Not less than thirty-eight distinct confirmations of the Great Charter, by sovereigns subsequent to John, are recorded. The most important is the Confirmatio Cartarum of Edward I, in 1297. Though in form a charter, it was really a statute, passed by a Parliament representing nobles, clergy and commons, and ratified by the king. By Article VI Edward I recognized the principle that no new or extraordinary taxes should be levied without the consent of Parliament. This article was often referred to in later times, especially by the parliamentary leaders who resisted the encroachments of the Stuarts.
Confirmation of 1297
I. Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine, to all those that these present letters shall hear or see, greeting. Know ye that we to the honor of God and of holy Church, and to the profit of all our realm, have granted for us and our heirs that the Great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of the Forest, which were made by common assent of all the realm, in the time of King Henry our father, shall be kept in every point without breach. And we will that these same charters shall be sent under our seal to our justices, both to those of the forest and to the rest, and to all sheriffs of shires, and to all our other officers, and to all our cities throughout the realm, together with our writs in the which it shall be contained, that they cause the aforesaid charters to be published and have it declared to the people that we have granted that they shall be observed in all points, and that our justices, sheriffs, mayors, and other officials, which under us have to administer the laws of our land, shall allow the said charters in pleas before them and in judgments in all their points; that is to wit, the Great Charter as the common law and the Charter of the Forest according to the Assize of the Forest, for the rehef of our people.
II. And we will that if any judgment be given from henceforth, contrary to the points of the charters aforesaid, by the justices or by any other of our ministers that hold plea before them against the points of the charters, it shall be undone and holden for nought.
III. And we will that the same charters shall be sent under our seal to cathedral churches throughout our realm, and there remain, and shall be read before the people twice in the year.
IV. And that archbishops and bishops shall pronounce sentences of greater excommunication against all those that by word, deed, or counsel shall go against the aforesaid charters, or that in any point break or go against them. And that the said curses be twice a year denounced and published by the prelates aforesaid. And if the same prelates or any of them be remiss in the denunciation of the said sentences, the archbishops of Canterbury and York for the time being, as is fitting, shall reprove them and constrain them to make that denunciation in form aforesaid.
FIN DE L’EXTRAIT
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Published by Les Editions de Londres
© 2013 — Les Editions de Londres
ISBN : 978-1-909053-97-7