Magna Carta: MAGNA CARTA

Johannes Dei gracia rex Anglie, Dominus Hibernie, dux Normannie, Aquitannie et comes Andegavie, archiepiscopis, episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, forestariis, vicecomitibus, prepositis, ministris et omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis nos intuitu Dei et pro salute anime nostre et omnium antecessorum et heredum nostrorum ad honorem Dei et exaltacionem sancte Ecclesie, et emendacionem regi nostri, per consilium venerabilium patrum nostrorum, Stephani Cantuariensis archiepsicopi, tocius Anglie primatis et sancte Romane ecclesie cardinalis, Henrici Dublinensis archiepiscopi, Willelmi Londoniensis, Petri Wintoniensis, Joscelini Bathoniensis et Glastoniensis, Hugonis Lincolniensis, Walteri Wygorniensis, Willelmi Coventriensis, et Benedicti Roffensis, episcoporum; magistri Pandulfi domini pape subdiaconi et familiaris, fratris Aymerici magistri milicie Templi in Anglia; et nobilium virorum Willelmi Mariscalli comitis Penbrocie, Willelmi comitis Sarisberie, Willelmi comitis Warennie, Willelmi comitis Arundellie, Alani de Galewey a constabularii Scocie, Warini filii Geroldi, Petri filii Hereberti, Huberti de Burgo senescalli Pictavie, Hugonis de Nevilla, Mathei filii Hereberti, Thome Basset, Alani Basset, Philippi de Albiniaco, Roberti de Roppel., Johannis Mariscalli, Johannis filii Hugonis et aliorum fidelium nostrum.

John, by the grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Count of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciars, foresters, sheriffs, provosts, ministers and all his bailiffs and faithfuls, greeting. Know ye that, with regard to God and for the health of our soul and of all our ancestors and heirs, for the honor of God and the exaltation of the holy Church, and the amendment of our realm, by the counsel 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, Joscelin of Bath and Glastonbury, Hugh of Lincoln, Walter of Worcester, William of Coventry, and Benedict of Rochester, bishops; Master Pandulf, subdeacon and familiar of the lord Pope; and brother Aymeric, master of the military order of the Temple in England; and 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 son of Gerold, Peter son of Herbert, Hubert de Burgh, seneschal of Poitou, Hugh de Neville, Matthew son of Herbert, Thomas Basset, Alan Basset, Philip de Albiniaco, Robert de Roppel, John Marshal, John son of Hugh, and our other faithfuls.

1. In primis concessisse Deo et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse, pro nobis et heredibus nostris in perpetuum quod Anglicana ecclesia libera sit, et habeat jura sua integra, et libertates suas illesas; et ita volumus observari; quod apparet ex eo quod libertatem electionum, que maxima et magis necessaria reputatur Ecclesie Anglicane, mera et spontanea voluntate, ante discordiam inter nos et barones nostros motam, concessimus et carta nostra [illa carta data 21É novembris anno Domini 1214; confirmatio papae Innocentii tertii 30É martii anno Domini 1215] confirmavimus, et eam obtinuimus a domino papa Innocentio tercio confirmari; quam et nos observabimus et ab heredibus nostris in perpetuum bona fide volumus observari. Concessimus eciam omnibus liberis hominibus regni nostri, pro nobis et heredibus nostri in perpetuum, omnes libertates subscriptas, habendas et tenendas eis et heredibus suis, de nobis et heredibus nostris.

1. First, we 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 whole and its liberties unimpaired; and so we wish it to be observed; which is shown by the fact that the freedom of elections, which is deemed the greatest and most necessary for the English Church, we granted by pure and spontaneous will, before the discord arisen between us and our barons, and we confirmed it by our charter [that charter given 21 November 1214; confirmation of Pope Innocent III 30 March 1215], and procured it to be confirmed by Lord Pope Innocent III; which we and our heirs will observe and in good faith will have observed for ever. We have moreover granted to all free men of our kingdom, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written below, to have and to hold to them and their heirs, of us and our heirs.

2. Si quis comitum vel baronum nostrorum, sive aliorum tenencium de nobis in capite per servicium militare, mortuus fuerit, et cum decesserit heres suus plene etatis fuerit et relevium debeat, habeat hereditatem suam per antiquum relevium; scilicet heres vel heredes comitis de baronia comitis integra per centum libras; heres vel heredes baronis de baronia per centum libras (sic); heres vel heredes militis de feodo militis integro per centum solidos ad plus; et qui minus debuerit minus det secundum antiquam consuetudinem feodorum.

2. If any of our earls or barons, or other tenants who hold of us in chief by military service, shall die, and at his death his heir be of full age and owe relief, let him have his inheritance by the ancient relief; namely the heir or heirs of an earl for the earl’s barony whole for 100 pounds; the heir or heirs of a baron for the barony for 100 pounds (sic); the heir or heirs of a knight for the knight’s fee whole for 100 shillings or more; and who ought to pay less shall pay less according to the ancient custom of the feuds (feoda).

3. Si autem heres alicujus talium fuerit infra etatem et fuerit in custodia, cum ad etatem pervenerit, habeat hereditatem suam sine relevio et sine fine.

3. If, however, the heir of any such be under age and be in custody (wardship), when he shall come to full age he shall have his inheritance without relief and without fine.

4. Custos terre hujusmodi heredis qui infra etatem fuerit, non capiat de terra heredis nisi racionabiles exitus, et racionabiles consuetudines, et racionabilia servicia, et hoc sine destructione et vasto hominum vel rerum; et si nos commiserimus custodiam alicujus talis terre vicecomiti vel alicui alii qui de exitibus illius nobis respondere debeat, et ille destructionem de custodia fecerit vel vastum, nos ab illo capiemus emendam, et terra committatur duobus legalibus et discretis hominibus de feodo illo, qui de exitibus respondeant nobis vel ei cui eos assignaverimus; et si dederimus vel vendiderimus alicui custodiam alicujus talis terre, et ille destructionem inde fecerit vel vastum, amittat ipsam custodiam, et tradatur duobus legalibus et discretis hominibus de feodo illo qui similiter nobis respondeant sicut predictum est.

4. The custodian of the land of such an heir who is under age shall take from the heir’s land nothing except reasonable yields, and reasonable customs, and reasonable services, and this without destruction or waste of men or of goods; and if we have entrusted the custody of any such land to the sheriff or to any other who must answer to us for its revenues, and he has made destruction out of the custody or waste, we shall exact compensation from him, and the land shall be committed to two lawful and discreet men of that fee, who shall answer to us or to him to whom we shall assign them; and if we have granted or sold the custody of any such land to anyone, and he has made destruction therefrom or waste, let him lose that custody, and be delivered to two lawful and discreet men of that fee who likewise shall answer to us as aforesaid.

5. Custos autem, quamdiu custodiam terre habuerit, sustentet domos, parcos, vivaria, stagna, molendina, et cetera ad terram illam pertinencia, de exitibus terre ejusdem; et reddat heredi, cum ad plenam etatem pervenerit, terram suam totam instauratam de carucis et waynagiis, secundum quod tempus waynagii exiget et exitus terre racionabiliter poterunt sustinere.

5. Moreover the custodian, so long as he holds the custody of the land, shall sustain the houses, parks, fish-ponds, pools, mills, and other things pertaining to that land out of the yields of the same land; and shall restore to the heir, when he has come to full age, his whole land renewed with ploughs and waynages, according to what the season of waynage requires and as the yields of the land can reasonably sustain.

6. Heredes maritentur absque disparagacione, ita tamen quod, antequam contrahatur matrimonium, ostendatur propinquis de consanguinitate ipsius heredis.

6. Heirs shall be married without disparagement, provided nevertheless that, before the marriage is contracted, the kinsfolk be shown the consanguinity of the said heir.

7. Vidua post mortem mariti sui statim et sine difficultate habeat maritagium et hereditatem suam, nec aliquid det pro dote sua, vel pro maritagio suo, vel hereditate sua, quam hereditatem maritus suus et ipsa tenuerint dit obitus ipsius mariti, et maneat in domo mariti sui per quadraginta dies post mortem ipsius, infra quos assignetur ei dos sua.

7. The widow, after the death of her husband, shall immediately and without difficulty have her maritagium and her inheritance, nor shall she give anything for her dowry, or for her maritagium, or for her inheritance, which inheritance her husband and she held at the time of his death; and she shall remain in her husband’s house for forty days after his death, within which her dowry shall be assigned to her.

8. Nulla vidua distringatur ad se maritandum, dum voluerit vivere sine marito, ita tamen quod securitatem faciat quod se non maritabit sine assensu nostro, si de nobis tenuerit, vel sine assensu domini sui de quo tenuerit, si de alio tenuerit.

8. No widow shall be compelled to marry while she wishes to live without a husband, provided however that she give security that she will not marry without our assent, if she has held from us, or without the assent of her lord from whom she has held, if she has held from another.

9. Nec nos nec ballivi nostri seisiemus terram aliquam nec redditum pro debito aliquo, quamdiu catalla debitoris sufficiunt ad debitum reddendum; nec plegii ipsius debitoris distringantur quamdiu ipse capitalis debitor sufficit ad solucionem debiti; et si capitalis debitor defecerit in solucione debiti, non habens unde solvat, plegii respondeant de debito; et, si voluerint, habeant terras et redditus debitoris, donec sit eis satisfactum de debito quod ante pro eo solverint, nisi capitalis debitor monstraverit se esse quietum inde versus eosdem plegios.

9. Neither we nor our bailiffs shall seize any land or rent for any debt so long as the debtor’s chattels suffice to satisfy the debt; nor shall the pledges or sureties of that debtor be distrained so long as the principal debtor suffices to make payment of the debt; and if the principal debtor fail in the payment of the debt, having no means to pay, the pledges shall answer for the debt; and, if they wish, they shall have the debtor’s lands and rents until they be satisfied for the debt which they formerly paid for him, unless the principal debtor shall have shown himself to be discharged therefrom toward those same pledges.

10. Si quis mutuo ceperit aliquid a Judeis, plus vel minus, et moriatur antequam debitum illud solvatur, debitum non usuret quamdiu heres fuerit infra etatem, de quocumque teneat; et si debitum illud inciderit in manus nostras, nos non capiemus nisi catallum contentum in carta.

10. If anyone has taken anything on loan from the Jews, more or less, and dies before that debt is repaid, the debt shall not be exacted while the heir is under age, from whomever he is held; and if that debt falls into our hands, we will take nothing except the chattels contained in the charter.

11. Et si quis moriatur, et debitum debeat Judeis, uxor ejus habeat dotem suam, et nichil reddat de debito illo; et si liberi ipsius defuncti qui fuerint infra etatem remanserint, provideantur eis necessaria secundum tenementum quod fuerit defuncti, et de residuo solvatur debitum, salvo servicio dominorum; simili modo fiat de debitis que debentur aliis quam Judeis.

11. And if anyone die, and owe a debt to the Jews, his wife shall have her dowry, and shall pay nothing of that debt; and if the children of the deceased who are under age remain, necessaries shall be provided for them according to the tenement which belonged to the deceased, and the debt shall be paid out of the residue, saving the service of the lords; in like manner let it be done for debts owed to persons other than the Jews.

12. Nullum scutagium vel auxilium ponatur in regno nostro, nisi per commune consilium regni nostri, nisi ad corpus nostrum redimendum, et primogenitum filium nostrum militem faciendum, et ad filiam nostram primogenitam semel maritandam, et ad hec non fiat nisi racionabile auxilium; simili modo fiat de auxiliis de civitate London.

12. No scutage nor aid shall be laid in our kingdom, save by the common counsel of our kingdom, except to redeem our body, and to make our firstborn son a knight, and to marry our eldest daughter once; and for these no aid shall be exacted except a reasonable aid; likewise let it be concerning aids from the city of London.

13. Et civitas London. habeat omnes antiquas libertates et liberas consuetudines suas, tam per terras, quam per aquas. Preterea volumus et concedimus quod omnes alie civitates, et burgi, et ville, et portus, habeant omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines suas.

13. And the city of London shall have all its ancient liberties and free customs, both by land and by waters. Furthermore we will and grant that all other cities, and boroughs, and villages, and ports, shall have all their liberties and free customs.

14. Et ad habendum commune consilium regni de auxilio assidendo aliter quam in tribus casibus predictis, vel de scutagio assidendo, summoneri faciemus archiepiscopos, episcopos, abbates, comites, et majores barones sigillatim per litteras nostras; et preterea faciemus summoneri in generali per vicecomites et ballivos nostros omnes illos qui de nobis tenent in capite ad certum diem, scilicet ad terminum quadraginta dierum ad minus, et ad certum locum; et in omnibus litteris illius summonicionis causam summonicionis exprimemus; et sic facta summonicione negocium ad diem assignatum procedat secundum consilium illorum qui presentes fuerint, quamvis non omnes summoniti venerint.

14. And for holding a common council of the kingdom concerning attendance in aid otherwise than in the three cases aforesaid, or concerning attendance by scutage, we will cause archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, and greater barons to be summoned severally by our sealed letters; and moreover we will cause to be summoned generally by our sheriffs and bailiffs all those who hold of us in chief to a certain day, that is to a term of forty days at least, and to a certain place; and in all the letters of that summons we will express the cause of the summons; and thus, the business, a summons having been made, shall proceed on the day assigned according to the counsel of those who shall be present, although not all summoned have come.

15. Nos non concedemus de cetero alicui quod capiat auxilium de liberis hominibus suis, nisi ad corpus suum redimendum, et ad faciendum primogenitum filium suum militem, et ad primogenitam filiam suam semel maritandam, et ad hec non fiat nisi racionabile auxilium.

15. We will not henceforth grant to anyone that he take aid from his free men, except to redeem his body, and to make his firstborn son a knight, and to marry his firstborn daughter once; and for these things no aid shall be made except reasonable aid.

16. Nullus distringatur ad faciendum majus servicium de feodo militis, nec de alio libero tenemento, quam inde debetur.

16. No one shall be compelled to render greater service from the fee of a knight, nor from any other free tenement, than is due therefrom.

17. Communia placita non sequantur curiam nostram, set teneantur in aliquo loco certo.

17. Common pleas shall not follow our court, but shall be held in some certain place.

18. Recogniciones de nova disseisina, de morte antecessoris, et de ultima presentacione, non capiantur nisi in suis comitatibus et hoc modo : nos, vel si extra regnum fuerimus, capitalis justiciarius noster, mittemus duos justiciarios per unum quemque comitatum per quatuor vices in anno, qui, cum quatuor militibus cujuslibet comitatus electis per comitatum, capiant in comitatu et in die et loco comitatus assisas predictas.

18. Recognitions of novel disseisin, of the death of the predecessor, and of the last presentation shall not be taken except in their own counties and in this manner: we, or if we shall be beyond the kingdom, our chief justiciar, will send two justiciars through each county four times in a year, who, together with four knights of each county elected by the county, shall take in the county, and on the day and at the place of the county, the assizes aforesaid.

19. Et si in die comitatus assise predicte capi non possint, tot milites et libere tenentes remaneant de illis qui interfuerint comitatui die illo, per quos possint judicia sufficenter fieri, secundum quod negocium fuerit majus vel minus.

19. And if on the day of the county the assize aforesaid cannot be taken, so many milites and free tenants shall remain of those who were present at the county that day, by whom judgments may be made sufficiently, according as the business shall be greater or less.

20. Liber homo non amercietur pro parvo delicto, nisi secundum modum delicti; et pro magno delicto amercietur secundum magnitudinem delicti, salvo contenemento suo; et mercator eodem modo, salva mercandisa sua; et villanus eodem modo amercietur salvo waynagio suo, si inciderint in misericordiam nostram; et nulla predictarum misericordiarum ponatur, nisi per sacramentum proborum hominum de visneto.

20. A free man shall not be amerced for a small offence, save according to the measure of the offence; and for a great offence he shall be amerced according to the magnitude of the offence, saving his contenement; and a merchant in like manner, saving his mercandisa; and a villanus shall be amerced in like manner, saving his waynagio, if they fall into our mercy; and none of the aforesaid mercies shall be imposed, except by the oath of good men of the visneto (vicinage).

21. Comites et barones non amercientur nisi per pares suos, et non nisi secundum modum delicti.

21. Counts and barons shall not be amerced except by their peers, and not except according to the degree of the offense.

22. Nullus clericus amercietur de laico tenemento suo, nisi secundum modum aliorum predictorum, et non secundum quantitatem beneficii sui ecclesiastici.

22. No cleric shall be amerced for his lay tenement, save according to the manner of the aforesaid others, and not according to the quantity of his ecclesiastical benefice.

23. Nec villa nec homo distringatur facere pontes ad riparias, nisi qui ab antiquo et de jure facere debent.

23. Nor shall villa nor man be compelled to make bridges to the river-banks, except those who from ancient custom and by right ought to make them.

24. Nullus vicecomes, constabularius, coronatores, vel alii ballivi nostri, teneant placita corone nostre.

24. No vicecomes, constabularius, coronatores, or other of our bailiffs shall hold the pleas of our crown.

25. Omnes comitatus, hundredi, wapentakii, et trethingi' sint ad antiquas firmas absque ullo incremento, exceptis dominicis maneriis nostris.

25. All comitatus, hundredi, wapentakii, and trethingi shall be at their ancient firmæ, without any increase, except our dominical maneries.

26. Si aliquis tenens de nobis laicum feodum moriatur, et vicecomes vel ballivus noster ostendat litteras nostras patentes de summonicione nostra de debito quod defunctus nobis debuit, liceat vicecomiti vel ballivo nostro attachiare et imbreviare catalla defuncti inventa in laico feodo, ad valenciam illius debiti, per visum legalium hominum, ita tamen quod nichil inde amoveatur, donec persolvatur nobis debitum quod clarum fuerit, et residuum relinquatur executoribus ad faciendum testamentum defuncti; et, si nichil nobis debeatur ad ipso, omnia catalla cedant defuncto, salvis uxori ipsius et pueris racionabilibus partibus suis.

26. If anyone holding a lay fee of us die, and our vicecomes or our bailiff produce our letters patent of summons concerning the debt which the deceased owed us, it shall be lawful for our vicecomes or our bailiff to attach and impound the chattels of the deceased found in the lay fee, to the value of that debt, by the view of lawful men; provided, however, that nothing be removed therefrom until the debt which is shown be paid to us, and the residue be left to the executors to make the testament of the deceased; and, if nothing be owed to us at all, all the chattels shall return to the deceased, saving to his wife and children their reasonable portions.

27. Si aliquis liber homo intestatus decesserit, catalla sua per manus propinquorum parentum et amicorum suorum, per visum ecclesie distribuantur, salvis unicuique debitis que defunctus ei debebat.

27. If any free man die intestate, his goods and chattels shall be distributed through the hands of his nearest kinsmen and friends, under the oversight of the church, saving to each the debts which the deceased owed to him.

28. Nullus constabularius, vel alius ballivus noster, capiat blada vel alia catalla alicujus, nisi statim inde reddat denarios, aut respectum inde habere possit de voluntate venditoris.

28. No constable, nor any other of our bailiffs, shall take corn or other chattels of anyone, unless he at once pay denars for them, or may obtain a respite of payment by the will of the seller.

29. Nullus constabularius distringat aliquem militem ad dandum denarios pro custodia castri, si facere voluerit custodiam illam in propria persona sua, vel per alium probum hominem, si ipse eam facere non possit propter racionabilem causam; et si nos duxerimus vel miserimus eum in exercitum, erit quietus de custodia, secundum quantitatem temporis quo per nos fuerit in exercitu.

29. No constable shall distrain any soldier to give denarii for the keeping of the castle, if he will perform that custody in his own person, or by another honest man, if he himself cannot perform it for a reasonable cause; and if we shall have led or sent him into the army, he shall be free of the custody, according to the amount of time during which he was with us in the army.

30. Nullus vicecomes, vel ballivus noster, vel aliquis alius, capiat equos vel carettas alicujus liberi hominis pro cariagio faciendo, nisi de voluntate ipsius liberi hominis.

30. No viscount, nor our bailiff, nor any other, shall take the horses or carts of any free man for the making of carriage, unless by the will of that same free man.

31. Nec nos nec ballivi nostri capiemus alienum boscum ad castra vel alia agenda nostra, nisi per voluntatem ipsius cujus boscus ille fuerit.

31. Neither we nor our bailiffs will take another’s wood to the camp or for our other proceedings, unless by the will of the very person whose wood that is.

32. Nos non tenebimus terras illorum qui convicti fuerint de felonia, nisi per unum annum et unum diem, et tunc reddantur terre dominis feodorum.

32. We will not hold the lands of those who have been convicted of felony, except for one year and one day, and then the lands shall be returned to the lords of the fiefs.

33. Omnis kidelli de cetero deponantur penitus de Tamisia, et de Medewaye, et per totam Angliam, nisi per costeram maris.

33. All kidelli henceforth shall be utterly removed from the Tamisia, and from the Medewaye, and throughout all England, save by the sea-coast.

34. Breve quod vocatur "Precipe" de cetero non fiat alicui de aliquo tenemento unde liber homo amittere possit curiam suam.

34. Henceforth no writ which is called "Precipe" shall be made to any one concerning any tenement whereby a free man may lose his court.

35. Una mensura vini sit per totum regnum nostrum, et una mensura cervisie, et una mensura bladi, scilicet quarterium Londoniense, et una latitudo pannorum tinctorum et russetorum et halbergettorum, scilicet due ulne infra listas; de ponderibus autem sit ut de mensuris.

35. One measure of wine shall be throughout our whole kingdom, and one measure of cervisia (beer), and one measure of bladi (grain), namely the London quarter, and one breadth of dyed cloths and of russets and halbergets, namely two ells within the lists; and as to weights let it be as with the measures.

36. Nichil detur vel capiatur de cetero pro brevi inquisicionis de vita vel membris, set gratis concedatur et non negetur.

36. Let nothing henceforth be given or taken for the writ of inquisition concerning life or members; but let it be granted gratis and not denied.

37. Si aliquis teneat de nobis per feodifirmam, vel per sokagium, vel per burgagium, et de alio terram teneat per servicium militare, nos non habebimus custodiam heredis nec terre sue que est de feodo alterius, occasione illius feodifirme, vel sokagii, vel burgagii; nec habebimus custodiam illius feodifirme, vel sokagii, vel burgagii, nisi ipsa feodifirma debeat servicium militare. Nos non habebimus custodiam heredis vel terre alicujus, quam tenet de alio per servicium militare, occasione alicujus parve serjanterie quam tenet de nobis per servicium reddendi nobis cultellos, vel sagittas, vel hujusmodi.

37. If anyone holds of us by feodifirma, or by sokage, or by burgage, and holds land of another by military service, we shall not have the custody (wardship) of the heir nor of his land which is of the fee of another, on account of that feodifirma, or sokage, or burgage; nor shall we have the custody of that feodifirma, or sokage, or burgage, unless that very feodifirma ought military service. We shall not have the custody of the heir or of any land which he holds of another by military service, by reason of any small serjeanty he holds of us by the service of rendering to us knives, or arrows, or the like.

38. Nullus ballivus ponat decetero aliquem ad legem simplici loquela sua, sine testibus fidelibus ad hoc inductis.

38. No bailiff shall henceforth put anyone to law by his mere speech alone, without faithful witnesses being brought in for that purpose.

39. Nullus liber homo capiatur, vel imprisonetur, aut disseisiatur, aut utlagetur, aut exuletur, aut aliquo modo destruatur, nec super eum ibimus, nec super eum mittemus, nisi per legale judicium parium suorum vel per legem terre.

39. No free man shall be taken, or imprisoned, or disseised, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor shall we go upon him, nor shall we send upon him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.

40. Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus, aut differemus rectum aut justiciam.

40. We will sell to no one, we will deny to no one, nor will we defer right or justice.

41. Omnes mercatores habeant salvum et securum exire de Anglia, et venire in Angliam, et morari, et ire per Angliam, tam per terram quam per aquam, ad emendum et vendendum, sine omnibus malis toltis, per antiquas et rectas consuetudines, preterquam in tempore gwerre, et si sint de terra contra nos gwerrina; et si tales inveniantur in terra nostra in principio gwerre, attachientur sine dampno corporum et rerum, donec sciatur a nobis vel capitali justiciario nostro quomodo mercatores terre nostre tractentur, qui tunc invenientur in terra contra nos gwerrina; et si nostri salvi sint ibi, alii salvi sint in terra nostra.

41. All merchants shall have safe and secure leave to go out of England, and to come into England, and to dwell and to travel through England, both by land and by water, to buy and to sell, without any evil tolls, according to the ancient and right customs, except in time of war, and if they are of a land at war against us; and if such are found in our land at the beginning of the war, they shall be detained without loss of body or goods, until it be known by us or by our chief justiciar how merchants of our land are treated who are then found in the land at war against us; and if our men are safe there, others shall be safe in our land.

42. Liceat unicuique decetero exire de regno nostro, et redire, salvo et secure, per terram et per aquam, salva fide nostra, nisi tempore gwerre per aliquod breve tempus, propter communem utilitatem regni, exceptis imprisonatis et utlagatis secundum legem regni, et gente de terra contra nos gwerrina, et mercatoribus, de quibus fiat sicut predictum est.

42. Let it be lawful for any one henceforth to depart from our kingdom and to return, safe and secure, by land and by water, under our faith, save in time of war for some short space, for the common utility of the realm, excepting the imprisoned and the outlaws according to the law of the realm, and the people of the land who are at war against us, and the merchants, concerning whom let it be as has been aforesaid.

43. Si quis tenuerit de aliqua eskaeta, sicut de honore Walligefordie, Notingeham, Bolonie, Lancastrie, vel de aliis eskaetis que sunt in manu nostra et sunt baronie, et obierit, heres ejus non det aliud relevium, nec faciat nobis aliud servicium quam faceret baroni si baronia illa esset in manu baronis; et nos eodem modo eam tenebimus quo baro eam tenuit.

43. If anyone shall hold of any escheat, as of the honour of Wallingeford, Nottingham, Boulogne, Lancaster, or of other escheats which are in our hand and are baronies, and shall die, his heir shall not give any other relief, nor perform to us any other service than he would perform to the baron if that barony were in the baron’s hand; and we shall hold it in the same manner as the baron held it.

44. Homines qui manent extra forestam non veniant decetero coram justiciariis nostris de foresta per communes summoniciones, nisi sint in placito, vel plegii alicujus vel aliquorum, qui attachiati sint pro foresta.

44. Men who remain outside the forest shall henceforth not come before our justices of the forest by common summonses, unless they be in a plea, or pledges of any one or of some who are attached for the forest.

45. Nos non faciemus justiciarios, constabularios, vicecomites, vel ballivos, nisi de talibus qui sciant legem regni et eam bene velint observare.

45. We will not make justiciars, constables, sheriffs, or bailiffs, except of such persons who know the law of the realm and are willing to observe it well.

46. Omnes barones qui fundaverunt abbacias, unde habent cartas regum Anglie, vel antiquam tenuram, habeant earum custodiam cum vacaverint, sicut habere debent.

46. All barons who founded abbeys, whence they have charters of the kings of England, or ancient tenure, shall have their custody when they have become vacant, as they ought to have.

47. Omnes foreste que afforestate sunt tempore nostro, statim deafforestentur; et ita fiat de ripariis que per nos tempore nostro posite sunt in defenso.

47. All forests that have been afforested in our time shall immediately be disafforested; and let the same be done concerning the riparies which by us in our time have been placed in the defenso.

48. Omnes male consuetudines de forestis et warennis, et de forestariis et warennariis, vicecomitibus et eorum ministris, ripariis et earum custodibus, statim inquirantur in quolibet comitatu per duodecim milites juratos de eodem comitatu, qui debent eligi per probos homines ejusdem comitatus, et infra quadraginta dies post inquisicionem factam, penitus, ita quod numquam revocentur, deleantur per eosdem, ita quod nos hoc sciamus prius, vel justiciarius noster, si in Anglia non fuerimus.

48. All ill customs concerning forests and warrens, and concerning foresters and warreners, sheriffs and their ministers, riparies and their keepers, shall be at once inquired into in every county by twelve sworn milites of that same county, who are to be chosen by the good men of that same county, and within forty days after the inquest is made shall be entirely, so that they may never be revoked, annulled by the same, provided that we or our justiciar, if we be not in England, know this beforehand.

49. Omnes obsides et cartas statim reddemus que liberate fuerunt nobis ab Anglicis in securitatem pacis vel fidelis servicii.

49. We will immediately return all hostages and charters which were delivered to us by the English as security for peace or for faithful service.

50. Nos amovebimus penitus de balliis parentes Gerardi de Athyes, quod decetero nullam habeant balliam in Anglia, Engelardum de Cygony, Petrum et Gionem et Andream de Cancellis, Gionem de Cygony, Galfridum de Martinny et fratres ejus, Philippum Marc. et fratres ejus, et Galfridum nepotem ejus, et totam sequelam eorundem.

50. We will remove entirely from the bailiwicks the relatives of Gerard of Athyes, so that henceforth they shall have no bailiwick in England: Engelard of Cygony, Peter and John and Andrew of Cancellis, John of Cygony, Geoffrey of Martinny and his brothers, Philip Marc. and his brothers, and his nephew Geoffrey, and all their retinue.

51. Et statim post pacis reformacionem amovebimus de regno omnes alienigenas milites, balistarios, servientes, stipendiarios, qui venerint cum equis et armis ad nocumentum regni.

51. And immediately after the reformation of the peace we will remove from the kingdom all foreign soldiers, balistarii, servitors, stipendiaries, who have come with horses and arms to the hurt of the kingdom.

52. Si quis fuerit disseisitus vel elongatus per nos sine legali judicio parium suorum, de terris, castellis, libertatibus, vel jure suo, statim ea ei restituemus; et si contencio super hoc orta fuerit, tunc inde fiat per judicium viginti quinque baronum, de quibus fit mencio inferius in securitate pacis. De omnibus autem illis de quibus aliquis disseisitus fuerit vel elongatus sine legali judicio parium suorum, per Henricum regem patrem nostrum vel per Ricardum regem fratrem nostrum, que in manu nostra habemus, vel que alii tenent, que nos oporteat warantizare, respectum habebimus usque ad communem terminum crucesignatorum; exceptis illis de quibus placitum motum fuit vel inquisicio facta per preceptum nostrum, ante suscepcionem crucis nostre : cum autem redierimus de peregrinacione nostra, vel si forte remanserimus a peregrinacione nostra, statim inde plenam justiciam exhibebimus.

52. If anyone shall have been disseised or expelled by us without the legal judgment of his peers, from his lands, castles, liberties, or his right, we will immediately restore these to him; and if a contention shall have arisen about this, then let it be decided by the judgment of twenty-five barons, of whom mention is made below in the security of the peace. Concerning all those, however, of whom anyone has been disseised or expelled without the legal judgment of his peers, by Henry the king our father or by Richard the king our brother, which we hold in our hand, or which others hold, which it behooves us to warrant, we will have regard until the common term of the crusaders; excepting those of whom a plea has been moved or an inquiry made by our command before our taking up of the cross: when, however, we shall have returned from our pilgrimage, or if by chance we remain from our pilgrimage, we will immediately thereupon render full justice.

53. Eundem autem respectum habebimus et eodem modo de justicia exhibenda, de forestis deafforestandis vel remanseris forestis quas Henricus pater noster vel Ricardus frater noster afforestaverunt, et de custodiis terrarum que sunt de alieno feodo, cujusmodi custodias hucusque habuimus occasione feodi quod aliquis de nobis tenuit per servicium militare, et de abbaciis que fundate fuerint in feodo alterius quam nostro, in quibus dominus feodi dixerit se jus habere; et cum redierimus, vel si remanserimus a peregrinatione nostra, super hiis conquerentibus plenam justiciam statim exhibebimus.

53. We will have the same regard and in the same manner concerning the exhibiting of justice, about forests to be disafforested or remaining forests which Henry our father or Richard our brother have afforested, and concerning wardenships of lands which are of another’s fee, such wardenships as hitherto we have held by occasion of a fee that some one of us held by military service, and concerning abbacies which have been founded in the fee of another than ours, in which the lord of the fee shall say he has a right; and when we have returned, or if we remain from our pilgrimage, upon those who complain concerning these things we will at once exhibit full justice.

54. Nullus capiatur nec imprisonetur propter appellum femine de morte alterius quam viri sui.

54. No one shall be seized nor imprisoned on account of an appeal by a woman concerning the death of any person other than her husband.

55. Omnes fines qui injuste et contra legem terre facti sunt nobiscum, et omnia amerciamenta facta injuste et contra legem terre, omnino condonentur, vel fiat inde per judicium viginti quinque baronum de quibus fit mencio inferius in securitate pacis, vel per judicium majoris partis eorundem, una cum predicto Stephano Cantuarensi archiepiscopo, si interesse poterit, et aliis quos secum ad hoc vocare voluerit. Et si interesse non poterit, nichilominus procedat negocium sine eo, ita quod, si aliquis vel aliqui de predictis viginti quinque baronibus fuerint in simili querela, amoveantur quantum ad hoc judicium, et alii loco eorum per residuos de eisdem viginti quinque, tantum ad hoc faciendum electi et jurati substituantur.

55. All fines which have been imposed upon us unjustly and against the law of the land, and all amercements imposed unjustly and against the law of the land, shall be wholly remitted, either by the judgment of twenty-five barons of whom mention is made below in the security of the peace, or by the judgment of the greater part of them, together with the aforesaid Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, if he can be present, and others whom he shall choose to summon to this. And if he cannot be present, nevertheless let the business proceed without him, provided that, if any one or some of the said twenty-five barons are parties to the same complaint, they be removed from this judgment, and others, elected and sworn from the remainder of the same twenty-five, be substituted in their place solely for the doing of this.

56. Si nos disseisivimus vel elongavimus Walenses de terris vel libertatibus vel rebus aliis, sine legali judicio parium suorum, in Anglia vel in Wallia, eis statim reddantur; et si contencio super hoc orta fuerit, tunc inde fiat in Marchia per judicium parium suorum; de tenementis Anglie secundum legem Anglie; de tenementis Wallie secundum legem Wallie; de tenementis Marchie secundum legem Marchie. Idem facient Walenses nobis et nostris.

56. If we have disseised or removed the Welsh from lands or liberties or other things, without the legal judgment of their peers, in England or in Wales, they shall be immediately restored; and if a contention about this arise, then let it be decided in the March by the judgment of their peers; of the tenements of England according to the law of England; of the tenements of Wales according to the law of Wales; of the tenements of the March according to the law of the March. The same shall the Welsh do to us and to ours.

57. De omnibus autem illis de quibus aliquis Walensium disseisitus fuerit vel elongatus, sine legali judicio parium suorum, per Henricum regem patrem nostrum vel Ricardum regem fratrem nostrum, que nos in manu nostra habemus, vel que alii tenent que nos oporteat warantizare, respectum habebimus usque ad communem terminum crucesignatorum, illis exceptis de quibus placitum motum fuit vel inquisicio facta per preceptum nostrum ante suscepcionem crucis nostre; cum autem redierimus, vel si forte remanserimus a peregrinatione nostra, statim eis inde plenam justitiam exhibebimus, secundum leges Walensium et partes predictas.

57. Concerning all those of whom any of the Welsh shall have been disseised or removed, without the legal judgment of their peers, by Henry our father the king or Richard our brother the king, which we hold in our hand, or which others hold which it behoves us to warrant, we will have regard until the common term of the crucesignatorum (crusaders), those excepted concerning whom a plea was moved or an inquest made by our command before the undertaking of our cross; but when we shall have returned, or if perhaps we remain from our pilgrimage, we will immediately render to them full justice therein, according to the laws of the Welsh and the aforesaid parts.

58. Nos reddemus filium Lewelini statim, et omnes obsides de Wallia, et cartas que nobis liberate fuerunt in securitate pacis.

58. We will return the son of Lewelini immediately, and all hostages of Wales, and the charters which were delivered to us as security of the peace.

59. Nos faciemus Alexandro regi Scottorum de sororibus suis, et obsidibus reddendis, et libertatibus suis, et jure suo, secundum formam in qua faciemus aliis baronibus nostris Anglie, nisi aliter esse debeat per cartas quas habemus de Willelmo patre ipsius, quondam rege Scottorum; et hoc erit per judicium parium suorum in curia nostra.

59. We will deal with Alexander, king of the Scots, concerning his sisters, the restoration of his hostages, his liberties, and his right, according to the form in which we shall deal with our other barons of England, unless it ought to be otherwise by the charters which we have from William his father, sometime king of the Scots; and this shall be by the judgment of his peers in our court.

60. Omnes autem istas consuetudines predictas et libertates quas nos concessimus in regno nostro tenendas quantum ad nos pertinet erga nostros, omnes de regno nostro, tam clerici quam laici, observent quantum ad se pertinet erga suos.

60. All moreover those customs aforesaid and liberties which we have granted to be held in our kingdom, so far as concerns us toward our men, all of our kingdom, both clerics and laymen, shall observe so far as concerns them toward theirs.

61. Cum autem pro Deo, et ad emendacionem regni nostri, et ad melius sopiendum discordiam inter nos et barones nostros ortam, hec omnia predicta concesserimus, volentes ea integra et firma stabilitate in perpetuum gaudere, facimus et concedimus eis securitatem subscriptam; videlicet quod barones eligant viginti quinque barones de regno quos voluerint, qui debeant pro totis viribus suis observare, tenere, et facere observari, pacem et libertates quas eis concessimus, et hac presenti carta nostra confirmavimus; ita scilicet quod, si nos, vel justiciarius noster, vel ballivi nostri, vel aliquis de ministris nostris, in aliquo erga aliquem deliquerimus, vel aliquem articulorum pacis aut securitatis transgressi fuerimus, et delictum ostensum fuerit quatuor baronibus de predictis viginti quinque baronibus, illi quatuor barones accedant ad nos vel ad justiciarium nostrum, si fuerimus extra regnum, proponentes nobis excessum; petent ut excessum illum sine dilacione faciamus emendari. Et si nos excessum non emendaverimus, vel, si fuerimus extra regnum, justiciarius noster non emendaverit infra tempus quadraginta dierum computandum a tempore quo monstratum fuerit nobis vel justiciario nostro, si extra regnum fuerimus, predicti quatuor barones referant causam illam ad residuos de illis viginti quinque baronibus, et illi viginti quinque barones cum communia tocius terre distringent et gravabunt nos modis omnibus quibus poterunt, scilicet per capcionem castrorum, terrarum, possessionum, et aliis modis quibus poterunt, donec fuerit emendatum secundum arbitrium eorum, salva persona nostra et regine nostre et liberorum nostrorum; et cum fuerit emendatum intendent nobis sicut prius fecerunt. Et quicumque voluerit de terra juret quod ad predicta omnia exequenda parebit mandatis predictorum viginti quinque baronum, et quod gravabit nos pro posse suo cum ipsis, et nos publice et libere damus licenciam jurandi cuilibet qui jurare voluerit, et nulli umquam jurare prohibebimus.

61. Since, moreover, for God, and for the amendment of our kingdom, and to better compose the discord arisen between us and our barons, we have granted all these things aforesaid, wishing them to enjoy intact and firm stability forever, we make and grant to them the security written below; namely that the barons shall elect twenty-five barons of the kingdom whom they will, who shall by their whole might observe, keep, and cause to be observed the peace and liberties which we have granted them and which we have confirmed by this present charter; so that if we, or our justiciar, or our bailiffs, or any of our ministers, shall have wronged anyone in anything, or shall have transgressed any articles of the peace or of the security, and the wrong shall have been shown to four of the said twenty-five barons, those four barons shall come to us or to our justiciar, if we be beyond the kingdom, setting forth to us the excess; they shall demand that we without delay make that excess amends. And if we do not make amends for the excess, or, if we be beyond the kingdom, our justiciar does not make amends within the time of 40 days to be reckoned from the time when it shall have been shown to us or to our justiciar, if we be beyond the kingdom, the said four barons shall refer that cause to the rest of those twenty-five barons, and those twenty-five barons with the commons of the whole land shall distrain and burden us in all ways they can, namely by seizure of castles, lands, possessions, and by other means they can, until it shall have been amended according to their judgment, saving the person of ourselves and of our queen and of our children; and when it shall have been amended they shall attend to us as they did before. And whoever of the land will, shall swear that for the execution of all the aforesaid he will obey the mandates of the aforesaid twenty-five barons, and that he will burden us to the best of his power together with them, and we publicly and freely grant leave to any one who shall wish to swear, and we will never prohibit anyone from swearing.

Omnes autem illos de terra qui per se et sponte sua noluerint jurare viginti quinque baronibus de distringendo et gravando nos cum eis, faciemus jurare eosdem de mandato nostro sicut predictum est. Et si aliquis de viginti quinque baronibus decesserit, vel a terra recesserit, vel aliquo alio modo impeditus fuerit, quominus ista predicta possent exequi, qui residui fuerint de predictis viginti quinque baronibus eligant alium loco ipsius, pro arbitrio suo, qui simili modo erit juratus quo et ceteri. In omnibus autem que istis viginti quinque baronibus committuntur exequenda, si forte ipsi viginti quinque presentes fuerint, et inter se super re aliqua discordaverint, vel aliqui ex eis summoniti nolint vel nequeant interesse, ratum habeatur et firmum quod major pars eorum qui presentes fuerint providerit, vel preceperit ac si omnes viginti quinque in hoc consensissent; et predicti viginti quinque jurent quod omnia antedicta fideliter observabunt, et pro toto posse suo facient observari.

All those of the land, however, who of their own accord and will shall not wish to swear to the twenty-five barons concerning distraining and laying burdens upon us with them, we will cause those same to swear by our mandate as has been aforesaid. And if any of the twenty-five barons shall die, or withdraw from the land, or be hindered in any other way so that these aforesaid things cannot be executed, those who remain of the said twenty-five barons shall choose another in his place, at their discretion, who shall be sworn in like manner as the others. In all things moreover that are committed to these twenty-five barons to execute, if perchance the twenty-five themselves are present and disagree among themselves on any matter, or some of them when summoned will not or cannot attend, that shall be held valid and firm which the greater part of those who are present shall provide or command, as if all twenty-five had consented in this; and the said twenty-five shall swear that they will faithfully observe all the aforesaid, and will cause them to be observed with all their power.

Et nos nichil impetrabimus ab aliquo, per nos nec per alium, per quod aliqua istarum concessionum et libertatum revocetur vel minuatur; et, si aliquid tale impetratum fuerit, irritum sit et inane et numquam eo utemur per nos nec per alium.

And we will obtain nothing from anyone, by ourselves nor by another, by which any of these concessions and liberties may be revoked or diminished; and if anything of that sort be obtained, let it be null and void and of no effect, and we will never make use of it by ourselves nor by another.

62. Et omnes malas voluntates, indignaciones, et rancores, ortos inter nos et homines nostros, clericos et laicos, a tempore discordie, plene omnibus remisimus et condonavimus. Preterea omnes transgressiones factas occasione ejusdem discordie, a Pascha anno regni nostri sextodecimo usque ad pacem reformatam, plene remisimus omnibus, clericis et laicis, et quantum ad nos pertinet plene condonavimus. Et insuper fecimus eis fieri litteras testimoniales patentes domini Stephani Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, domini Henrici Dublinensis archiepiscopi, et episcoporum predictorum et magistri Pandulfi, super securitate ista et concessionibus prefatis.

62. And all ill-wills, indignations, and rancors, arisen between us and our men, clerics and laity, from the time of the discord, we have fully remitted and pardoned to all. Moreover all transgressions committed on the occasion of that same discord, from Easter in the 16th year of our reign until the peace was reformed, we have fully remitted to all, clerics and laity, and so far as pertains to us we have fully pardoned. And furthermore we caused to be made for them patent testimonial letters of Lord Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, of Lord Henry, Archbishop of Dublin, and of the aforesaid bishops and of Master Pandulf, concerning this security and the concessions aforesaid.

63. Quare volumus et firmiter precipimus quod Anglicana ecclesia libera sit et quod homines in regno nostro habeant et teneant omnes prefatas libertates, jura, et concessiones, bene et in pace, libere et quiete, plene et integre, sibi et heredibus suis, de nobis et heredibus nostris, in omnibus rebus et locis, in perpetuum, sicut predictum est. Juratum est autem tam ex parte nostra quam ex parte baronum, quod hec omnia supradicta bona fide et sine malo ingenio observabuntur. Testibus supradictis et multis aliis.

63. Wherefore we will and firmly command that the English Church be free and that the men of our kingdom have and hold all the aforesaid liberties, rights, and concessions, well and in peace, freely and quietly, fully and entirely, to them and their heirs, from us and our heirs, in all matters and places, for ever, as has been aforesaid. It has moreover been sworn on both our part and on the part of the barons that all these things above written shall be observed in good faith and without evil intent. By the witnesses aforesaid and many others.

Data per manum nostram in prato quod vocatur Ronimed. inter Windlesoram et Stanes, quinto decimo die junii, anno regni nostri decimo septimo.

Given by our hand in the meadow which is called Ronimed. between Windlesoram and Stanes, on the 15th day of June, in the 17th year of our reign.

[Transcribed by Marc Baronnet on 3rd December 1998 at Nancy in France from Charles Bémont, Chartes des libertés anglaises (1100-1305), Alphonse Picard publisher, Paris, 1892].

[Transcribed by Marc Baronnet on 3 December 1998 at Nancy in France from Charles Bémont, Charters of English Liberties (1100–1305), Alphonse Picard, publisher, Paris, 1892].