New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-05
KING JOHN AND MAGMA CHARTA.

KING JOHN AND MACNA CHAKIA.
When, five centuries and half before the 18th Of
June, and the following days. in the year OF our LORD
1915 the English barons met King John in the long
meadow OF Runnymede. and forced from him the Magma
Charathe strong foundation and seadfast bulwark Of
English liberty, concerning which Mr. Hallam has said
in time that all which has been snse Obtained
is little more than confirmation commentary"-no
circumstance was wanting OF outward pageantry TO
give dignity, brilance, mpressyeness to the On
the one side the King, with the bishops and
gentry who adhered to him. and the Papa egate before
whom he had lately rendered his homage. On the other
side the great and determined majority Of the barons
OF England with mutitudes of knights armed vassais
and retaners. Stephen LanRton, Archbishop Of Canter
bury the head Of the English clergy, with them;
the Bishops Of London, Winchester Lincoln, worces-
ter, Rochester and Of other great Sees The Earl
OF Pembroke daring and w:se OF vast and Increasing
power in the realm, was at their head. Robert Fitz
Walter whose iar daughter Matilda the proigate King
had forcibly abducted Marshal OF the AImy-the
Army OF God and the Holy Church." william Long
sword Earl OF Salisbury. halfbrother Of the King,
With the barons. The EaIls Of Abcmarle, Arundel,
Gloucester Hereford Norfolk oxford the array;
the great Earl Warenne, who claimed the right OF
the sword in his barony which william the Conqueror
had had ia the Kingdom; the Constable Of Scotland,
Hubert dc Burgh, senechel OF POctou, and many other
powerful mobiles Some burgesses OF London were
present well and doubtless there mingled with the
thr0ng those silliu clerks whose pens b drawn the
great instrument OF freedom and whose training in
language had given remarkable precision to s exact
clauses and cogent terms
Ponnoas and banners streaued at large, and spear
heads cleaned above the hast. Tie anne sunshine
flashed, reflected from inald shields anu damascened
armOr The terrible bows Of the English yeomcn hung
their shoulders The voice of trumpets and camorng
bugles IN the air. The whole scene vast q
battle, though bright a tournament; splendid, but
threatening like Furnished Clouds in which lighnings
sleep. The King one Of the handsOmest OF the
Time though cruelty, peIndy, and every foul passion
must have left their traces his face, especially
fond OF magnil in dress wearing are told, on
Christmas occasion rich mantle OF red SATIN
broidcred with sappbres and pearls, unic OF White
damask, girdle ustrOus with precious stones. and
badc from his shoulder, crossing his breast, set with
diamonds and emeralds, while even bis gloyesas indeed
still indicated his fine eigy IN Worcester Cathedral
bore similar ornaments, the a ruby, the other
sapphire.
Whatever was superb. therefore in that consummate
OF royal and baronia state whatever splendid
in the eterng and grand apparatus or chvary what
impressive in tbs almost more than prDceIy
p0mp OF the prcates OF the Church..
nG S2nai s 5 Ss5a2 Il S RIVE % R r% cf gave
all this was marshaled on that historic plain in surrey
where John and the barons faced each other, where
Saxon King and Saxon Earl had met in council before tho
Norman had footing in England; and al combined 70
give 1T magnlcence Of setting to the charter
there granted and sealed
The tower OF Wndsor-not OF the present castle and
palace bat OF the earlier detached fortre: which already
crowned the clih and from bch John had to the
feld-lOoled down on tho scene. On the side low
hills ncoscd the meadow; on the other the Thames
flowed brightly by, seeking the capital and the sea.
Every feature Of the English, one but
over all loUmcd, in portcntous and naughty silness,
in the presehce Of the envoy from Rome that
ubiquitous power, SURPRISING al others which already
had cp .,ict md Iad
excd John from Church and throne, bur TO Which, later
be bad been reconcled, and which he secretly
relied 10 anuul the charter which he granting.
The brilliant panorama Eliminates TIC page which
bears - story. II rises st vision before one, nc
looks tic venerable parchment originals preserved 70
day in the British Museum. II it be true, Hlam
has said, taat from that era there soul in the
people OF England IL must be confessed that the place.
the day, and all the circumstances Of that new birth
were lttyug 70 the sreat and the vital event.