of the barons who had defied him.[1035] It was, however, one thing to make the treaty, and quite another to carry it into effect. The framers of the Articles and of the Charter had done what they could towards that end by a carefully planned “form of security for the observance of the peace and liberties between the king and the kingdom.”[1036] Out of the whole baronage of England the barons present at Runnimead were to choose twenty-five, who should “observe, keep, and cause to be observed, with all their might,” the provisions of the Charter. If the king failed to do his part, these twenty-five were to compel him thereto by force if necessary. For this purpose they were authorized to claim assistance from “the community of the whole country,” and they were therefore to receive an oath of obedience from every man in the realm.[1037] King and barons alike swore that they would keep all the provisions of the Charter “in good faith and without deceit.”[1038] The king was made to promise that he would not procure “from any one” anything whereby his concessions might be revoked or diminished, and that if such revocation should be obtained it should be accounted void and never used.[1039] That John’s promises were worthless every one knew; it was not likely that all the pressure which could be brought to bear upon him by “five-and-twenty over-kings”--as his foreign mercenaries sarcastically called the elected barons[1040]--would more than suffice, if even it should suffice, to compel him to keep his word. Still the check thus set over him was a very strong one. It was in fact the strongest that could be devised; and it was made of indisputable authority by its incorporation in the Charter.[1041]