Magna Carta Gutenberg

8/12/2019 Magna Carta Gutenberg

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The text of THE MAGNA CARTA

The Magna Carta (The Great Charter):

Preamble:

John, by the grace of Go, !"ng of Englan, lor of #relan, $!e of Normany an A%$"ta"ne,an co$nt of An&o$, to the archb"'ho, b"'ho', abbot', earl', baron', &$'t"c"ar"e', fore'ter','her"ff', 'tear', 'er*ant', an to all h"' ba"l"ff' an l"ege '$b&ect', greet"ng'+ no that,ha*"ng regar to Go an for the 'al*at"on of o$r 'o$l, an tho'e of all o$r ance'tor' anhe"r', an $nto the honor of Go an the a*ancement of h"' holy Ch$rch an for therect"fy"ng of o$r realm, e ha*e grante a' $nerr"tten by a*"ce of o$r *enerable father',-tehen, archb"'ho of Canterb$ry, r"mate of all Englan an car"nal of the holy RomanCh$rch, Henry, archb"'ho of .$bl"n, /"ll"am of 0onon, Peter of /"nche'ter, Jocelyn of 1athan Gla'tonb$ry, H$gh of 0"ncoln, /alter of /orce'ter, /"ll"am of Co*entry, 1ene"ct ofRoche'ter, b"'ho'2 of Ma'ter Pan$lf, '$beacon an member of the ho$'ehol of o$r lorthe Poe, of brother Aymer"c (ma'ter of the n"ght' of the Temle "n Englan), an of the"ll$'tr"o$' men /"ll"am Mar'hal, earl of Pembro!e, /"ll"am, earl of -al"'b$ry, /"ll"am, earl of/arenne, /"ll"am, earl of Ar$nel, Alan of Galloay (con'table of -cotlan), /aren 3"t4Gerol, Peter 3"t4 Herbert, H$bert .e 1$rgh ('ene'chal of Po"to$), H$gh e Ne*"lle, Matthe3"t4 Herbert, Thoma' 1a''et, Alan 1a''et, Ph"l" 5A$b"gny, Robert of Roe'ley, JohnMar'hal, John 3"t4 H$gh, an other', o$r l"egemen+

6+ #n the f"r't lace e ha*e grante to Go, an by th"' o$r re'ent charter conf"rme for $'an o$r he"r' fore*er that the Engl"'h Ch$rch 'hall be free, an 'hall ha*e her r"ght' ent"re,an her l"bert"e' "n*"olate2 an e "ll that "t be th$' ob'er*e2 h"ch "' aarent from th"'that the freeom of elect"on', h"ch "' rec!one mo't "mortant an *ery e''ent"al to theEngl"'h Ch$rch, e, of o$r $rean $ncon'tra"ne "ll, " grant, an " by o$r charter conf"rm an " obta"n the rat"f"cat"onof the 'ame from o$r lor, Poe #nnocent ###, before the %$arrel aro'e beteen $' an o$rbaron': an th"' e "ll ob'er*e, an o$r "ll "' that "t be ob'er*e "n goo fa"th by o$r he"r'fore*er+ /e ha*e al'o grante to all freemen of o$r !"ngom, for $' an o$r he"r' fore*er, allthe $nerr"tten l"bert"e', to beha an hel by them an the"r he"r', of $' an o$r he"r' fore*er+

7+ #f any of o$r earl' or baron', or other' hol"ng of $' "n ch"ef by m"l"tary 'er*"ce 'hall ha*e"e, an at the t"me of h"' eath h"' he"r 'hall be f$ll of age an oe 8rel"ef8, he 'hall ha*eh"' "nher"tance by the ol rel"ef, to "t, the he"r or he"r' of an earl, for the hole baroncy of anearl by 06992 the he"r or he"r' of a baron, 0699 for a hole barony2 the he"r or he"r' of a!n"ght, 699', at mo't, an hoe*er oe' le'' let h"m g"*e le'', accor"ng to the anc"entc$'tom of fee'+

+ #f, hoe*er, the he"r of any one of the afore'a" ha' been $ner age an "n ar'h", leth"m ha*e h"' "nher"tance "tho$t rel"ef an "tho$t f"ne hen he come' of age+

;+ The g$ar"an of the lan of an he"r ho "' th$' $ner age, 'hall ta!e from the lan of thehe"r noth"ng b$t rea'onable ro$ce, rea'onable c$'tom', an rea'onable 'er*"ce', an that"tho$t e'tr$ct"on or a'te of men or goo'2 an "f e ha*e comm"tte the ar'h" of the


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lan' of any '$ch m"nor to the 'her"ff, or to any other ho "' re'on'"ble to $' for "t' "''$e',an he ha' mae e'tr$ct"on or a'ter of hat he hol' "n ar'h", e "ll ta!e of h"mamen', an the lan 'hall be comm"tte to to laf$l an "'creet men of that fee, ho 'hallbe re'on'"ble for the "''$e' to $' or to h"m to hom e 'hall a''"gn them2 an "f e ha*eg"*en or 'ol the ar'h" of any '$ch lan to anyone an he ha' there"n mae e'tr$ct"onor a'te, he 'hall lo'e that ar'h", an "t 'hall be tran'ferre to to laf$l an "'creet

men of that f"ef, ho 'hall be re'on'"ble to $' "n l"!e manner a' afore'a"+


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67+ No 'c$tage not a" 'hall be "mo'e on o$r !"ngom, $nle'' by common co$n'el of o$r!"ngom, excet for ran'om"ng o$r er'on, for ma!"ng o$r ele't 'on a !n"ght, an for oncemarry"ng o$r ele'ta$ghter2 an for the'e there 'hall not be le*"e more than a rea'onable a"+ #n l"!e manner"t 'hall be one concern"ng a"' from the c"ty of 0onon+

6+ An the c"ty of 0onon 'hall ha*e all "t anc"ent l"bert"e' an free c$'tom', a' ell by lana' by ater2 f$rthermore, e ecree an grant that all other c"t"e', boro$gh', ton', anort' 'hall ha*e all the"r l"bert"e' an free c$'tom'+

6;+ An for obta"n"ng the common co$n'el of the !"ngom anent the a''e''"ng of an a"(excet "n the three ca'e' afore'a") or of a 'c$tage, e "ll ca$'e to be '$mmone thearchb"'ho', b"'ho', abbot', earl', an greater baron', 'e*erally by o$r letter'2 an e "llmo*eo*er ca$'e to be '$mmone generally, thro$gh o$r 'her"ff' an ba"l"ff', an other' hohol of $' "n ch"ef, for a f"xe ate, namely, after the ex"ry of at lea't forty ay', an at af"xe lace2 an "n all letter' of '$ch '$mmon' e "ll 'ec"fy the rea'on of the '$mmon'+

An hen the '$mmon' ha' th$' been mae, the b$'"ne'' 'hall rocee on the ayao"nte, accor"ng to the co$n'el of '$ch a' are re'ent, altho$gh not all ho ere'$mmone ha*e come+

6+ Common lea' 'hall not follo o$r co$rt, b$t 'hall be hel "n 'ome f"xe lace+

6?+ #n%$e't' of no*el "''e"'"n, of mort 5ance'tor, an of arre"n re'entment 'hall not behel el'ehere than "n the"r on co$nty co$rt', an that "n manner follo"ng2 /e, or, "f e'ho$l be o$t ofthe realm, o$r ch"ef &$'t"c"ar, "ll 'en to &$'t"c"ar"e' thro$gh e*ery co$nty fo$r t"me' a year,ho 'hall alone "th fo$r !n"ght' of the co$nty cho'en by the co$nty, hol the 'a" a''"4e' "nthe co$nty co$rt, on the ay an "n the lace of meet"ng of that co$rt+

6@+ An "f any of the 'a" a''"4e' cannot be ta!en on the ay of the co$nty co$rt, let thererema"n of the !n"ght' an freeholer', ho ere re'ent at the co$nty co$rt on that ay, a'many a' may be re%$"re for the eff"c"ent ma!"ng of &$gment', accor"ng a' the b$'"ne'' bemore or le''+

79+ A freeman 'hall not be amerce for a 'l"ght offen'e, excet "n accorance "th the egreeof the offen'e2 an for a gra*e offen'e he 'hall be amerce "n accorance "th the gra*"ty ofthe offen'e, yet'a*"ng alay' h"' 8contentment82 an a merchant "n the 'ame ay, 'a*"ng h"' 8merchan"'e82an a *"lle"n 'hall be amerce "n the 'ame ay, 'a*"ng h"' 8a"nage8 "f they ha*e fallen "ntoo$r mercy: an none of the afore'a" amercement' 'hall be "mo'e excet by the oath ofhone't men of the ne"ghborhoo+


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76+ Earl' an baron' 'hall not be amerce excet thro$gh the"r eer', an only "naccorance "th the egree of the offen'e+

77+ A cler! 'hall not be amerce "n re'ect of h"' lay hol"ng excet after the manner of theother' afore'a"2 f$rther, he 'hall not be amerce "n accorance "th the extent of h"'

eccle'"a't"cal benef"ce+

7+ No *"llage or "n"*"$al 'hall be comelle to ma!e br"ge' at r"*er ban!', excet tho'eho from of ol ere legally bo$n to o 'o+

7;+ No 'her"ff, con'table, coroner', or other' of o$r ba"l"ff', 'hall hol lea' of o$r Cron+

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+ All !yell' for the f$t$re 'hall be remo*e altogether from Thame' an Meay, anthro$gho$t all Englan, excet $on the 'ea'hore+

;+ The r"t h"ch "' calle raec"e 'hall not for the f$t$re be "''$e to anyone, regar"ngany tenement hereby a freeman may lo'e h"' co$rt+

+ #f anyone hol' of $' by feefarm, e"ther by 'ocage or by b$rage, or of any other lan by!n"ght5' 'er*"ce, e "ll not (by rea'on of that feefarm, 'ocage, or b$rgage), ha*e thear'h" of the he"r, orof '$ch lan of h"' a' "f of the f"ef of that other2 nor 'hall e ha*e ar'h" of that feefarm,'ocage, or b$rgage, $nle'' '$ch feefarm oe' !n"ght5' 'er*"ce+ /e "ll not by rea'on ofany 'mall 'er&eancy h"ch anyone may hol of $' by the 'er*"ce of rener"ng to $' !n"*e',arro', or the l"!e, ha*e ar'h" of h"' he"r or of the lan h"ch he hol' of another lor by!n"ght5' 'er*"ce+

?+ No ba"l"ff for the f$t$re 'hall, $on h"' on $n'$orte comla"nt, $t anyone to h"'8la8, "tho$t cre"ble "tne''e' bro$ght for th"' $ro'e'+

@+ No freemen 'hall be ta!en or "mr"'one or "''e"'e or ex"le or "n any ay e'troye,nor "ll e go $on h"m nor 'en $on h"m, excet by the laf$l &$gment of h"' eer' or bythe la of the lan+

;9+ To no one "ll e 'ell, to no one "ll e ref$'e or elay, r"ght or &$'t"ce+

;6+ All merchant' 'hall ha*e 'afe an 'ec$re ex"t from Englan, anentry to Englan, "th the r"ght to tarry there an to mo*e abo$t a'ell by lan a' by ater, for b$y"ng an 'ell"ng by the anc"ent anr"ght c$'tom', %$"t from all e*"l toll', excet ("n t"me of ar) '$chmerchant' a' are of the lan at ar "th $'+ An "f '$ch are fo$n "no$r lan at the beg"nn"ng of the ar, they 'hall be eta"ne, "tho$t"n&$ry to the"r bo"e' or goo', $nt"l "nformat"on be rece"*e by $',or by o$r ch"ef &$'t"c"ar, ho the merchant' of o$r lan fo$n "n thelan at ar "th $' are treate2 an "f o$r men are 'afe there, theother' 'hall be 'afe "n o$r lan+

;7+ #t 'hall be laf$l "n f$t$re for anyone (excet"ng alay' tho'e"mr"'one or o$tlae "n accorance "th the la of the !"ngom, annat"*e' of any co$ntry at ar "th $', an merchant', ho 'hall betreate a' "f abo*e ro*"e) to lea*e o$r !"ngom an to ret$rn, 'afean 'ec$re by lan an ater, excet for a 'hort er"o "n t"me ofar, on gro$n' of $bl"c ol"cy re'er*"ng alay' the alleg"ance $e


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to $'+

;+ #f anyone hol"ng of 'ome e'cheat ('$ch a' the honor of/all"ngfor, Nott"ngham, 1o$logne, 0anca'ter, or of other e'cheat'h"ch are "n o$r han' an are baron"e') 'hall "e, h"' he"r 'hallg"*e no other rel"ef, an erform no other 'er*"ce to $' than he o$l

ha*e one to the baron "f that barony ha been "n the baron5' han2an e 'hall hol "t "n the 'ame manner "n h"ch the baron hel "t+

;;+ Men ho ell "tho$t the fore't nee not henceforth come beforeo$r &$'t"c"ar"e' of the fore't $on a general '$mmon', $nle'' they are"n lea, or '$ret"e' of one or more, ho are attache for the fore't+

;


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legal &$gment of h"' eer', from h"' lan', ca'tle', franch"'e', orfrom h"' r"ght, e "ll "mme"ately re'tore them to h"m2 an "f a"'$te ar"'e o*er th"', then let "t be ec"e by the f"*e an tentybaron' of hom ment"on "' mae belo "n the cla$'e for 'ec$r"ng the

eace+ Moreo*er, for all tho'e o''e''"on', from h"ch anyone ha',"tho$t the laf$l &$gment of h"' eer', been "''e"'e or remo*e,

by o$r father, "ng Henry, or by o$r brother, "ng R"char, an h"che reta"n "n o$r han (or h"ch a' o''e''e by other', to hom e arebo$n to arrant them) e 'hall ha*e re'"te $nt"l the $'$al term ofcr$'aer'2 excet"ng tho'e th"ng' abo$t h"ch a lea ha' been ra"'e,or an "n%$e't mae by o$r orer, before o$r ta!"ng of the cro''2 b$ta' 'oon a' e ret$rn from the exe"t"on, e "ll "mme"ately grantf$ll &$'t"ce there"n+


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an for tenement' "n the marche' accor"ng to the la of the marche'+/el'hmen 'hall o the 'ame to $' an o$r'+

+ 3$rther, for all tho'e o''e''"on' from h"ch any /el'hman ha',"tho$t the laf$l &$gment of h"' eer', been "''e"'e or remo*e by"ng Henry o$r father, or "ng R"char o$r brother, an h"ch e

reta"n "n o$r han (or h"ch are o''e''e by other', an h"ch eo$ght to arrant), e "ll ha*e re'"te $nt"l the $'$al term ofcr$'aer'2 excet"ng tho'e th"ng' abo$t h"ch a lea ha' been ra"'eor an "n%$e't mae by o$r orer before e too! the cro''2 b$t a' 'oona' e ret$rn (or "f erchance e e'"'t from o$r exe"t"on), e "ll"mme"ately grant f$ll &$'t"ce "n accorance "th the la' of the/el'h an "n relat"on to the fore'a" reg"on'+


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&$'t"c"ar, "f e 'ho$l be o$t of the realm), the fo$r baron'afore'a" 'hall refer that matter to the re't of the f"*e an tentybaron', an tho'e f"*e an tenty baron' 'hall, together "th thecomm$n"ty of the hole realm, "'tra"n an "'tre'' $' "n all o''"bleay', namely, by 'e"4"ng o$r ca'tle', lan', o''e''"on', an "n anyother ay they can, $nt"l rere'' ha' been obta"ne a' they eem f"t,

'a*"ng harmle'' o$r on er'on, an the er'on' of o$r %$een anch"lren2 an hen rere'' ha' been obta"ne, they 'hall re'$me the"rol relat"on' toar' $'+ An let hoe*er "n the co$ntry e'"re' "t,'ear to obey the orer' of the 'a" f"*e an tenty baron' for theexec$t"on of all the afore'a" matter', an along "th them, to mole't$' to the $tmo't of h"' oer2 an e $bl"cly an freely grant lea*eto e*eryone ho "'he' to 'ear, an e 'hall ne*er forb" anyone to'ear+

All tho'e, mo*eo*er, "n the lan ho of them'el*e' an of the"r onaccor are $n"ll"ng to 'ear to the tenty f"*e to hel them "ncon'tra"n"ng an mole't"ng $', e 'hall by o$r comman comel the 'ameto 'ear to the effect fore'a"+ An "f any one of the f"*e antenty baron' 'hall ha*e "e or earte from the lan, or be"ncaac"tate "n any other manner h"ch o$l re*ent the fore'a"

ro*"'"on' be"ng carr"e o$t, tho'e of the 'a" tenty f"*e baron' hoare left 'hall choo'e another "n h"' lace accor"ng to the"r on

&$gment, an he 'hall be 'orn "n the 'ame ay a' the other'+3$rther, "n all matter', the exec$t"on of h"ch "' entr$'te,to the'etenty f"*e baron', "f erchance the'e tenty f"*e are re'ent an"'agree abo$t anyth"ng, or "f 'ome of them, after be"ng '$mmone, are$n"ll"ng or $nable to be re'ent, that h"ch the ma&or"ty of tho'e

re'ent ora"n or comman 'hall be hel a' f"xe an e'tabl"'he,exactly a' "f the hole tenty f"*e ha conc$rre "n th"'2 an the'a" tenty f"*e 'hall 'ear that they "ll fa"thf$lly ob'er*e allthat "' afore'a", an ca$'e "t to be ob'er*e "th all the"r m"ght+

An e 'hall roc$re noth"ng from anyone, "rectly or "n"rectly,hereby any art of the'e conce''"on' an l"bert"e' m"ght be re*o!eor "m"n"'he2 an "f any '$ch th"ng' ha' been roc$re, let "t be*o" an n$ll, an e 'hall ne*er $'e "t er'onally or by another+

=7+ An all the "ll, hatre', an b"tterne'' that ha*e ar"'en beteen$' an o$r men, clergy an lay, from the ate of the %$arrel, e ha*ecomletely rem"tte an arone to e*eryone+ Moreo*er, alltre'a''e' occa'"one by the 'a" %$arrel, from Ea'ter "n the'"xteenth year of o$r re"gn t"ll the re'torat"on of eace, e ha*ef$lly rem"tte to all, both clergy an laymen, an comletelyforg"*en, a' far a' erta"n' to $'+ An on th"' hea, e ha*e ca$'eto be mae for them letter' te't"mon"al atent of the lor -tehen,archb"'ho of Canterb$ry, of the lor Henry, archb"'ho of .$bl"n, ofthe b"'ho' afore'a", an of Ma'ter Pan$lf a' to$ch"ng th"' 'ec$r"tyan the conce''"on' afore'a"+


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=+ /herefore e "ll an f"rmly orer that the Engl"'h Ch$rch befree, an that the men "n o$r !"ngom ha*e an hol all the afore'a"l"bert"e', r"ght', an conce''"on', ell an eaceably, freely an%$"etly, f$lly an holly, for them'el*e' an the"r he"r', of $' ano$r he"r', "n all re'ect' an "n all lace' fore*er, a' "'afore'a"+ An oath, moreo*er, ha' been ta!en, a' ell on o$r art a'

on the art of the baron', that all the'e con"t"on' afore'a" 'hall be!et "n goo fa"th an "tho$t e*"l "ntent+ G"*en $ner o$r han the abo*e name an many other' be"ng "tne''e' "n the meao h"ch"' calle R$nnymee, beteen /"n'or an -ta"ne', on the f"fteenth ayof J$ne, "n the 'e*enteenth year of o$r re"gn+

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