TheMagnaCarta

(TheGreatCharter)
Preamble:John,bythegraceofGod,kingofEngland,lordofIreland,dukeof
NormandyandAquitaine,andcountofAnjou,tothearchbishop,bishops,abbots,
earls,barons,justiciaries,foresters,sheriffs,stewards,servants,andtoallhis
bailiffsandliegesubjects,greetings.Knowthat,havingregardtoGodandforthe
salvationofoursoul,andthoseofallourancestorsandheirs,anduntothehonor
ofGodandtheadvancementofhisholyChurchandfortherectifyingofour
realm,wehavegrantedasunderwrittenbyadviceofourvenerablefathers,
Stephen,archbishopofCanterbury,primateofallEnglandandcardinalofthe
holyRomanChurch,Henry,archbishopofDublin,WilliamofLondon,Peterof
Winchester,JocelynofBathandGlastonbury,HughofLincoln,Walterof
Worcester,WilliamofCoventry,BenedictofRochester,bishops;ofMaster
Pandulf,subdeaconandmemberofthehouseholdofourlordthePope,of
brotherAymeric(masteroftheKnightsoftheTempleinEngland),andofthe
illustriousmenWilliamMarshal,earlofPembroke,William,earlofSalisbury,
William,earlofWarenne,William,earlofArundel,AlanofGalloway(constableof
Scotland),WarenFitzGerold,PeterFitzHerbert,HubertDeBurgh(seneschalof
Poitou),HughdeNeville,MatthewFitzHerbert,ThomasBasset,AlanBasset,
Philipd'Aubigny,RobertofRoppesley,JohnMarshal,JohnFitzHugh,and
others,ourliegemen.
1.InthefirstplacewehavegrantedtoGod,andbythisourpresentcharter
confirmedforusandourheirsforeverthattheEnglishChurchshallbefree,and
shallhaveherrightsentire,andherlibertiesinviolate;andwewillthatitbethus
observed;whichisapparentfromthisthatthefreedomofelections,whichis
reckonedmostimportantandveryessentialtotheEnglishChurch,we,ofour
pureandunconstrainedwill,didgrant,anddidbyourcharterconfirmanddid
obtaintheratificationofthesamefromourlord,PopeInnocentIII,beforethe
quarrelarosebetweenusandourbarons:andthiswewillobserve,andourwill
isthatitbeobservedingoodfaithbyourheirsforever.Wehavealsograntedto
allfreemenofourkingdom,forusandourheirsforever,alltheunderwritten
liberties,tobehadandheldbythemandtheirheirs,ofusandourheirsforever.
2.Ifanyofourearlsorbarons,orothersholdingofusinchiefbymilitaryservice
shallhavedied,andatthetimeofhisdeathhisheirshallbefullofageandowe
"relief",heshallhavehisinheritancebytheoldrelief,towit,theheirorheirsof
anearl,forthewholebaronyofanearlby100;theheirorheirsofabaron,
100forawholebarony;theheirorheirsofaknight,100s,atmost,andwhoever
oweslesslethimgiveless,accordingtotheancientcustomoffees.

3.If,however,theheirofanyoneoftheaforesaidhasbeenunderageandin
wardship,lethimhavehisinheritancewithoutreliefandwithoutfinewhenhe
comesofage.
4.Theguardianofthelandofanheirwhoisthusunderage,shalltakefromthe
landoftheheirnothingbutreasonableproduce,reasonablecustoms,and
reasonableservices,andthatwithoutdestructionorwasteofmenorgoods;and
ifwehavecommittedthewardshipofthelandsofanysuchminortothesheriff,
ortoanyotherwhoisresponsibletousforitsissues,andhehasmade
destructionorwasterofwhatheholdsinwardship,wewilltakeofhimamends,
andthelandshallbecommittedtotwolawfulanddiscreetmenofthatfee,who
shallberesponsiblefortheissuestousortohimtowhomweshallassignthem;
andifwehavegivenorsoldthewardshipofanysuchlandtoanyoneandhehas
thereinmadedestructionorwaste,heshalllosethatwardship,anditshallbe
transferredtotwolawfulanddiscreetmenofthatfief,whoshallberesponsibleto
usinlikemannerasaforesaid.
5.Theguardian,moreover,solongashehasthewardshipoftheland,shall
keepupthehouses,parks,fishponds,stanks,mills,andotherthingspertaining
totheland,outoftheissuesofthesameland;andheshallrestoretotheheir,
whenhehascometofullage,allhisland,stockedwithploughsandwainage,
accordingastheseasonofhusbandryshallrequire,andtheissuesoftheland
canreasonablebear.
6.Heirsshallbemarriedwithoutdisparagement,yetsothatbeforethemarriage
takesplacethenearestinbloodtothatheirshallhavenotice.
7.Awidow,afterthedeathofherhusband,shallforthwithandwithoutdifficulty
havehermarriageportionandinheritance;norshallshegiveanythingforher
dower,orforhermarriageportion,orfortheinheritancewhichherhusbandand
sheheldonthedayofthedeathofthathusband;andshemayremaininthe
houseofherhusbandforfortydaysafterhisdeath,withinwhichtimeherdower
shallbeassignedtoher.
8.Nowidowshallbecompelledtomarry,solongasshepreferstolivewithouta
husband;providedalwaysthatshegivessecuritynottomarrywithoutour
consent,ifsheholdsofus,orwithouttheconsentofthelordofwhomsheholds,
ifsheholdsofanother.
9.Neitherwenorourbailiffswillseizeanylandorrentforanydebt,aslongas
thechattelsofthedebtoraresufficienttorepaythedebt;norshallthesuretiesof
thedebtorbedistrainedsolongastheprincipaldebtorisabletosatisfythedebt;
andiftheprincipaldebtorshallfailtopaythedebt,havingnothingwherewithto

payit,thenthesuretiesshallanswerforthedebt;andletthemhavethelands
andrentsofthedebtor,iftheydesirethem,untiltheyareindemnifiedforthedebt
whichtheyhavepaidforhim,unlesstheprincipaldebtorcanshowproofthathe
isdischargedthereofasagainstthesaidsureties.
10.IfonewhohasborrowedfromtheJewsanysum,greatorsmall,diebefore
thatloanberepaid,thedebtshallnotbearinterestwhiletheheirisunderage,of
whomsoeverhemayhold;andifthedebtfallintoourhands,wewillnottake
anythingexcepttheprincipalsumcontainedinthebond.
11.AndifanyonedieindebtedtotheJews,hiswifeshallhaveherdowerand
paynothingofthatdebt;andifanychildrenofthedeceasedareleftunderage,
necessariesshallbeprovidedfortheminkeepingwiththeholdingofthe
deceased;andoutoftheresiduethedebtshallbepaid,reserving,however,
serviceduetofeudallords;inlikemannerletitbedonetouchingdebtsdueto
othersthanJews.
12.Noscutagenotaidshallbeimposedonourkingdom,unlessbycommon
counselofourkingdom,exceptforransomingourperson,formakingoureldest
sonaknight,andforoncemarryingoureldestdaughter;andforthesethereshall
notbeleviedmorethanareasonableaid.Inlikemanneritshallbedone
concerningaidsfromthecityofLondon.
13.AndthecityofLondonshallhaveallitancientlibertiesandfreecustoms,as
wellbylandasbywater;furthermore,wedecreeandgrantthatallothercities,
boroughs,towns,andportsshallhavealltheirlibertiesandfreecustoms.
14.Andforobtainingthecommoncounselofthekingdomanenttheassessingof
anaid(exceptinthethreecasesaforesaid)orofascutage,wewillcausetobe
summonedthearchbishops,bishops,abbots,earls,andgreaterbarons,
severallybyourletters;andwewillmoveovercausetobesummonedgenerally,
throughoursheriffsandbailiffs,andotherswhoholdofusinchief,forafixed
date,namely,aftertheexpiryofatleastfortydays,andatafixedplace;andinall
lettersofsuchsummonswewillspecifythereasonofthesummons.Andwhen
thesummonshasthusbeenmade,thebusinessshallproceedontheday
appointed,accordingtothecounselofsuchasarepresent,althoughnotallwho
weresummonedhavecome.
15.Wewillnotforthefuturegranttoanyonelicensetotakeanaidfromhisown
freetenants,excepttoransomhisperson,tomakehiseldestsonaknight,and
oncetomarryhiseldestdaughter;andoneachoftheseoccasionsthereshallbe
leviedonlyareasonableaid.

16.Nooneshallbedistrainedforperformanceofgreaterserviceforaknight's
fee,orforanyotherfreetenement,thanisduetherefrom.
17.Commonpleasshallnotfollowourcourt,butshallbeheldinsomefixed
place.
18.Inquestsofnoveldisseisin,ofmortd'ancestor,andofdarreinpresentment
shallnotbeheldelsewherethanintheirowncountycourts,andthatinmanner
following;We,or,ifweshouldbeoutoftherealm,ourchiefjusticiar,willsend
twojusticiariesthrougheverycountyfourtimesayear,whoshallalonewithfour
knightsofthecountychosenbythecounty,holdthesaidassizesinthecounty
court,onthedayandintheplaceofmeetingofthatcourt.
19.Andifanyofthesaidassizescannotbetakenonthedayofthecountycourt,
letthereremainoftheknightsandfreeholders,whowerepresentatthecounty
courtonthatday,asmanyasmayberequiredfortheefficientmakingof
judgments,accordingasthebusinessbemoreorless.
20.Afreemanshallnotbeamercedforaslightoffense,exceptinaccordance
withthedegreeoftheoffense;andforagraveoffenseheshallbeamercedin
accordancewiththegravityoftheoffense,yetsavingalwayshis"contentment";
andamerchantinthesameway,savinghis"merchandise";andavilleinshallbe
amercedinthesameway,savinghis"wainage"iftheyhavefallenintoour
mercy:andnoneoftheaforesaidamercementsshallbeimposedexceptbythe
oathofhonestmenoftheneighborhood.
21.Earlsandbaronsshallnotbeamercedexceptthroughtheirpeers,andonly
inaccordancewiththedegreeoftheoffense.
22.Aclerkshallnotbeamercedinrespectofhislayholdingexceptafterthe
manneroftheothersaforesaid;further,heshallnotbeamercedinaccordance
withtheextentofhisecclesiasticalbenefice.
23.Novillageorindividualshallbecompelledtomakebridgesatriverbanks,
exceptthosewhofromofoldwerelegallyboundtodoso.
24.Nosheriff,constable,coroners,orothersofourbailiffs,shallholdpleasofour
Crown.
25.Allcounties,hundred,wapentakes,andtrithings(exceptourdemesne
manors)shallremainattheoldrents,andwithoutanyadditionalpayment.
26.Ifanyoneholdingofusalayfiefshalldie,andoursherifforbailiffshallexhibit
ourletterspatentofsummonsforadebtwhichthedeceasedowedus,itshallbe

lawfulforoursherifforbailifftoattachandenrollthechattelsofthedeceased,
founduponthelayfief,tothevalueofthatdebt,atthesightoflawworthymen,
providedalwaysthatnothingwhateverbethenceremoveduntilthedebtwhichis
evidentshallbefullypaidtous;andtheresidueshallbelefttotheexecutorsto
fulfillthewillofthedeceased;andiftherebenothingduefromhimtous,allthe
chattelsshallgotothedeceased,savingtohiswifeandchildrentheirreasonable
shares.
27.Ifanyfreemanshalldieintestate,hischattelsshallbedistributedbythe
handsofhisnearestkinsfolkandfriends,undersupervisionoftheChurch,
savingtoeveryonethedebtswhichthedeceasedowedtohim.
28.Noconstableorotherbailiffofoursshalltakecornorotherprovisionsfrom
anyonewithoutimmediatelytenderingmoneytherefor,unlesshecanhave
postponementthereofbypermissionoftheseller.
29.Noconstableshallcompelanyknighttogivemoneyinlieuofcastleguard,
whenheiswillingtoperformitinhisownperson,or(ifhehimselfcannotdoit
fromanyreasonablecause)thenbyanotherresponsibleman.Further,ifwe
haveledorsenthimuponmilitaryservice,heshallberelievedfromguardin
proportiontothetimeduringwhichhehasbeenonservicebecauseofus.
30.Nosherifforbailiffofours,orotherperson,shalltakethehorsesorcartsof
anyfreemanfortransportduty,againstthewillofthesaidfreeman.
31.Neitherwenorourbailiffsshalltake,forourcastlesorforanyotherworkof
ours,woodwhichisnotours,againstthewilloftheownerofthatwood.
32.Wewillnotretainbeyondoneyearandoneday,thelandsthosewhohave
beenconvictedoffelony,andthelandsshallthereafterbehandedovertothe
lordsofthefiefs.
33.AllkydellsforthefutureshallberemovedaltogetherfromThamesand
Medway,andthroughoutallEngland,exceptupontheseashore.
34.Thewritwhichiscalledpraecipeshallnotforthefuturebeissuedtoanyone,
regardinganytenementwherebyafreemanmaylosehiscourt.
35.Lettherebeonemeasureofwinethroughoutourwholerealm;andone
measureofale;andonemeasureofcorn,towit,"theLondonquarter";andone
widthofcloth(whetherdyed,orrusset,or"halberget"),towit,twoellswithinthe
selvedges;ofweightsalsoletitbeasofmeasures.

36.Nothinginfutureshallbegivenortakenforawritofinquisitionoflifeorlimbs,
butfreelyitshallbegranted,andneverdenied.
37.Ifanyoneholdsofusbyfeefarm,eitherbysocageorbyburage,orofany
otherlandbyknight'sservice,wewillnot(byreasonofthatfeefarm,socage,or
burgage),havethewardshipoftheheir,orofsuchlandofhisasifofthefiefof
thatother;norshallwehavewardshipofthatfeefarm,socage,orburgage,
unlesssuchfeefarmowesknight'sservice.Wewillnotbyreasonofanysmall
serjeancywhichanyonemayholdofusbytheserviceofrenderingtousknives,
arrows,orthelike,havewardshipofhisheirorofthelandwhichheholdsof
anotherlordbyknight'sservice.
38.Nobailiffforthefutureshall,uponhisownunsupportedcomplaint,put
anyonetohis"law",withoutcrediblewitnessesbroughtforthispurposes.
39.Nofreemenshallbetakenorimprisonedordisseisedorexiledorinanyway
destroyed,norwillwegouponhimnorsenduponhim,exceptbythelawful
judgmentofhispeersorbythelawoftheland.
40.Tonoonewillwesell,tonoonewillwerefuseordelay,rightorjustice.
41.AllmerchantsshallhavesafeandsecureexitfromEngland,andentryto
England,withtherighttotarrythereandtomoveaboutaswellbylandasby
water,forbuyingandsellingbytheancientandrightcustoms,quitfromallevil
tolls,except(intimeofwar)suchmerchantsasareofthelandatwarwithus.
Andifsucharefoundinourlandatthebeginningofthewar,theyshallbe
detained,withoutinjurytotheirbodiesorgoods,untilinformationbereceivedby
us,orbyourchiefjusticiar,howthemerchantsofourlandfoundinthelandat
warwithusaretreated;andifourmenaresafethere,theothersshallbesafein
ourland.
42.Itshallbelawfulinfutureforanyone(exceptingalwaysthoseimprisonedor
outlawedinaccordancewiththelawofthekingdom,andnativesofanycountry
atwarwithus,andmerchants,whoshallbetreatedasifaboveprovided)to
leaveourkingdomandtoreturn,safeandsecurebylandandwater,exceptfora
shortperiodintimeofwar,ongroundsofpublicpolicyreservingalwaysthe
allegianceduetous.
43.Ifanyoneholdingofsomeescheat(suchasthehonorofWallingford,
Nottingham,Boulogne,Lancaster,orofotherescheatswhichareinourhands
andarebaronies)shalldie,hisheirshallgivenootherrelief,andperformno
otherservicetousthanhewouldhavedonetothebaronifthatbaronyhadbeen
inthebaron'shand;andweshallholditinthesamemannerinwhichthebaron
heldit.

44.Menwhodwellwithouttheforestneednothenceforthcomebeforeour
justiciariesoftheforestuponageneralsummons,unlesstheyareinplea,or
suretiesofoneormore,whoareattachedfortheforest.
45.Wewillappointasjustices,constables,sheriffs,orbailiffsonlysuchasknow
thelawoftherealmandmeantoobserveitwell.
46.Allbaronswhohavefoundedabbeys,concerningwhichtheyholdcharters
fromthekingsofEngland,orofwhichtheyhavelongcontinuedpossession,
shallhavethewardshipofthem,whenvacant,astheyoughttohave.
47.Allforeststhathavebeenmadesuchinourtimeshallforthwithbe
disafforsted;andasimilarcourseshallbefollowedwithregardtoriverbanksthat
havebeenplaced"indefense"byusinourtime.
48.Allevilcustomsconnectedwithforestsandwarrens,forestersandwarreners,
sheriffsandtheirofficers,riverbanksandtheirwardens,shallimmediatelyby
inquiredintoineachcountybytwelveswornknightsofthesamecountychosen
bythehonestmenofthesamecounty,andshall,withinfortydaysofthesaid
inquest,beutterlyabolished,soasnevertoberestored,providedalwaysthatwe
previouslyhaveintimationthereof,orourjusticiar,ifweshouldnotbeinEngland.
49.Wewillimmediatelyrestoreallhostagesandchartersdeliveredtousby
Englishmen,assuretiesofthepeaceoffaithfulservice.
50.Wewillentirelyremovefromtheirbailiwicks,therelationsofGerardofAthee
(sothatinfuturetheyshallhavenobailiwickinEngland);namely,Engelardof
Cigogne,Peter,Guy,andAndrewofChanceaux,GuyofCigogne,Geoffreyof
Martignywithhisbrothers,PhilipMarkwithhisbrothersandhisnephew
Geoffrey,andthewholebroodofthesame.
51.Assoonaspeaceisrestored,wewillbanishfromthekingdomallforeign
bornknights,crossbowmen,serjeants,andmercenarysoldierswhohavecome
withhorsesandarmstothekingdom'shurt.
52.Ifanyonehasbeendispossessedorremovedbyus,withoutthelegal
judgmentofhispeers,fromhislands,castles,franchises,orfromhisright,we
willimmediatelyrestorethemtohim;andifadisputeariseoverthis,thenletitbe
decidedbythefiveandtwentybaronsofwhommentionismadebelowinthe
clauseforsecuringthepeace.Moreover,forallthosepossessions,fromwhich
anyonehas,withoutthelawfuljudgmentofhispeers,beendisseisedor
removed,byourfather,KingHenry,orbyourbrother,KingRichard,andwhich
weretaininourhand(orwhichaspossessedbyothers,towhomwearebound
towarrantthem)weshallhaverespiteuntiltheusualtermofcrusaders;

exceptingthosethingsaboutwhichapleahasbeenraised,oraninquestmade
byourorder,beforeourtakingofthecross;butassoonaswereturnfromthe
expedition,wewillimmediatelygrantfulljusticetherein.
53.Weshallhave,moreover,thesamerespiteandinthesamemannerin
renderingjusticeconcerningthedisafforestationorretentionofthoseforests
whichHenryourfatherandRichardourbroterafforested,andconcerningthe
wardshipoflandswhichareofthefiefofanother(namely,suchwardshipsaswe
havehithertohadbyreasonofafiefwhichanyoneheldofusbyknight'sservice),
andconcerningabbeysfoundedonotherfiefsthanourown,inwhichthelordof
thefeeclaimstohaveright;andwhenwehavereturned,orifwedesistfromour
expedition,wewillimmediatelygrantfulljusticetoallwhocomplainofsuch
things.
54.Nooneshallbearrestedorimprisonedupontheappealofawoman,forthe
deathofanyotherthanherhusband.
55.Allfinesmadewithusunjustlyandagainstthelawoftheland,andall
amercements,imposedunjustlyandagainstthelawoftheland,shallbeentirely
remitted,orelseitshallbedoneconcerningthemaccordingtothedecisionofthe
fiveandtwentybaronswhommentionismadebelowintheclauseforsecuring
thepease,oraccordingtothejudgmentofthemajorityofthesame,alongwith
theaforesaidStephen,archbishopofCanterbury,ifhecanbepresent,andsuch
othersashemaywishtobringwithhimforthispurpose,andifhecannotbe
presentthebusinessshallneverthelessproceedwithouthim,providedalways
thatifanyoneormoreoftheaforesaidfiveandtwentybaronsareinasimilar
suit,theyshallberemovedasfarasconcernsthisparticularjudgment,others
beingsubstitutedintheirplacesafterhavingbeenselectedbytherestofthe
samefiveandtwentyforthispurposeonly,andafterhavingbeensworn.
56.IfwehavedisseisedorremovedWelshmenfromlandsorliberties,orother
things,withoutthelegaljudgmentoftheirpeersinEnglandorinWales,they
shallbeimmediatelyrestoredtothem;andifadisputeariseoverthis,thenletit
bedecidedinthemarchesbythejudgmentoftheirpeers;forthetenementsin
EnglandaccordingtothelawofEngland,fortenementsinWalesaccordingto
thelawofWales,andfortenementsinthemarchesaccordingtothelawofthe
marches.Welshmenshalldothesametousandours.
57.Further,forallthosepossessionsfromwhichanyWelshmanhas,withoutthe
lawfuljudgmentofhispeers,beendisseisedorremovedbyKingHenryour
father,orKingRichardourbrother,andwhichweretaininourhand(orwhichare
possessedbyothers,andwhichweoughttowarrant),wewillhaverespiteuntil
theusualtermofcrusaders;exceptingthosethingsaboutwhichapleahasbeen

raisedoraninquestmadebyourorderbeforewetookthecross;butassoonas
wereturn(orifperchancewedesistfromourexpedition),wewillimmediately
grantfulljusticeinaccordancewiththelawsoftheWelshandinrelationtothe
foresaidregions.
58.WewillimmediatelygiveupthesonofLlywelynandallthehostagesof
Wales,andthechartersdeliveredtousassecurityforthepeace.
59.WewilldotowardsAlexander,kingofScots,concerningthereturnofhis
sistersandhishostages,andconcerninghisfranchises,andhisright,inthe
samemannerasweshalldotowardsourowherbaronsofEngland,unlessit
oughttobeotherwiseaccordingtothecharterswhichweholdfromWilliamhis
father,formerlykingofScots;andthisshallbeaccordingtothejudgmentofhis
peersinourcourt.
60.Moreover,alltheseaforesaidcustomsandliberties,theobservancesof
whichwehavegrantedinourkingdomasfaraspertainstoustowardsourmen,
shallbeobservedballofourkingdom,aswellclergyaslaymen,asfaras
pertainstothemtowardstheirmen.
61.Since,moveover,forGodandtheamendmentofourkingdomandforthe
betterallayingofthequarrelthathasarisenbetweenusandourbarons,wehave
grantedalltheseconcessions,desirousthattheyshouldenjoythemincomplete
andfirmenduranceforever,wegiveandgranttothemtheunderwrittensecurity,
namely,thatthebaronschoosefiveandtwentybaronsofthekingdom,
whomsoevertheywill,whoshallbeboundwithalltheirmight,toobserveand
hold,andcausetobeobserved,thepeaceandlibertieswehavegrantedand
confirmedtothembythisourpresentCharter,sothatifwe,orourjusticiar,or
ourbailiffsoranyoneofourofficers,shallinanythingbeatfaulttowardsanyone,
orshallhavebrokenanyoneofthearticlesofthispeaceorofthissecurity,and
theoffensebenotifiedtofourbaronsoftheforesaidfiveandtwenty,thesaidfour
baronsshallrepairtous(orourjusticiar,ifweareoutoftherealm)and,laying
thetransgressionbeforeus,petitiontohavethattransgressionredressedwithout
delay.Andifweshallnothavecorrectedthetransgression(or,intheeventofour
beingoutoftherealm,ifourjusticiarshallnothavecorrectedit)withinfortydays,
reckoningfromthetimeithasbeenintimatedtous(ortoourjusticiar,ifwe
shouldbeoutoftherealm),thefourbaronsaforesaidshallreferthatmatterto
therestofthefiveandtwentybarons,andthosefiveandtwentybaronsshall,
togetherwiththecommunityofthewholerealm,distrainanddistressusinall
possibleways,namely,byseizingourcastles,lands,possessions,andinany
otherwaytheycan,untilredresshasbeenobtainedastheydeemfit,saving
harmlessourownperson,andthepersonsofourqueenandchildren;andwhen
redresshasbeenobtained,theyshallresumetheiroldrelationstowardsus.And

letwhoeverinthecountrydesiresit,sweartoobeytheordersofthesaidfiveand
twentybaronsfortheexecutionofalltheaforesaidmatters,andalongwiththem,
tomolestustotheutmostofhispower;andwepubliclyandfreelygrantleaveto
everyonewhowishestoswear,andweshallneverforbidanyonetoswear.All
those,moveover,inthelandwhoofthemselvesandoftheirownaccordare
unwillingtosweartothetwentyfivetohelptheminconstrainingandmolesting
us,weshallbyourcommandcompelthesametosweartotheeffectforesaid.
Andifanyoneofthefiveandtwentybaronsshallhavediedordepartedfromthe
land,orbeincapacitatedinanyothermannerwhichwouldpreventtheforesaid
provisionsbeingcarriedout,thoseofthesaidtwentyfivebaronswhoareleft
shallchooseanotherinhisplaceaccordingtotheirownjudgment,andheshall
besworninthesamewayastheothers.Further,inallmatters,theexecutionof
whichisentrusted,tothesetwentyfivebarons,ifperchancethesetwentyfiveare
presentanddisagreeaboutanything,orifsomeofthem,afterbeingsummoned,
areunwillingorunabletobepresent,thatwhichthemajorityofthosepresent
ordainorcommandshallbeheldasfixedandestablished,exactlyasifthewhole
twentyfivehadconcurredinthis;andthesaidtwentyfiveshallswearthatthey
willfaithfullyobserveallthatisaforesaid,andcauseittobeobservedwithall
theirmight.Andweshallprocurenothingfromanyone,directlyorindirectly,
wherebyanypartoftheseconcessionsandlibertiesmightberevokedor
diminished;andifanysuchthingshasbeenprocured,letitbevoidandnull,and
weshallneveruseitpersonallyorbyanother.
62.Andallthewill,hatreds,andbitternessthathavearisenbetweenusandour
men,clergyandlay,fromthedateofthequarrel,wehavecompletelyremitted
andpardonedtoeveryone.Moreover,alltrespassesoccasionedbythesaid
quarrel,fromEasterinthesixteenthyearofourreigntilltherestorationofpeace,
wehavefullyremittedtoall,bothclergyandlaymen,andcompletelyforgiven,as
faraspertainstous.Andonthishead,wehavecausedtobemadeforthem
letterstestimonialpatentofthelordStephen,archbishopofCanterbury,ofthe
lordHenry,archbishopofDublin,ofthebishopsaforesaid,andofMasterPandulf
astouchingthissecurityandtheconcessionsaforesaid.
63.WhereforewewillandfirmlyorderthattheEnglishChurchbefree,andthat
themeninourkingdomhaveandholdalltheaforesaidliberties,rights,and
concessions,wellandpeaceably,freelyandquietly,fullyandwholly,for
themselvesandtheirheirs,ofusandourheirs,inallrespectsandinallplaces
forever,asisaforesaid.Anoath,moreover,hasbeentaken,aswellonourpart
asontheartofthebarons,thatalltheseconditionsaforesaidshallbekeptin
goodfaithandwithoutevilintent.