Magna Carta

by Dan Jones

  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 may take anyone’s timber to a castle or to any other business of ours, except with the agreement of the timber’s owner.

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

  32 We will not hold the lands of convicted felons for more than a year and a day, and then the lands will be returned to the lord of the fee.

  33 Omnes kydelli de cetero deponantur penitus de Thamisia, et de Medewaye, et per totam Angliam, nisi per costeram maris.

  33 In future, all fish-weirs will be completely removed from the Thames and the Medway and throughout the whole of England, except on the sea-coast.

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

  34 The writ called Praecipe will not, in future, be issued to anyone for any holding in respect of which a free man could 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 duae ulnae infra listas; de ponderibus autem sit ut de mensuris.

  35 There shall be one measure of wine in the whole of our realm, and one measure of ale, and one measure of corn, namely, the quarter of London, and one width of dyed, russet and haberget cloths, namely two ells within the borders. Let it be the same for weights as it is for measures.

  36 Nihil detur vel capiatur de cetero pro brevi inquisitionis de vita vel membris, sed gratis concedatur et non negetur.

  36 Nothing shall in future be given or taken for the writ of inquisition of life and limb, but it shall be freely given and not refused.

  37 Si aliquis teneat de nobis per feodifirmam, vel per sokagium, vel per burgagium, et de alio terram teneat per servitium militare, nos non habebimus custodiam haeredis nec terrae suae quae est de feodo alterius, occasione illius feodifirmae, vel sokagii, vel burgagii; nec habebimus custodiam illius feodifirmae, vel sokagii, vel burgagii, nisi ipsa feodifirma debeat servitium militare. Nos non habebimus custodiam haeredis vel terrae alicujus, quam tenet de alio per servitium militare, occasione alicujus parvae sergenteriae quam tenet de nobis per servitium reddendi nobis cultellos, sagittas, vel hujusmodi.

  37 If anyone holds of us by fee-farm, socage or burgage*6, and holds land of someone else by military service, we will not, by reason of the fee-farm, socage or burgage, have wardship of his heir or of his lands belonging to another man’s fee. Nor will we have custody of that fee-farm, socage or burgage, except if the fee-farm, socage or burgage owes military service. We will not have custody of anyone’s heir or anyone’s lands which he holds of someone else by military service, by virtue of some petty serjeantry by which he holds of us by the service of rendering us knives, or arrows, or suchlike.

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

  38 No bailiff is in future to put anyone to law by his accusation alone, without trustworthy witnesses being brought forward.

  39 Nullus liber homo capiatur, vel imprisonetur, aut dissaisiatur, 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 terrae.

  39 No free man is to be arrested, or imprisoned, or disseized, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any other way ruined, nor will we go or send against him, except by the legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.

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

  40 To no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay, 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, praeterquam in tempore gwerrae, et si sint de terra contra nos gwerrina; et si tales inveniantur in terra nostra in principio gwerrae, attachientur sine dampno corporum et rerum, donec sciatur a nobis vel capitali justiciario nostro quomodo mercatores terrae nostrae tractentur, qui tunc invenientur in terra contra nos gwerrina; et si nostri salvi sint ibi, alii salvi sint in terra nostra.

  41 All merchants are to be safe and secure in leaving and coming to England, and in staying and travelling in England, both by land and by water, to buy and sell without any evil tolls, but only by the ancient and rightful customs, save in time of war if they come from an enemy country. And if such are found in our land at the beginning of war, they will be detained without damage to their persons or goods, until it is clear to us or our Chief Justiciar how the merchants of our land are treated in the enemy country; and if ours are safe there, the others shall be safe in our land.

  42 Liceat unicuique de cetero exire de regno nostro, et redire, salvo et secure, per terram et aquam, salva fide nostra, nisi tempore gwerrae 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 praedictum est.

  42 In future it is lawful for anyone, saving his allegiance to us, and except for a short period during time of war, to leave our realm and return, safe and secure by land and water, for the sake of the general good of the realm; except for those imprisoned or outlawed according to the law of the land, and people from the enemy country, and merchants – who shall be treated as previously described.

  43 Si quis tenuerit de aliqua escaeta, sicut de honore Walingeford, Notingeham, Bononiae, Lainkastriae, vel de aliis eskaetis quae sunt in manu nostra et sunt baroniae, et obierit, haeres ejus non det aliud relevium, nec faciat nobis aliud servitium quam faceret baroni si baronia illa esset in manu baronis; et nos eodem modo eam tenebimus quo baro eam tenuit.

  43 If anyone dies who held of any escheat, such as the honours of Wallingford, Nottingham, Boulogne, Lancaster, or of other escheats*7 which are in our hand and our baronies, his heir will not pay any relief or do us any other service than he would have done to the baron if the barony was in the baron’s hand; and we will hold it in the same manner as the baron held it.

  44 Homines qui manent extra forestam non veniant de cetero coram justiciariis nostra de foresta per communes summonitiones, nisi sint in placito, vel pleggii alicujus vel aliquorum, qui attachiati sint pro foresta.

  44 From now on men who reside outside the forest will not come before our justices of the forest on a general summons, unless they are impleaded, or they are pledges for any person or persons who are attached for forest business.

  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 appoint justices, constables, sheriffs or bailiffs, other than those who know the law of the realm and intend to keep it well.

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

  46 All barons who have founded abbeys, for which they have charters of the kings of England, or ancient tenure, shall have custody of the abbeys when they are vacant, as they should have.

  47 Omnes forestae quae afforestatae sunt tempore nostro, statim deafforestentur; et ita fiat de ripariis quae per nos tempore nostro positae sunt in defenso.

  47 All forests which have been afforested in our time shall be immediately disafforested, and let the same be done for riverbanks which have been fenced off during our time.

  48 Omnes malae 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 inquisitionem 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 evil customs, of forests and warrens, and of foresters and warreners, sheriffs and their officers, riverbanks and their keepers are immediately to be investigated in each and every county by twelve sworn knights of the same county, who are to be chosen by upright men of their county, and within forty days of the inquiry [the evil customs] are to be entirely abolished, provided that we, or our justiciar if we are not in England, know about it first.

  49 Omnes obsides et cartas statim reddemus quae liberatae fuerunt nobis ab Anglicis in securitatem pacis vel fidelis servitii.

  49 We will immediately restore all hostages and charters that have been given to us by Englishmen as security for peace and faithful service.

  50 Nos amovebimus penitus de balliis parentes Gerardi Athyes, quod de cetero nullam habeant balliam in Anglia: Engelardum de Cygony, Petrum et Gyonem et Andream de Cancellis, Gyonem de Cygony, Galfridum de Martinni et fratres ejus, Philippum Marc et fratres ejus, et Galfridum nepotem ejus, et totam sequelam eorumdem.

  50 We will completely remove from their offices the relations of Gerard d’Athée, so that from now on they shall have no office in England: Engelard de Cigogné, Peter and Guy and Andrew de Chanceaux, Guy de Cigogné, Geoffrey de Martini and his brothers, Philip Mark and his brothers, and his nephew Geoffrey, and all their followers.*8

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

  51 And immediately after the restoration of peace we will remove from the realm all foreign knights, crossbowmen, serjeants and mercenaries, who have come with horses and arms to the detriment of the kingdom.

  52 Si quis fuerit dissaisitus vel elongatus per nos sine legali judicio parium suorum, de terris, castellis, libertatibus, vel jure suo, statim ea ei restituemus; et si contentio super hoc orta fuerit, tunc inde fiat per judicium viginti quinque baronum, de quibus fit mentio 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, quae in manu nostra habemus, vel quae alii tenent, quae nos oporteat warantizare, respectum habebimus usque ad communem terminum crucesignatorum, exceptis illis de quibus placitum motum fuit vel inquisitio facta per praeceptum nostrum ante susceptionem crucis nostrae; cum autem redierimus de peregrinatione nostra, vel si forte remanserimus a peregrinatione nostra, statim inde pleman justiciam exhibebimus.

  52 If anyone has been disseized or dispossessed by us of lands, castles, liberties or of his rights, without lawful judgment of his peers, it shall immediately be restored to him. And if dispute should arise over this, then let it be settled by judgment of the twenty-five barons, as mentioned below in the security clause. For all those things of which anyone was disseized or dispossessed during the reign of King Henry our father or King Richard our brother, which we hold in our hand or which others hold, which we ought to warrant, we will have respite during the crusaders’ term, excepting those cases when a plea was begun or an inquest made on our order before we took the cross; but when we have returned from our pilgrimage, or if by chance we do not go on our pilgrimage, we will immediately do full justice.

  53 Eundem autem respectum habebimus, et eodem modo, de justicia exhibenda de forestis deafforestandis vel remansuris forestis, quas Henricus pater noster vel Ricardus frater noster afforestaverunt, et de custodiis terrarum quae sunt de alieno feodo, cujusmodi custodias hucusque habuimus occasione feodi quod aliquis de nobis tenuit per servitium militare, et de abbatiis quae fundatae 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 shall have the same respite, and in the same manner, in doing justice on disafforesting or retaining those forests that Henry our father or Richard our brother afforested, and concerning wardships of lands which are part of another fee, wardships which we have held by reason of a fee which someone held of us by knight service, and of abbeys which were founded on a fee other than ours, in which the lord of the fee has claimed his right. And when we return, or if we do not go on our pilgrimage, we will immediately do full justice to those complaining about these things.

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

  54 No man shall be arrested or imprisoned because of the appeal of a woman for the death of anyone other than her husband.

  55 Omnes fines qui injuste et contra legem terrae facti sunt nobiscum, et omnia amerciamenta facta injuste et contra legem terrae, omnino condonentur, vel fiat inde per judicium viginti quinque baronum de quibus fit mentio inferius in securitate pacis, vel per judicium majoris partis eorumdem, una cum praedicto Stephano Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, si interesse poterit, et aliis quos secum ad hoc vocare voluerit. Et si interesse non poterit, nihilominus procedat negotium sine eo, ita quod, si aliquis vel aliqui de praedictis 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 were made with us unjustly and contrary to the law of the land and all amercements made unjustly and contrary to the law of the land shall be completely remitted, or shall be settled by the twenty-five barons mentioned below in the security clause, or by the judgment of the majority of them, together with the aforementioned Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, if he can be present, and others such as he may wish to bring with him for this purpose. And if it is not possible for him to attend, let the business proceed without him, provided that if any one or more of the twenty-five barons are in such a suit, they shall be removed from this particular judgment, and shall be replaced in this case only by others chosen and sworn in by the twenty-five.

  56 Si nos dissaisivimus 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 contentio super hoc orta fuerit, tunc inde fiat in Marchia per judicium parium suorum, de tenementis Angliae secundum legem Angliae, de tenementis Walliae secundum legem Walliae, de tenementis Marchiae secundum legem Marchiae. Idem facient Walenses nobis et nostris.

  56 If we have disseized or deprived Welshmen of lands or liberties or other things without lawful judgment of their peers, in England or in Wales, they are to be returned to them immediately. And if a dispute arises about this, then it is to be settled in the March by judgment of their peers, for English tenements according to the law of England, for Welsh tenements according to the law of Wales, for tenements of the March according to the laws of the March. And the Welsh will do the same to us and ours.

  57 De omnibus autem illis de quibus aliquis Walensium dissaisitus fuerit vel elongatus sine legali judicio parium suorum, per Henricum regem patrem nostrum vel Ricardum regem fratrem nostrum, quae nos in manu nostra habemus, vel quae alii tenent quae nos oporteat warantizare, respectum habebimus usque ad communem terminum crucesignatorum, illis exceptis de quibus placitum motum fuit vel inquisitio facta per praeceptum nostrum ante susceptionem crucis nostrae: cum autem redierimus, vel si forte remanserimus a peregrinatione nostra, statim eis inde plenam justiciam exhibebimus, secundum leges Walensium et partes praedictas.

  57 However, with regard to all of the possessions of which any Welshman has been disseized or dispossessed without the lawful judgment of his peers, by King Henry our father, or King Richard our brother, and which we have in our hand, or which others hold which we ought to warrant, we will have respite for the common crusaders’ term, except in cases where a plea was s
tarted or an inquest held by our instruction before we took the cross; however, when we return, or if by chance we do not go on crusade, then we will immediately do justice according to the laws of Wales and the parts previously mentioned.

  58 Nos reddemus filium Lewelini statim, et omnes obsides de Wallia, et cartas quae nobis liberatae fuerunt in securitatem pacis.

  58 We will immediately restore the son of Llywelyn and all the hostages from Wales, and charters that were delivered to us as security for 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 Angliae, 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, regarding the return of his sisters and hostages and his liberties and rights in accordance with the way we deal with our other barons of England, unless it should be otherwise under the charters which we have from his father, William, former King of Scots. And this will be by judgment of his peers in our court.

  60 Omnes autem istas consuetudines praedictas 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 pertinent erga suos.

  60 All the previously mentioned customs and liberties which we have granted in our kingdom as far as we are concerned with regard to our own men, shall be observed by all men of our realm, both clergy and laity, as far as they are concerned with regard to their own men.

  61 Cum autem pro Deo, et ad emendationem regni nostri, et ad melius sopiendum discordiam inter nos et barones nostros ortam, haec omnia praedicta 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 libertats quas ei concessimus, et hac praesenti 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 praedictis 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 dilatione 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, praedicti quatuor barones referant causam illam ad residuos de illis viginti quinque baronibus, et illi viginti quinque barones cum communia totius terrae distringent et gravabunt nos modis omnibus quibus poterunt, scilicet per captionem castrorum, terrarum, possessionum et aliis modis quibus poterunt, donec fuerit emendatum secundum arbitrium eorum, salva persona nostra et reginae nostrae et liberorum nostrorum; et cum fuerit emendatum intendent nobis sicut prius fecerunt. Et quicumque voluerit de terra juret quod ad praedicta omnia exsequenda parebit mandatis praedictorum viginti quinque baronum, et quod gravabit nos pro posse suo cum ipsis, et nos publice et libere damus licentiam jurandi cuilibet qui jurare voluerit, et nulli umquam jurare prohibebimus. 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 nostrosicut praedictum est. Et si aliquis de viginti quinque baronibus decesserit, vel a terra recesserit, vel aliquo alio modo impeditus fuerit, quo minus ista praedicta possent exsequi, qui residui fuerint de praedictis viginti quinque baronibus eligant alium loco ipsius, pro arbitrio suo, qui simili modo erit juratus quo et ceteri. In omnibus autem quae istis viginti quinque committuntur exsequenda, si forte ipsi viginti quinque praesentes 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 praesentes fuerint providerit, vel praeceperit ac si omnes viginti quinque in hoc consensissent; et praedicti viginti quinque jurent quod omnia antedicta fideliter observabunt, et pro toto posse suo facient observari. Et nos nihil 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.