MAGNA
CARTA
‘Magna Carta’, the Latin
for ‘Great Charter’, is the most important document of Medieval England. It was
sealed (by Royal seal) between the
feudal Barons and King John at Runnymede, in the vicinity of Egham, in 1215. From
King John’s point of view Runnymede may have been chosen as a safe location for
the sealing of the document as it was close to Windsor Castle, one of his
residences, although there are some people who have believed that it might have taken place on Magna
Carta Island
(which is located in Berkshire in the River Thames across
from the water-meadows at Runnymede). The document was a series of written promises
between the King and his subjects that he would govern England according to the
customs of feudal law. ‘Magna Carta’ was an attempt by the Barons to stop the
King and all future Kings from abusing their power and causing suffering to the
common people.
Prior to 1215 the Barons
had provided the King with money and men to defend territory held by England in
France and the King had always consulted them before raising taxes and men for
military service. This was part of the Feudal System. However by 1204 King John
had lost his land in France and had introduced high taxes without consulting
the Barons. This was against Feudal Law and accepted custom. He had also
antagonised the Roman Catholic Church, leading to the Pope banning all church
services in 1207 and angering the common people who believed that they could
only gain entry to Heaven if they belonged to the Catholic Church. In 1209 King John was excommunicated but in
1214 he accepted the authority of the Catholic Church and gave back many
privileges to the common people. In the same year the King once again suffered
military defeat when he attempted to regain his territory in Northern France.
On his return to London he demanded more money from the Barons who, however,
refused his demands and rebelled against him. They captured London but did not
succeed in defeating him so that in the spring of 1215 both sides agreed to
talk.
The result was the
drawing up of Magna Carta. The talks
took place at Runnymede but the King did not sign the document. He placed his seal
at the bottom of the draft form of
it called ”Articles of the Barons”, and this was witnessed under Common Law,
which made it legally binding.. It was
from the clauses in this document that the Chancery produced
the document which became known as Magna Carta. It was subsequently revised a number of times and after the third and final
amendment in 1225 by King Henry III it was confirmed in 1297 by King Edward I.
On display:
1. Turner, F.
Egham, Surrey. A history of the Parish under Church and Crown (Egham:
Box
& Gillham, 1926). Photograph of pp. 12-13
Turner’s views about
Magna Carta extracted from the copy of his book in the Oliver Collection.
2. Thomson, R. An historical essay on the Magna Charta of King John
to which are
added the Great Charter in Latin and English (London: John Major, 1829)
3.
Bentley,
N. Golden Sovereigns and some of lesser
value from Boadicea to Elizabeth ll
(London: Beazley, 1820)
Showing a satirical sketch of King
John and Magna Carta
4. Magna Carta Regis Johannis. Copy of the text (in its original
mediaeval Latin) of Magna
Carta. n.d.
There is a
translation of the text on the reverse
of the copy.
5. 750th anniversary, Magna Carta,
15th June 1215-1965.
Booklet (London: Pearl
Publications, 1965)
6. Holt, J. C. Magna Carta; illustrated from contemporary sources by H. Schwarz (London:
Longmans, 1961)
7. Urban District of Egham. Annual civic and Magna Carta commemoration service,
conducted by the Reverend N.G.E. Issberner, the Parish Church, Sunday, 13th June 1971.
Printed order of service
8. Staines, "Duncroft", where King John slept before signing Magna Charta. Postcard
(1904)
9. King John signing the Magna Charta. Reproduced from the tableau at Madame Tussaud
& Sons exhibition. Postcard. n.d.
10. Articles of Magna Charta, 1215. [British Library ms. Add. M.S. 4838]. Postcard (n.d.)
11. Runny Mead, or Magna Charta Island, near Egham. Engraving. Coloured engraving.
The caption at the bottom of the engraving
reads: “This place is celebrated in
history as the spot where the
assembled barons in 1215
obtained from King John the grant of
Magna Charta”
12. King John signing Magna Charta and the Charter of the Forests in
Runnemede Meadow.
An engraving
from Ashburton's History of England published by W & J Stratfords at
Holborn Hill in 1769
Joan Wintour
January 2015