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LXXV. And we will not, by ourselves or others, procure anything whereby any of these concessions and liberties be revoked or lessened; and if any such thing be obtained, let it be null and void; neither shall we ever make use of it, either by ourselves or any other.

LXXVI. And all the illwill, anger and malice that hath arisen between us and our subjects of the clergy and laity, from the first breaking out of the dissension between us, we do fully remit and forgive. Moreover, all trespasses occasioned by the said dissensions, from Easter, in the sixteenth year of our reign, till the restoration of peace and tranquillity, we hereby entirely remit to all, clergy as well as laity, and as far as in us lies, do fully forgive.

LXXVII. We have moreover granted them our letters patents testimonial of Stephen, lord-archbishop of Canterbury, of Henry, lord-archbishop of Dublin, and the bishops aforesaid, as also of master Pandulph, for the security and concessions aforesaid.

LXXVIII. Wherefore we will, and firmly enjoin, that the church of England be free, and that all men in our kingdom have and hold all the aforesaid liberties, rights and concessions, truly and peaceably, freely and quietly, fully and wholly, to themselves and their heirs, of us and our heirs, in all things and places forever, as is aforesaid.

LXXIX. It is also sworn, as well on our part as upon the part of the barons, that all the things aforesaid shall faithfully and sincerely be observed.

Given under our hand, in the presence of the witnesses above named, and many others, in the meadow called Runningmede, between Windelsore and Staines, the 17th day of June, in the 17th year of our reign.

The great charter has been repeatedly amended and con

firmed. I take the liberty of copying the following down to the end of page 201, from Mr. Creasy's Text-Book of the Constitution.1

MAGNA CHARTA,

THE GREAT CHARTER,

(TRANSLATED AS IN THE STATUTES AT LARGE,)

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MADE IN THE NINTH YEAR OF KING HENRY THE THIRD, AND CONFIRMED BY KING EDWARD THE FIRST, IN THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH YEAR OF HIS REIGN.

Edward, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, and duke of Guyan: to all archbishops, bishops, &c. We have seen the great charter of the lord Henry, sometimes king of England, our father, of the liberties of England, in these words:

"Henry, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Guyan, and earl of Anjou: to all archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, sheriffs, provosts, and officers, and to all bailiffs and other our faithful subjects, which shall see this present charter, greeting: Know ye, that we, unto the honor of almighty God, and for the salvation of the souls of our progenitors and successors, kings of England, to the advancement of holy church and amendment of our realm, of our mere and free will, have given and granted to all archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, and to all freemen of this our

- 1 The Text-Book of the Constitution, Magna Charta, The Petition of Rights and the Bill of Rights, with Historical Comments and Remarks on the Present Political Emergencies, by E. S. Creasy, M. A., Barrister-at-Law, Professor of History in University College, London, &c. London, 1848. A small work of 63 pages, excellent in its kind.

VOL. II.-17

realm, these liberties following, to be kept in our kingdom of England forever."

CHAPTER I.

A Confirmation of Liberties.

"First, we have granted to God, and by this our present charter have confirmed for us and our heirs forever, that the .church of England shall be free, and shall have all her whole rights and liberties inviolable. We have granted, also, and given to all the freemen of our realm, for us and our heirs forever, these liberties underwritten, to have and to hold to them and their heirs, of us and our heirs forever."

CHAPTER II.

The Relief of the King's Tenant of full Age.
[Same as 2d chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER III.

The Wardship of the Heir within Age. The Heir a Knight. [Similar to 3d chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER IV.

No waste shall be made by a Guardian in waste lands. [Same as 4th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER V.

Guardians shall maintain the Inheritance of Wards. Of Bishoprics, &c.

[Similar to 5th chapter of John's Charter, with addition of like provisions against the waste of ecclesiastical possessions while in the king's hand during a vacancy in the see, &c.]

CHAPTER VI.

Heirs shall be Married without Disparagement.
[Similar to 6th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER VII.

A Widow shall have her Marriage, Inheritance and Quarantine. The King's Widow, &c.

[Similar (with additions) to the 7th and 8th chapters of

John's Charter.]

CHAPTER VIII.

How Sureties shall be charged to the King.
[Same as 9th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER IX.

The Liberties of London and other Cities and Towns con

firmed.

[Same as 13th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER X.

None shall distrain for more Service than is due.
[Same as 16th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XI.

Common Pleas shall not follow the King's Court.
[Same as 17th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTERS XII. & XIII.

When and before whom Assizes shall be taken. Adjournment for Difficulty. Assizes of Darrein Presentment. [Analogous to 18th and 19th chapters of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XIV.

How Men of all sorts shall be amerced, and by whom. [Same as 20th and 21st chapters of John's Charter.]

CHAPTERS XV. & XVI.

Making and defending of Bridges and Banks.
[Similar to 23d chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XVII.

Holding Pleas of the Crown.

[Same as 24th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XVIII.

The King's Debtor dying, the King shall be first paid. [Same as 26th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTERS XIX., XX. & XXI.

Purveyors for a Castle. Doing of Castle-ward. Taking of Horses, Carts and Woods.

[Same as 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st chapters of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXII.

How long Felons' Lands shall be holden by the King. [Same as 32d chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXIII.

In what places Wears shall be put down. [Same as 33d chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXIV.

In what case a Præcipe in Capite is grantable.
[Same as 14th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXV.

There shall be but one Measure through the Realm.
[Same as 35th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXVI.

Inquisition of Life and Member.
[Same as 38th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXVII.

Tenure of the King in Socage, and of another by Knight's Service. Petit Serjeanty.

[Same as 37th chapter of John's Charter.]

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Wager of Law shall not be without witness.

[Same as 38th chapter of John's Charter.]

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