Magna Carta Chapter 10

Chapter 10

AFTER RUNNYMEDE

When the Magna Carta was sealed, that was not the end of the story. England was still in a civil war because the barons and John were still at odds. This war was not hot and furious, the Charter had provided a framework for peace, but one could not say there was peace in the realm. Also, the French were on the march, and they were in the process of invading England. William Marshal was at John’s side, prepared to stand in defense of the king and the realm against the French. The barons were organizing themselves to conform to the provision in the Charter that twenty-five of their number be chosen to see to it that John obey its provisions. The barons were also preparing to defend against France, though some did

In 1217 a new and final version of the charter was issued. (See the appendix for the text of this version of Magna Carta). This version of the Charter was actually issued as two documents: the Charter of Liberties, and the Forest Charter. The Charter of Liberties was nearly exactly like the 1216 Magna Carta, with only minor changes and additions, with the exception of the thirty-ninth article, and the last six were new. The common principle in these was a strengthening of the position of the king and the nobles, though the newest castles were to be destroyed. The Forest Charter ordered the deforestation of lands made forests by Richard and John. Barons and clergy passing through the remaining forests were allowed to kill two wild animals if they sounded a horn. Pardons were given to all who were imprisoned under Henry II, Richard and John as long as they could provide surety for good behavior in the future. Nobody would lose life or limb for breaking the forest laws in the future. This 1217 version of the Charter declared that it would be binding on all future kings, just like the earlier ones had, but it technically needed the Great Seal of the realm to actually make it binding. Evidently, Regent William and the other barons involved were content to wait until young Henry III reached the age of majority for that to happen. In the mean time, the Regent appointed John Marshal as the person to enforce the new forest laws. This John Marshal’s father, son of William, had been a signatory on the first Magna