The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-24
THE GREAT CHARTER.
Strange Manner I'm Which Originals Of
the Documents Were Preserved.

Strange Manner In Which Originals a,
the Documents Were Preserved.
In that amusing book, the Curiosities
of Literature, D'Israeli describes how
Sir Robert Cotton found his tailor hold.
ing in his hand an original Magns
Carta. which he was about to cut ur
for measures; and the story. whether
true or not, may make us thankful fo1
the happy chances which have pre-.
served some of our most valuable ma.
tional documents. No doubt, many Of
the highest interest have been de.
stroyed; but some, such as Domesday
Book still SURVIVES; and when we think
of the perils from neglect and from
active violent enmity, their survival is
a matter for wonder and thankfulness.
The Articles of the Great Charter Of
King John is another fortunate sur.
vivor; and one or two Great Charters
themselves exist which have a fail
claim to be called originals.
The Great Charter. it will be remem-
bered. was agreed to by King John on
the 10Th of June, 1915, at Runnymede.
1t was, in truth, not an act of Parlia-
ment or statue, but treaty between
the King and his subjects, and was
framed upon a series of forty-nine ar
ticles drawn up by the Barons and pre-
scented to the King. There were con-
sequently two separate documents; one,
1.-THE Articles of the Great Charter oil
Liberties;' and the other, The Great
Charter" itself. Neither were signed
by either the King or the Barons. Both
were sealed with the Great Seal oil
King John; and there is some evidence
that the Great Charter was sealed by
some of the Barons; but the Barons dc
not appear to have sealed the articles.
The original articles are in the Brit.
ish Museum, and a fac-simile of them
is exhibited to the public. They are
written in Latin. on parchment ten
inches and three-quarters broad, and
twenty-one inches and half long,
including the fold for receiving the
label. TO the label. the Great Seal oil
King John is still appendant; but, un.
fortunately. the whole document has
been greatly damaged.
It's history is very obscure. At ar
early date it was probably deposited al
Lambeth, and it apparently remained
there till 1915. At the end of the seven.
teenth century it was in the possession
of Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury
and he gives, in the History of his Owr
Time, the following account of the man
ner in which he came by it. When the
impeachment of Archbishop Laud was
brought to the bar of the Lords, "he
experimenting how it would end, sem
over Warner. Bishop of Rochester
with the keys of his closet and cabinet
that he might destroy or put out of the
way all papers that might either hurt
himself or anybody else. He was a
Laud's being committed to the Black
Rod, a messenger went over to seal w
his closet. who came after all was re
moved. Among the writings he took
away, it is believed the original Magns
Carta passed by King John in the mead
near Staines was one. This was found
among Warmers papers by his execu
tor; and that descended to his son ani
executor, Colonel Lee, who gave it tt
me. So it is now in my hands; and i
came very fairly to me- For this con
veyance of it we have nothing but con
lecture. AS Burnet had been allowed
to search all the public records, Lore
Dartmouth suggests that the above &C
count was intended 10 allay any suspi
piciOn that he had obtained so valuable
a document in a less justifable man
er.-Chambers' journal.