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Magna Carta (1297)

1297 CHAPTER 9 25 Edw 1 cc 1 9 29

X1
X2

THE GREAT CHARTER OF THE LIBERTIES OF ENGLAND, AND OF THE

LIBERTIES OF THE FOREST; CONFIRMED BY KING EDWARD, IN THE
TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN.

Editorial Information
X1 The original text of this Act was not modern English. The traditional translation appears first with
obsolete characters modernised. The original text (as an image) appears [Link] full reference to
the chapter numbers of this Statute includes c. 37 of which has been partly repealed.
X2 The Latin Indorsement beginning “Magna Carta” is at the bottom of Membrane 38, of the Roll, being
the last of the three Membranes on which are entered The Inspeximus and Confirmation of the Great
Charter and of the Charter of the Forest, the Charter of Confirmation in French, and the King's Pardon;
in Order as they are printed from hence [Statutes of the Realm, volume 1, page 114] to the End of page
124. In all former Printed Copies the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest, as granted by King
Henry III. and confirmed by King Edward I. have been inserted under the ninth year of K. Henry III.
See the Collection of Charters of Liberties preceding the Statutes [in Statutes of the Realm, volume 1],
and Chapter II. of the Introduction prefixed to [the same] Volume. The Various Readings marked L. are
from the Charter of Inspeximus 25 Edw. I, under the Great Seal preserved among the Archives of the
City of London. See page 33, of the Charters of Liberties [in Statutes of the Realm, volume 1].

EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Guyan,
[X3to all Archbishops, Bishops, &c.] We have seen the Great Charter of the Lord Henry
sometimes King of England, our Father, of the Liberties of England in these words:

Editorial Information
X3 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: To All to whom these present
Letters shall come; Greeting.

HENRY by the Grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and
Guyan, and Earl of Anjou, to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons,
2 Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9)
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Sheriffs, Provosts, Officers, and to all Bailiffs, and other our faithful Subjects, which
shall see this present Charter, Greeting: Know Ye, that We, unto the honour of Almighty
God, and for the salvation of (X4) the souls of our Progenitors and Successors [Kings
of England,] to the advancement of Holy Church and amendment of our Realm, of our
meer and free will, have given and granted to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors,
Earls, Barons, and to all [Freemen] of this our Realm, these Liberties following, to be
kept in our Kingdom of England for ever.

Editorial Information
X4 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: our Soul and

I Confirmation of Liberties.
FIRST, We have granted to God, and by this our present Charter have confirmed, for
Us and our Heirs for ever, that the Church of England shall be free, and shall have all
her whole Rights and Liberties inviolable. We have granted also, and given to all the
Freemen of our Realm, for Us and our Heirs for ever, these Liberties under-written,
to have and to hold to them and their Heirs, of Us and our Heirs for ever.

II–VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

Textual Amendments
F1 Cc. 2–6 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

Textual Amendments
F2 C. 7 repealed by Administration of Estates Act (1925) (c. 23), s. 56, Sch. 2 Pt. I, Administration of
Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 (c. 24), s. 46, Sch. 3 and Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52),
Sch. Pt. I

VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

Textual Amendments
F3 C. 8 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. I

IX Liberties of London, &c.

THE City of London shall have all the old Liberties and Customs [which it hath been
used to have]. Moreover We will and grant, that all other Cities, Boroughs, Towns,
Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9) 3
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and the Barons of the Five Ports, and all other Ports, shall have all their Liberties and
free Customs.

X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

Textual Amendments
F4 C. 10 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62)

XI— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5
XII.

Textual Amendments
F5 Cc. 11, 12 repealed by Civil Procedure Acts Repeal Act 1879 (c. 59), Sch.

XIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

Textual Amendments
F6 C. 13 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XIV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7

Textual Amendments
F7 C. 14 repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 3 Pt. I and Criminal Law Act (Northern
Ireland) 1967 (c. 18), Sch. 2 Pt. I

XV– . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8
XVI

Textual Amendments
F8 Cc. 15, 16 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. I

XVII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9

Textual Amendments
F9 C. 17 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1892 (c. 19)
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XVIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10

Textual Amendments
F10 C. 18 repealed by Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (c. 44), Sch. 2

XIX– . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11
XXI

Textual Amendments
F11 Cc. 19–21 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XXII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12

Textual Amendments
F12 C. 22 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62)

XXIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13

Textual Amendments
F13 C. 23 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. I

XXIV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14

Textual Amendments
F14 C. 24 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XXV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

Textual Amendments
F15 C. 25 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62)

XXVI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16
Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9) 5
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Textual Amendments
F16 C. 26 repealed by the Acts 9 Geo. 4 c. 31 s. 1 and 10 Geo. 4 c. 34 s. 1

XXVII–. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17
XXVIII

Textual Amendments
F17 Cc. 27, 28 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XXIX Imprisonment, &c. contrary to Law. Administration of Justice.

NO Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties,
or free Customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We
not pass upon him, nor [X5condemn him,] but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by
the Law of the Land. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man
either Justice or Right.

Editorial Information
X5 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: deal with him,

XXX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18

Textual Amendments
F18 C. 30 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. I

XXXI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19

Textual Amendments
F19 C. 31 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XXXII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F20

Textual Amendments
F20 C. 32 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1887 (c. 59)
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XXXIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21
—
XXXIV.

Textual Amendments
F21 Cc. 33, 34 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

XXXV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22

Textual Amendments
F22 C. 35 repealed by Sheriffs Act 1887 (c. 55), s. 39, Sch. 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23
XXXVI–
XXXVII

Textual Amendments
F23 Cc. 36, 37 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125) and Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act
1872 (c. 98)

General Saving. Observance of these Liberties. Subsidy, in respect of this Charter and
Charter of the Forest.
Reserving to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Templars, Hospitallers, Earls,
Barons, and all Persons, as well Spiritual as Temporal, all their [X6free 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, [X7as much as
appertaineth to Us and our Heirs, we shall observe; and] all Men of this our Realm, as
well Spiritual as Temporal, [X8as 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, (X9) 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 [X10B.] 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 [X11Bello,] the Abbot of
St. Augustine’s in Canterbury, the Abbot of Evesham, the Abbot of Westminster, the
Abbot of [X12Bourgh 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 [X13Abbotebir,] the Abbot of
Middleton, the Abbot of Seleby, the Abbot of Cirencester; H. de Burgh [X14Justice,] H.
Earl of Chester and Lincoln, W. Earl of Salisbury, W. Earl of Warren, G. de Clare Earl
of Gloucester and [X15Hereford,] W. de Ferrars Earl of Derby, W. de Mandeville Earl
Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9) 7
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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 [X16Monemue,]
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. (X17)

Editorial Information
X6 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Liberties
X7 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: on our part, towards our men,
X8 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: shall observe on their part
towards their men
X9 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: for us and our heirs,
X10 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: S
X11 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Battel.
X12 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Peterborough
X13 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Abbotsbury
X14 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Chief Justicer
X15 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Hertford
X16 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Monmouth
X17 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.

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 [X18this Charter and]
all and singular his Articles for ever shall be stedfastly, firmly, and inviolably observed;
[X19and if] any Article in the same Charter contained yet hitherto peradventure hath not
been kept [X20We will and by authority royal command from henceforth firmly they be
observed].

Editorial Information
X18 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: the Charter aforesaid in
X19 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: even although
X20 Not in Original.

In Witness whereof We have caused these our Letters Patents to be made. [X21T. Edward
our son at Westminster, the twenty-eighth day of March in the twenty-eighth year of
our Reign.]
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Editorial Information
X21 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.
Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9) 9
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Editorial Information
X6 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Liberties
X7 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: on our part, towards our men,
X8 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: shall observe on their part
towards their men
X9 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: for us and our heirs,
X10 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: S
X11 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Battel.
X12 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Peterborough
X13 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Abbotsbury
X14 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Chief Justicer
X15 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Hertford
X16 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Monmouth
X17 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.
X18 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: the Charter aforesaid in
X19 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: even although
X20 Not in Original.
X21 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.
10 Magna Carta (1297) (c. 9)
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There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Magna Carta (1297).