Books: The Magna Carta
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All those, moveover, in the land who of themselves and of their own
accord are unwilling to swear to the twenty five to help them in
constraining and molesting us, we shall by our command compel the same
to swear to the effect foresaid. And if any one of the five and
twenty barons shall have died or departed from the land, or be
incapacitated in any other manner which would prevent the foresaid
provisions being carried out, those of the said twenty five barons who
are left shall choose another in his place according to their own
judgment, and he shall be sworn in the same way as the others.
Further, in all matters, the execution of which is entrusted,to these
twenty five barons, if perchance these twenty five are present and
disagree about anything, or if some of them, after being summoned, are
unwilling or unable to be present, that which the majority of those
present ordain or command shall be held as fixed and established,
exactly as if the whole twenty five had concurred in this; and the
said twenty five shall swear that they will faithfully observe all
that is aforesaid, and cause it to be observed with all their might.
And we shall procure nothing from anyone, directly or indirectly,
whereby any part of these concessions and liberties might be revoked
or diminished; and if any such things has been procured, let it be
void and null, and we shall never use it personally or by another.
62. And all the will, hatreds, and bitterness that have arisen between
us and our men, clergy and lay, from the date of the quarrel, we have
completely remitted and pardoned to everyone. Moreover, all
trespasses occasioned by the said quarrel, from Easter in the
sixteenth year of our reign till the restoration of peace, we have
fully remitted to all, both clergy and laymen, and completely
forgiven, as far as pertains to us. And on this head, we have caused
to be made for them letters testimonial patent of the lord Stephen,
archbishop of Canterbury, of the lord Henry, archbishop of Dublin, of
the bishops aforesaid, and of Master Pandulf as touching this security
and the concessions aforesaid.
63. Wherefore we will and firmly order that the English Church be
free, and that the men in our kingdom have and hold all the aforesaid
liberties, rights, and concessions, well and peaceably, freely and
quietly, fully and wholly, for themselves and their heirs, of us and
our heirs, in all respects and in all places forever, as is
aforesaid. An oath, moreover, has been taken, as well on our part as
on the part of the barons, that all these conditions aforesaid shall be
kept in good faith and without evil intent. Given under our hand -
the above named and many others being witnesses - in the meadow which
is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the fifteenth day
of June, in the seventeenth year of our reign.
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