Magna Carta (1297)

General Saving. Observance of these Liberties. Subsidy, in respect of this Charter and Charter of the Forest. E+W

Reserving to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Templars, Hospitallers, Earls, Barons, and all Persons, as well Spiritual as Temporal, all their [X1 free Liberties] and free Customs, which they have had in time passed. And all these Customs and Liberties aforesaid, which We have granted to be holden within this our Realm, [X2 as much as appertaineth to Us and our Heirs, we shall observe; and] all Men of this our Realm, as well Spiritual as Temporal, [X3 as much as in them is, shall observe the same against all Persons, in like wise.] And for this our Gift and Grant of these Liberties, and of other contained in our Charter of Liberties of our Forest, the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Knights, Freeholders, and other our Subjects, have given unto Us the Fifteenth Part of all their Moveables. And We have granted unto them on the other part, (X4 ) that neither We nor our Heirs shall procure or do any thing whereby the Liberties in this Charter contained shall be infringed or broken. And if any thing be procured by any person contrary to the premises, it shall be had of no force nor effect. These being Witnesses; Lord [X5 B.] Archbishop of Canterbury, E. Bishop of London, J. Bishop of Bathe, P. of Winchester, H. of Lincoln, R. of Salisbury, W. of Rochester, W. of Worcester, J. of Ely, H. of Hereford, R. of Chichester, W. of Exeter, Bishops; the Abbot of St. Edmonds, the Abbot of St. Albans, the Abbot of [X6 Bello,] the Abbot of St. Augustine’s in Canterbury, the Abbot of Evesham, the Abbot of Westminster, the Abbot of [X7 Bourgh St. Peter,] the Abbot of Reding, the Abbot of Abindon, the Abbot of Malmsbury, the Abbot of Winchcomb, the Abbot of Hyde, the Abbot of Certesey, the Abbot of Sherburn, the Abbot of Cerne, the Abbot of [X8 Abbotebir,] the Abbot of Middleton, the Abbot of Seleby, the Abbot of Cirencester; H. de Burgh [X9 Justice,] H. Earl of Chester and Lincoln, W. Earl of Salisbury, W. Earl of Warren, G. de Clare Earl of Gloucester and [X10 Hereford,] W. de Ferrars Earl of Derby, W. de Mandeville Earl of Essex, H. de Bygod Earl of Norfolk, W. Earl of Albemarle, H. Earl of Hereford, J. Constable of Chester, R. de Ros, R. Fitzwalter, R. de Vyponte, W. de Bruer, R. de Muntefichet, P. Fitzherbert, W. de Aubenie, F. Gresly, F. de Breus, J. de [X11 Monemue,] J. Fitzallen, H. de Mortimer, W. de Beauchamp, W. de St. John, P. de Mauly, Brian de Lisle, Thomas de Multon, R. de Argenteyn, G. de Nevil, W. de Mauduit, J. de Balun, and others. (X12 )

We, Ratifying and approving these Gifts and Grants aforesaid, confirm and make strong all the same for Us and our Heirs perpetually, and by the Tenor of these Presents do renew the same: Willing and granting for Us and our Heirs, that [X13 this Charter and] all and singular his Articles for ever shall be stedfastly, firmly, and inviolably observed; [X14 and if] any Article in the same Charter contained yet hitherto peradventure hath not been kept [X15 We will and by authority royal command from henceforth firmly they be observed].

In Witness whereof We have caused these our Letters Patents to be made. [X16 T. Edward our son at Westminster, the twenty-eighth day of March in the twenty-eighth year of our Reign.]

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Liberties

X2 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: on our part, towards our men,

X3 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: shall observe on their part towards their men

X4 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: for us and our heirs,

X5 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: S

X6 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Battel.

X7 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Peterborough

X8 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Abbotsbury

X9 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Chief Justicer

X10 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Hertford

X11 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Monmouth

X12 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Given at Westminster the eleventh day of February in the ninth year of our Reign.

X13 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: the Charter aforesaid in

X14 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: even although

X15 Not in Original.

X16 The Old Translations read These Reverend Fathers being Witnesses; R. Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England, A. Bishop of Duresme, and other; Given at Westminster, with our own hand, the twenty-eighth day of the month of March, the twenty-eighth year of our reign.

This agrees with the Old Printed Copies of the Latin Text:

But read

Witness Edward our Son at Westminster, the Twelfth day of October in the Twenty-fifth Year of our Reign.