHERS STEPHEN ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND AND CARDINAL OF THE HOLY ROMAN CHURCH HENRY ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN WILLIAM OF LONDON PETER OF WINCHESTER JOCELYN OF BATH AND GLASTONBURY HUGH OF LINCOLN WALTER OF WORCESTER WILLIAM OF COVENTRY AND BENEDICT OF ROCHESTER BISHOPS OF MASTER PANDULF SUBDEACON AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE LORD POPE OF BROTHER AYMERIC MASTER OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR IN ENGLAND AND OF THE NOBLE MEN WILLIAM MARSHAL EARL OF PEMBROKE WILLIAM EARL OF SALISBURY WILLIAM EARL OF WARENNE WILLIAM EARL OF ARUNDEL ALAN OF GALLOWAY CONSTABLE OF SCOTLAND WARIN FITZ GEROLD PETER FITZ HERBERT HUBERT DE BURGH SENESCHAL OF POITOU HUGH DE NEVILLE MATTHEW FITZ HERBERT THOMAS BASSET ALAN BASSET PHILIP DE AUBENEY ROBERT OF ROPSLEY JOHN MARSHAL JOHN FITZ HUGH AND OTHERS OUR FAITHFUL SUBJECTS 1 IN THE FIRST PLACE HAVE GRANTED TO GOD AND BY THIS OUR PRESENT CHARTER CONFIRMED FOR US AND OUR HEIRS FOR EVER THAT THE ENGLISH CHURCH SHALL BE FREE AND SHALL HAVE ITS RIGHTS UNDIMINISHED AND ITS LIBERTIES UNIMPAIRED AND IT IS OUR WILL THAT IT BE THUS OBSERVED WHICH IS EVIDENT FROM THE FACT THAT BEFORE THE QUARREL BETWEEN US AND OUR BARONS BEGAN WE WILLINGLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY GRANTED AND BY OUR CHARTER CONFIRMED THE FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS WHICH IS RECKONED MOST IMPORTANT AND VERY ESSENTIAL TO THE ENGLISH CHURCH AND OBTAINED CONFIRMATION OF IT FROM THE LORD POPE INNOCENT III THE WHICH WE WILL OBSERVE AND WE WISH OUR HEIRS TO OBSERVE IT IN GOOD FAITH FOR EVER WE HAVE ALSO GRANTED TO ALL FREE MEN OF OUR KINGDOM FOR OURSELVES AND OUR HEIRS FOR EVER ALL THE LIBERTIES WRITTEN BELOW TO BE HAD AND HELD BY THEM AND THEIR HEIRS OF US AND OUR HEIRS 2 IF ANY OF OUR EARLS OR BARONS OR OTHERS HOLDING OF US IN CHIEF BY KNIGHT SERVICE DIES AND AT HIS DEATH HIS HEIR BE OF FULL AGE AND OWE RELIEF HE SHALL HAVE HIS INHERITANCE ON PAYMENT OF THE OLD RELIEF NAMELY THE HEIR OR HEIRS OF AN EARL 100 FOR A WHOLE EARL'S BARONY THE HEIR OR HEIRS OF A BARON 100 FOR A WHOLE BARONY THE HEIR OR HEIRS OF A KNIGHT 100S AT MOST FOR A WHOLE KNIGHT'S FEE AND HE WHO OWES LESS SHALL GIVE LESS ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT USAGE OF FIEFS 3 IF HOWEVER THE HEIR OF ANY SUCH BE UNDER AGE AND A WARD HE SHALL HAVE HIS INHERITANCE WHEN HE COMES OF AGE WITHOUT PAYING RELIEF AND WITHOUT MAKING FINE 4 THE GUARDIAN OF THE LAND OF SUCH AN HEIR WHO IS UNDER AGE SHALL TAKE FROM THE LAND OF THE HEIR NO MORE THAN REASONABLE REVENUES REASONABLE CUSTOMARY DUES AND REASONABLE SERVICES AND THAT WITHOUT DESTRUCTION AND WASTE OF MEN OR GOODS AND IF WE COMMIT THE WARDSHIP OF THE LAND OF ANY SUCH TO A SHERIFF OR TO ANY OTHER WHO IS ANSWERABLE TO US FOR ITS REVENUES AND HE DESTROYS OR WASTES WHAT HE HAS WARDSHIP OF WE WILL TAKE COMPENSATION FROM HIM AND THE LAND SHALL BE COMMITTED TO TWO LAWFUL AND DISCREET MEN OF THAT FIEF WHO SHALL BE ANSWERABLE FOR THE REVENUES TO US OR TO HIM TO WHOM WE HAVE ASSIGNED THEM AND IF WE GIVE OR SELL TO ANYONE THE WARDSHIP OF ANY SUCH LAND AND HE CAUSES DESTRUCTION OR WASTE THEREIN HE SHALL LOSE THAT WARDSHIP AND IT SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO TWO LAWFUL AND DISCREET MEN OF THAT FIEF WHO SHALL SIMILARLY BE ANSWERABLE TO US AS IS AFORESAID 5 MOREOVER SO LONG AS HE HAS THE WARDSHIP OF THE LAND THE GUARDIAN SHALL KEEP IN REPAIR THE HOUSES PARKS PRESERVES PONDS MILLS AND OTHER THINGS PERTAINING TO THE LAND OUT OF THE REVENUES FROM IT AND HE SHALL RESTORE TO THE HEIR WHEN HE COMES OF AGE HIS LAND FULLY STOCKED WITH PLOUGHS AND THE MEANS OF HUSBANDRY ACCORDING TO WHAT THE SEASON OF HUSBANDRY REQUIRES AND THE REVENUES OF THE LAND CAN REASONABLY BEAR 6 HEIRS SHALL BE MARRIED WITHOUT DISPARAGEMENT YET SO THAT BEFORE THE MARRIAGE IS CONTRACTED THOSE NEAREST IN BLOOD TO THE HEIR SHALL HAVE NOTICE 7 A WIDOW SHALL HAVE HER MARRIAGE PORTION AND INHERITANCE FORTHWITH AND WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND NOR SHALL SHE PAY ANYTHING TO HAVE HER DOWER OR HER MARRIAGE PORTION OR THE INHERITANCE WHICH SHE AND HER HUSBAND HELD ON THE DAY OF HER HUSBAND'S DEATH AND SHE MAY REMAIN IN HER HUSBAND'S HOUSE FOR FORTY DAYS AFTER HIS DEATH WITHIN WHICH TIME HER DOWER SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO HER 8 NO WIDOW SHALL BE FORCED TO MARRY SO LONG AS SHE WISHES TO LIVE WITHOUT A HUSBAND PROVIDED THAT SHE GIVES SECURITY NOT TO MARRY WITHOUT OUR CONSENT IF SHE HOLDS OF US OR WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HER LORD OF WHOM SHE HOLDS IF SHE HOLDS OF ANOTHER 9 NEITHER WE NOR OUR BAILIFFS WILL SEIZE FOR ANY DEBT ANY LAND OR RENT SO LONG AS THE CHATTELS OF THE DEBTOR ARE SUFFICIENT TO REPAY THE DEBT NOR WILL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE SURETY FOR THE DEBTOR BE DISTRAINED SO LONG AS THE PRINCIPAL DEBTOR IS HIMSELF ABLE TO PAY THE DEBT AND IF THE PRINCIPAL DEBTOR FAILS TO PAY THE DEBT HAVING NOTHING WHEREWITH TO PAY IT THEN SHALL THE SURETIES ANSWER FOR THE DEBT AND THEY SHALL IF THEY WISH HAVE THE LANDS AND RENTS OF THE DEBTOR UNTIL THEY ARE REIMBURSED FOR THE DEBT WHICH THEY HAVE PAID FOR HIM UNLESS THE PRINCIPAL DEBTOR CAN SHOW THAT HE HAS DISCHARGED HIS OBLIGATION IN THE MATTER TO THE SAID SURETIES 10 IF ANYONE WHO HAS BORROWED FROM THE JEWS ANY SUM GREAT OR SMALL DIES BEFORE IT IS REPAID THE DEBT SHALL NOT BEAR INTEREST AS LONG AS THE HEIR IS UNDER AGE OF WHOMSOEVER HE HOLDS AND IF THE DEBT FALLS INTO OUR HANDS WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING EXCEPT THE PRINCIPAL MENTIONED IN THE BOND 11 AND IF ANYONE DIES INDEBTED TO THE JEWS HIS WIFE SHALL HAVE HER DOWER AND PAY NOTHING OF THAT DEBT AND IF THE DEAD MAN LEAVES CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER AGE THEY SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH NECESSARIES BEFITTING THE HOLDING OF THE DECEASED AND THE DEBT SHALL BE PAID OUT OF THE RESIDUE RESERVING HOWEVER SERVICE DUE TO LORDS OF THE LAND DEBTS OWING TO OTHERS THAN JEWS SHALL BE DEALT WITH IN LIKE MANNER 12 NO SCUTAGE OR AID SHALL BE IMPOSED IN OUR KINGDOM UNLESS BY COMMON COUNSEL OF OUR KINGDOM EXCEPT FOR RANSOMING OUR PERSON FOR MAKING OUR ELDEST SON A KNIGHT AND FOR ONCE MARRYING OUR ELDEST DAUGHTER AND FOR THESE ONLY A REASONABLE AID SHALL BE LEVIED BE IT DONE IN LIKE MANNER CONCERNING AIDS FROM THE CITY OF LONDON 13 AND THE CITY OF LONDON SHALL HAVE ALL ITS ANCIENT LIBERTIES AND FREE CUSTOMS AS WELL BY LAND AS BY WATER FURTHERMORE WE WILL AND GRANT THAT ALL OTHER CITIES BOROUGHS TOWNS AND PORTS SHALL HAVE ALL THEIR LIBERTIES AND FREE CUSTOMS 14 AND TO OBTAIN THE COMMON COUNSEL OF THE KINGDOM ABOUT THE ASSESSING OF AN AID EXCEPT IN THE THREE CASES AFORESAID OR OF A SCUTAGE WE WILL CAUSE TO BE SUMMONED THE ARCHBISHOPS BISHOPS ABBOTS EARLS AND GREATER BARONS INDIVIDUALLY BY OUR LETTERS AND IN ADDITION WE WILL CAUSE TO BE SUMMONED GENERALLY THROUGH OUR SHERIFFS AND BAILIFFS ALL THOSE HOLDING OF US IN CHIEF FOR A FIXED DATE NAMELY AFTER THE EXPIRY OF AT LEAST FORTY DAYS AND TO A FIXED PLACE AND IN ALL LETTERS OF SUCH SUMMONS WE WILL SPECIFY THE REASON FOR THE SUMMONS AND WHEN THE SUMMONS HAS THUS BEEN MADE THE BUSINESS SHALL PROCEED ON THE DAY APPOINTED ACCORDING TO THE COUNSEL OF THOSE PRESENT THOUGH NOT ALL HAVE COME WHO WERE SUMMONED 15 WE WILL NOT IN FUTURE GRANT ANY ONE THE RIGHT TO TAKE AN AID FROM HIS FREE MEN EXCEPT FOR RANSOMING HIS PERSON FOR MAKING HIS ELDEST SON A KNIGHT AND FOR ONCE MARRYING HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER AND FOR THESE ONLY A REASONABLE AID SHALL BE LEVIED 16 NO ONE SHALL BE COMPELLED TO DO GREATER SERVICE FOR A KNIGHT'S FEE OR FOR ANY OTHER FREE HOLDING THAN IS DUE FROM IT 17 COMMON PLEAS SHALL NOT FOLLOW OUR COURT BUT SHALL BE HELD IN SOME FIXED PLACE 18 RECOGNITIONS OF NOVEL DISSEISIN OF MORT D'ANCESTER AND OF DARREIN PRESENTMENT SHALL NOT BE HELD ELSEWHERE THAN IN THE COUNTIES TO WHICH THEY RELATE AND IN THIS MANNER WE OR IF WE SHOULD BE OUT OF THE REALM OUR CHIEF JUSTICIAR WILL SEND TWO JUSTICES THROUGH EACH COUNTY FOUR TIMES A YEAR WHO WITH FOUR KNIGHTS OF EACH COUNTY CHOSEN BY THE COUNTY SHALL HOLD THE SAID ASSIZES IN THE COUNTY AND ON THE DAY AND IN THE PLACE OF MEETING OF THE COUNTY COURT 19 AND IF THE SAID ASSIZES CANNOT ALL BE HELD ON THE DAY OF THE COUNTY COURT THERE SHALL STAY BEHIND AS MANY OF THE KNIGHTS AND FREEHOLDERS WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE COUNTY COURT ON THAT DAY AS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SUFFICIENT MAKING OF JUDGMENTS ACCORDING TO THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS TO BE DONE 20 A FREE MAN SHALL NOT BE AMERCED FOR A TRIVIAL OFFENCE EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEGREE OF THE OFFENCE AND FOR A GRAVE OFFENCE HE SHALL BE AMERCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS GRAVITY YET SAVING HIS WAY OF LIVING AND A MERCHANT IN THE SAME WAY SAVING HIS STOCK IN TRADE AND A VILLEIN SHALL BE AMERCED IN THE SAME WAY SAVING HIS MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD IF THEY HAVE FALLEN INTO OUR MERCY AND NONE OF THE AFORESAID AMERCEMENTS SHALL BE IMPOSED EXCEPT BY THE OATH OF GOOD MEN OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 21 EARLS AND BARONS SHALL NOT BE AMERCED EXCEPT BY THEIR PEERS AND ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEGREE OF THE OFFENCE 22 NO CLERK SHALL BE AMERCED IN RESPECT OF HIS LAY HOLDING EXCEPT AFTER THE MANNER OF THE OTHERS AFORESAID AND NOT ACCORDING TO THE AMOUNT OF HIS ECCLESIASTICAL BENEFICE 23 NO VILL OR INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE COMPELLED TO MAKE BRIDGES AT RIVER BANKS EXCEPT THOSE WHO FROM OF OLD ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO DO SO 24 NO SHERIFF CONSTABLE CORONERS OR OTHERS OF OUR BAILIFFS SHALL HOLD PLEAS OF OUR CROWN 25 ALL COUNTIES HUNDREDS WAPENTAKES AND TRITHINGS SHALL BE AT THE OLD RENTS WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PAYMENT EXEPT OUR DEMESNE MANORS 26 IF ANYONE HOLDING A LAY FIEF OF US DIES AND OUR SHERIFF OR BAILIFF SHOWS OUR LETTERS PATENT OF SUMMONS FOR A DEBT THAT THE DECEASED OWED US IT SHALL BE LAWFUL FOR OUR SHERIFF OR BAILIFF TO ATTACH AND MAKE A LIST OF CHATTELS OF THE DECEASED FOUND UPON THE LAY FIEF TO THE VALUE OF THAT DEBT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF LAW WORTHY MEN PROVIDED THAT NONE OF THE CHATTELS SHALL BE REMOVED UNTIL THE DEBT WHICH IS MANIFEST HAS BEEN PAID TO US IN FULL AND THE RESIDUE SHALL BE LEFT TO THE EXECUTORS FOR CARRYING OUT THE WILL OF THE DECEASED AND IF NOTHING IS OWING TO US FROM HIM ALL THE CHATTELS SHALL ACCRUE TO THE DECEASED SAVING TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN THEIR REASONABLE SHARES 27 IF ANY FREE MAN DIES WITHOUT LEAVING A WILL HIS CHATTELS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED BY HIS NEAREST KINSFOLK AND FRIENDS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CHURCH SAVING TO EVERY ONE THE DEBTS WHICH THE DECEASED OWED HIM 28 NO CONSTABLE OR OTHER BAILIFF OF OURS SHALL TAKE ANYONE'S CORN OR OTHER CHATTELS UNLESS HE PAYS ON THE SPOT IN CASH FOR THEM OR CAN DELAY PAYMENT BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SELLER 29 NO CONSTABLE SHALL COMPEL ANY KNIGHT TO GIVE MONEY INSTEAD OF CASTLE GUARD IF HE IS WILLING TO DO THE GUARD HIMSELF OR THROUGH ANOTHER GOOD MAN IF FOR SOME GOOD REASON HE CANNOT DO IT HIMSELF AND IF WE LEAD OR SEND HIM ON MILITARY SERVICE HE SHALL BE EXCUSED GUARD IN PROPORTION TO THE TIME THAT BECAUSE OF US HE HAS BEEN ON SERVICE 30 NO SHERIFF OR BAILIFF OF OURS OR ANYONE ELSE SHALL TAKE THE HORSES OR CARTS OF ANY FREE MAN FOR TRANSPORT WORK SAVE WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THAT FREEMAN 31 NEITHER WE NOR OUR BAILIFFS WILL TAKE FOR CASTLES OR OTHER WORKS OF OURS TIMBER WHICH IS NOT OURS EXCEPT WITH THE AGREEMENT OF HIM WHOSE TIMBER IT IS 32 WE WILL NOT HOLD FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A DAY THE LANDS OF THOSE CONVICTED OF FELONY AND THEN THE LANDS SHALL BE HANDED OVER TO THE LORDS OF THE FIEFS 33 HENCEFORTH ALL FISH WEIRS SHALL BE CLEARED COMPLETELY FROM THE THAMES AND THE MEDWAY AND THROUGHOUT ALL ENGLAND EXCEPT ALONG THE SEA COAST 34 THE WRIT CALLED PRAECIPE SHALL NOT IN FUTURE BE ISSUED TO ANYONE IN RESPECT OF ANY HOLDING WHEREBY A FREE MAN MAY LOSE HIS COURT 35 LET THERE BE ONE MEASURE FOR WINE THROUGHOUT OUR KINGDOM AND ONE MEASURE FOR ALE AND ONE MEASURE FOR CORN NAMELY THE LONDON QUARTER AND ONE WIDTH FOR CLOTHS WHETHER DYED RUSSET OR HALBERGET NAMELY TWO ELLS WITHIN THE SELVEDGES LET IT BE THE SAME WITH WEIGHTS AS WITH MEASURES 36 NOTHING SHALL BE GIVEN OR TAKEN IN FUTURE FOR THE WRIT OF INQUISITION OF LIFE OR LIMBS INSTEAD IT SHALL BE GRANTED FREE OF CHARGE AND NOT REFUSED 37 IF ANYONE HOLDS OF US BY FEE FARM BY SOCAGE OR BY BURGAGE AND HOLDS LAND OF ANOTHER BY KNIGHT SERVICE WE WILL NOT BY REASON OF THAT FEE FARM SOCAGE OR BURGAGE HAVE THE WARDSHIP OF HIS HEIR OR OF LAND OF HIS THAT IS OF THE FIEF OF THE OTHER NOR WILL WE HAVE CUSTODY OF THE FEE FARM SOCAGE OR BURGAGE UNLESS SUCH FEE FARM OWES KNIGHT SERVICE WE WILL NOT HAVE CUSTODY OF ANYONE'S HEIR OR LAND WHICH HE HOLDS OF ANOTHER BY KNIGHT SERVICE BY REASON OF ANY PETTY SERJEANTY WHICH HE HOLDS OF US BY THE SERVICE OF RENDERING TO US KNIVES OR ARROWS OR THE LIKE 38 NO BAILIFF SHALL IN FUTURE PUT ANYONE TO TRIAL UPON HIS OWN BARE WORD WITHOUT RELIABLE WITNESSES PRODUCED FOR THIS PURPOSE 39 NO FREE MAN SHALL BE ARRESTED OR IMPRISONED OR DISSEISED OR OUTLAWED OR EXILED OR IN ANY WAY VICTIMISED NEITHER WILL WE ATTACK HIM OR SEND ANYONE TO ATTACK HIM EXCEPT BY THE LAWFUL JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS OR BY THE LAW OF THE LAND 40 TO NO ONE WILL WE SELL TO NO ONE WILL WE REFUSE OR DELAY RIGHT OR JUSTICE 41 ALL MERCHANTS SHALL BE ABLE TO GO OUT OF AND COME INTO ENGLAND SAFELY AND SECURELY AND STAY AND TRAVEL THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AS WELL BY LAND AS BY WATER FOR BUYING AND SELLING BY THE ANCIENT AND RIGHT CUSTOMS FREE FROM ALL EVIL TOLLS EXCEPT IN TIME OF WAR AND IF THEY ARE OF THE LAND THAT IS AT WAR WITH US AND IF SUCH ARE FOUND IN OUR LAND AT THE BEGINNING OF A WAR THEY SHALL BE ATTACHED WITHOUT INJURY TO THEIR PERSONS OR GOODS UNTIL WE OR OUR CHIEF JUSTICIAR KNOW HOW MERCHANTS OF OUR LAND ARE TREATED WHO WERE FOUND IN THE LAND AT WAR WITH US WHEN WAR BROKE OUT AND IF OURS ARE SAFE THERE THE OTHERS SHALL BE SAFE IN OUR LAND 42 IT SHALL BE LAWFUL IN FUTURE FOR ANYONE WITHOUT PREJUDICING THE ALLEGIANCE DUE TO US TO LEAVE OUR KINGDOM AND RETURN SAFELY AND SECURELY BY LAND AND WATER SAVE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR A SHORT PERIOD IN TIME OF WAR EXCEPT FOR THOSE IMPRISONED OR OUTLAWED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE KINGDOM AND NATIVES OF A LAND THAT IS AT WAR WITH US AND MERCHANTS WHO SHALL BE TREATED AS AFORESAID 43 IF ANYONE WHO HOLDS OF SOME ESCHEAT SUCH AS THE HONOUR OF WALLINGFORD NOTTINGHAM BOULOGNE LANCASTER OR OF OTHER ESCHEATS WHICH ARE IN OUR HANDS AND ARE BARONIES DIES HIS HEIR SHALL GIVE NO OTHER RELIEF AND DO NO OTHER SERVICE TO US THAN HE WOULD HAVE DONE TO THE BARON IF THAT BARONY HAD BEEN IN THE BARON'S HANDS AND WE WILL HOLD IT IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH THE BARON HELD IT 44 MEN WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE FOREST NEED NOT HENCEFORTH COME BEFORE OUR JUSTICES OF THE FOREST UPON A GENERAL SUMMONS UNLESS THEY ARE IMPLEADED OR ARE SURETIES FOR ANY PERSON OR PERSONS WHO ARE ATTACHED FOR FOREST OFFENCES 45 WE WILL NOT MAKE JUSTICES CONSTABLES SHERIFFS OR BAILIFFS SAVE OF SUCH AS KNOW THE LAW OF THE KINGDOM AND MEAN TO OBSERVE IT WELL 46 ALL BARONS WHO HAVE FOUNDED ABBEYS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE CHARTERS OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND OR ANCIENT TENURE SHALL HAVE THE CUSTODY OF THEM DURING VACANCIES AS THEY OUGHT TO HAVE 47 ALL FORESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOREST IN OUR TIME SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY DISAFFORESTED AND SO BE IT DONE WITH RIVERBANKS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE PRESERVES BY US IN OUR TIME 48 ALL EVIL CUSTOMS CONNECTED WITH FORESTS AND WARRENS FORESTERS AND WARRENERS SHERIFFS AND THEIR OFFICIALS RIVERBANKS AND THEIR WARDENS SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE INQUIRED INTO IN EACH COUNTY BY TWELVE SWORN KNIGHTS OF THE SAME COUNTY WHO ARE TO BE CHOSEN BY GOOD MEN OF THE SAME COUNTY AND WITHIN FORTY DAYS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE INQUIRY SHALL BE UTTERLY ABOLISHED BY THEM SO AS NEVER TO BE RESTORED PROVIDED THAT WE OR OUR JUSTICIAR IF WE ARE NOT IN ENGLAND KNOW OF IT FIRST 49 WE WILL IMMEDIATELY RETURN ALL HOSTAGES AND CHARTERS GIVEN TO US BY ENGLISHMEN AS SECURITY FOR PEACE OR FAITHFUL SERVICE 50 WE WILL REMOVE COMPLETELY FROM OFFICE THE RELATIONS OF GERARD DE ATHEE SO THAT IN FUTURE THEY SHALL HAVE NO OFFICE IN ENGLAND NAMELY ENGELARD DE CIGOGNE PETER AND GUY AND ANDREW DE CHANCEAUX GUY DE CIGOGNE GEOFFREY DE MARTIGNY AND HIS BROTHERS PHILIP MARC AND HIS BROTHERS AND HIS NEPHEW GEOFFREY AND ALL THEIR FOLLOWING 51 AS SOON AS PEACE IS RESTORED WE WILL REMOVE FROM THE KINGDOM ALL FOREIGN KNIGHTS CROSS BOWMEN SERJEANTS AND MERCENARIES WHO HAVE COME WITH HORSES AND ARMS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE KINGDOM 52 IF ANYONE HAS BEEN DISSEISED OF OR KEPT OUT OF HIS LANDS CASTLES FRANCHISES OR HIS RIGHT BY US WITHOUT THE LEGAL JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS WE WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTORE THEM TO HIM AND IF A DISPUTE ARISES OVER THIS THEN LET IT BE DECIDED BY THE JUDGMENT OF THE TWENTY FIVE BARONS WHO ARE MENTIONED BELOW IN THE CLAUSE FOR SECURING THE PEACE FOR ALL THE THINGS HOWEVER WHICH ANYONE HAS BEEN DISSEISED OR KEPT OUT OF WITHOUT THE LAWFUL JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS BY KING HENRY OUR FATHER OR BY KING RICHARD OUR BROTHER WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR HAND OR ARE HELD BY OTHERS TO WHOM WE ARE BOUND TO WARRANT THEM WE WILL HAVE THE USUAL PERIOD OF RESPITE OF CRUSADERS EXCEPTING THOSE THINGS ABOUT WHICH A PLEA WAS STARTED OR AN INQUEST MADE BY OUR COMMAND BEFORE WE TOOK THE CROSS WHEN HOWEVER WE RETURN FROM OUR PILGRIMAGE OR IF BY ANY CHANCE WE DO NOT GO ON IT WE WILL AT ONCE DO FULL JUSTICE THEREIN 53 WE WILL HAVE THE SAME RESPITE AND IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE DOING OF JUSTICE IN THE MATTER OF THE DISAFFORESTING OR RETAINING OF THE FORESTS WHICH HENRY OUR FATHER OR RICHARD OUR BROTHER AFFORESTED AND IN THE MATTER OF THE WARDSHIP OF LANDS WHICH ARE OF THE FIEF OF ANOTHER WARDSHIPS OF WHICH SORT WE HAVE HITHERTO HAD BY REASON OF A FIEF WHICH ANYONE HELD OF US BY KNIGHT SERVICE AND IN THE MATTER OF ABBEYS FOUNDED ON THE FIEF OF ANOTHER NOT ON A FIEF OF OUR OWN IN WHICH THE LORD OF THE FIEF CLAIMS HE HAS A RIGHT AND WHEN WE HAVE RETURNED OR IF WE DO NOT SET OUT ON OUR PILGRIMAGE WE WILL AT ONCE DO FULL JUSTICE TO THOSE WHO COMPLAIN OF THESE THINGS 54 NO ONE SHALL BE ARRESTED OR IMPRISONED UPON THE APPEAL OF A WOMAN FOR THE DEATH OF ANYONE EXCEPT HER HUSBAND 55 ALL FINES MADE WITH US UNJUSTLY AND AGAINST THE LAW OF THE LAND AND ALL AMERCEMENTS IMPOSED UNJUSTLY AND AGAINST THE LAW OF THE LAND SHALL BE ENTIRELY REMITTED OR ELSE LET THEM BE SETTLED BY THE JUDGMENT OF THE TWENTY FIVE BARONS WHO ARE MENTIONED BELOW IN THE CLAUSE FOR SECURING THE PEACE OR BY THE JUDGMENT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SAME ALONG WITH THE AFORESAID STEPHEN ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IF HE CAN BE PRESENT AND SUCH OTHERS AS HE MAY WISH TO ASSOCIATE WITH HIMSELF FOR THIS PURPOSE AND IF HE CANNOT BE PRESENT THE BUSINESS SHALL NEVERTHELESS PROCEED WITHOUT HIM PROVIDED THAT IF ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE AFORESAID TWENTY FIVE BARONS ARE IN A LIKE SUIT THEY SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE JUDGMENT OF THE CASE IN QUESTION AND OTHERS CHOSEN SWORN AND PUT IN THEIR PLACE BY THE REST OF THE SAME TWENTY FIVE FOR THIS CASE ONLY 56 IF WE HAVE DISSEISED OR KEPT OUT WELSHMEN FROM LANDS OR LIBERTIES OR OTHER THINGS WITHOUT THE LEGAL JUDGMENT OF THEIR PEERS IN ENGLAND OR IN WALES THEY SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY RESTORED TO THEM AND IF A DISPUTE ARISES OVER THIS THEN LET IT BE DECIDED IN THE MARCH BY THE JUDGMENT OF THEIR PEERS FOR HOLDINGS IN ENGLAND ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF ENGLAND FOR HOLDINGS IN WALES ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF WALES AND FOR HOLDINGS IN THE MARCH ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE MARCH WELSHMEN SHALL DO THE SAME TO US AND OURS 57 FOR ALL THE THINGS HOWEVER WHICH ANY WELSHMAN WAS DISSEISED OF OR KEPT OUT OF WITHOUT THE LAWFUL JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS BY KING HENRY OUR FATHER OR KING RICHARD OUR BROTHER WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR HAND OR WHICH ARE HELD BY OTHERS TO WHOM WE ARE BOUND TO WARRANT THEM WE WILL HAVE THE USUAL PERIOD OF RESPITE OF CRUSADERS EXCEPTING THOSE THINGS ABOUT WHICH A PLEA WAS STARTED OR AN INQUEST MADE BY OUR COMMAND BEFORE WE TOOK THE CROSS WHEN HOWEVER WE RETURN OR IF BY ANY CHANCE WE DO NOT SET OUT ON OUR PILGRIMAGE WE WILL AT ONCE DO FULL JUSTICE TO THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE WELSH AND THE FORESAID REGIONS 58 WE WILL GIVE BACK AT ONCE THE SON OF LLYWELYN AND ALL THE HOSTAGES FROM WALES AND THE CHARTERS THAT WERE HANDED OVER TO US AS SECURITY FOR PEACE 59 WE WILL ACT TOWARD ALEXANDER KING OF THE SCOTS CONCERNING THE RETURN OF HIS SISTERS AND HOSTAGES AND CONCERNING HIS FRANCHISES AND HIS RIGHT IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH WE ACT TOWARDS OUR OTHER BARONS OF ENGLAND UNLESS IT OUGHT TO BE OTHERWISE BY THE CHARTERS WHICH WE HAVE FROM WILLIAM HIS FATHER FORMERLY KING OF THE SCOTS AND THIS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS IN OUR COURT 60 ALL THESE AFORESAID CUSTOMS AND LIBERTIES WHICH WE HAVE GRANTED TO BE OBSERVED IN OUR KINGDOM AS FAR AS IT PERTAINS TO US TOWARDS OUR MEN ALL OF OUR KINGDOM CLERKS AS WELL AS LAYMEN SHALL OBSERVE AS FAR AS IT PERTAINS TO THEM TOWARDS THEIR MEN 61 SINCE MOREOVER FOR GOD AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR KINGDOM AND FOR THE BETTER ALLAYING OF THE DISCORD THAT HAS ARISEN BETWEEN US AND OUR BARONS WE HAVE GRANTED ALL THESE THINGS AFORESAID WISHING THEM TO ENJOY THE USE OF THEM UNIMPAIRED AND UNSHAKEN FOR EVER WE GIVE AND GRANT THEM THE UNDER WRITTEN SECURITY NAMELY THAT THE BARONS SHALL CHOOSE ANY TWENTY FIVE BARONS OF THE KINGDOM THEY WISH WHO MUST WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT OBSERVE HOLD AND CAUSE TO BE OBSERVED THE PEACE AND LIBERTIES WHICH WE HAVE GRANTED AND CONFIRMED TO THEM BY THIS PRESENT CHARTER OF OURS SO THAT IF WE OR OUR JUSTICIAR OR OUR BAILIFFS OR ANY ONE OF OUR SERVANTS OFFEND IN ANY WAY AGAINST ANYONE OR TRANSGRESS ANY OF THE ARTICLES OF THE PEACE OR THE SECURITY AND THE OFFENCE BE NOTIFIED TO FOUR OF THE AFORESAID TWENTY FIVE BARONS THOSE FOUR BARONS SHALL COME TO US OR TO OUR JUSTICIAR IF WE ARE OUT OF THE KINGDOM AND LAYING THE TRANSGRESSION BEFORE US SHALL PETITION US TO HAVE THAT TRANSGRESSION CORRECTED WITHOUT DELAY AND IF WE DO NOT CORRECT THE TRANSGRESSION OR IF WE ARE OUT OF THE KINGDOM IF OUR JUSTICIAR DOES NOT CORRECT IT WITHIN FORTY DAYS RECKONING FROM THE TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR NOTICE OR TO THAT OF OUR JUSTICIAR IF WE WERE OUT OF THE KINGDOM THE AFORESAID FOUR BARONS SHALL REFER THAT CASE TO THE REST OF THE TWENTY FIVE BARONS AND THOSE TWENTY FIVE BARONS TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY OF THE WHOLE LAND SHALL DISTRAIN AND DISTRESS US IN EVERY WAY THEY CAN NAMELY BY SEIZING CASTLES LANDS POSSESSIONS AND IN SUCH OTHER WAYS AS THEY CAN SAVING OUR PERSON AND THE PERSONS OF OUR QUEEN AND OUR CHILDREN UNTIL IN THEIR OPINION AMENDS HAVE BEEN MADE AND WHEN AMENDS HAVE BEEN MADE THEY SHALL OBEY US AS THEY DID BEFORE AND LET ANYONE IN THE LAND WHO WISHES TAKE AN OATH TO OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE SAID TWENTY FIVE BARONS FOR THE EXECUTION OF ALL THE AFORESAID MATTERS AND WITH THEM TO DISTRESS US AS MUCH AS HE CAN AND WE PUBLICLY AND FREELY GIVE ANYONE LEAVE TO TAKE THE OATH WHO WISHES TO TAKE IT AND WE WILL NEVER PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM TAKING IT INDEED ALL THOSE IN THE LAND WHO ARE UNWILLING OF THEMSELVES AND OF THEIR OWN ACCORD TO TAKE AN OATH TO THE TWENTY FIVE BARONS TO HELP THEM TO DISTRAIN AND DISTRESS US WE WILL MAKE THEM TAKE THE OATH AS AFORESAID AT OUR COMMAND AND IF ANY OF THE TWENTY FIVE BARONS DIES OR LEAVES THE COUNTRY OR IS IN ANY OTHER WAY PREVENTED FROM CARRYING OUT THE THINGS AFORESAID THE REST OF THE AFORESAID TWENTY FIVE BARONS SHALL CHOOSE AS THEY THINK FIT ANOTHER ONE IN HIS PLACE AND HE SHALL TAKE THE OATH LIKE THE REST IN ALL MATTERS THE EXECUTION OF WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THESE TWENTY FIVE BARONS IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT THESE TWENTY FIVE ARE PRESENT YET DISAGREE AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT ANYTHING OR IF SOME OF THOSE UMMONED WILL NOT OR CANNOT BE PRESENT THAT SHALL BE HELD AS FIXED AND ESTABLISHED WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT ORDAINED OR COMMANDED EXACTLY AS IF ALL THE TWENTY FIVE HAD CONSENTED TO IT AND THE SAID TWENTY FIVE SHALL SWEAR THAT THEY WILL FAITHFULLY OBSERVE ALL THE THINGS AFORESAID AND WILL DO ALL THEY CAN TO GET THEM OBSERVED AND WE WILL PROCURE NOTHING FROM ANYONE EITHER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH ANYONE ELSE WHEREBY ANY OF THESE CONCESSIONS AND LIBERTIES MIGHT BE REVOKED OR DIMINISHED AND IF ANY SUCH THING IS PROCURED LET IT BE VOID AND NULL AND WE WILL NEVER USE IT EITHER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH ANOTHER 62 AND WE HAVE FULLY REMITTED AND PARDONED TO EVERYONE ALL THE ILL WILL INDIGNATION AND RANCOUR THAT HAVE ARISEN BETWEEN US AND OUR MEN CLERGY AND LAITY FROM THE TIME OF THE QUARREL FURTHERMORE WE HAVE FULLY REMITTED TO ALL CLERGY AND LAITY AND AS FAR AS PERTAINS TO US HAVE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN ALL TRESPASSES OCCASIONED BY THE SAME QUARREL BETWEEN EASTER IN THE SIXTEENTH YEAR OF OUR REIGN AND THE RESTORATION OF PEACE AND BESIDES WE HAVE CAUSED TO BE MADE FOR THEM LETTERS TESTIMONIAL PATENT OF THE LORD STEPHEN ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY OF THE LORD HENRY ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN AND OF THE AFOREMENTIONED BISHOPS AND OF MASTER PANDULF ABOUT THIS SECURITY AND THE AFOREMENTIONED CONCESSIONS 63 WHEREFORE WE WISH AND FIRMLY ENJOIN THAT THE ENGLISH CHURCH SHALL BE FREE AND THAT THE MEN IN OUR KINGDOM SHALL HAVE AND HOLD ALL THE AFORESAID LIBERTIES RIGHTS AND CONCESSIONS WELL AND PEACEFULLY FREELY AND QUIETLY FULLY AND COMPLETELY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEIRS FROM US AND OUR HEIRS IN ALL MATTERS AND IN ALL PLACES FOR EVER AS IS AFORESAID AN OATH MOREOVER HAS BEEN TAKEN AS WELL ON OUR PART AS ON THE PART OF THE BARONS THAT ALL THESE THINGS AFORESAID SHALL BE OBSERVED IN GOOD FAITH AND WITHOUT EVIL DISPOSITION WITNESS THE ABOVE MENTIONED AND MANY OTHERS GIVEN BY OUR HAND IN THE MEADOW WHICH IS CALLED RUNNYMEDE BETWEEN WINDSOR AND STAINES ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF JUNE IN THE SEVENTEENTH YEAR OF OUR REIGN FROM ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS BRITANNICA ONLINE VERS 99.1 1994 1999 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA COPYRIGHT 1994 1999 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA INC HTTP://SEARCH.EB.COM/BOL/TOPIC?XREF=7314
