I am indebted to four friends who have kindly read my proof sheets, to Mr. W. R. J. Gray, and Mr. Robert A. Moody, whose good offices in this direction are not now rendered for the first time, and to two of the members of my Honours Class of 1903-4, Mr. A. C. Black, Jun., and Mr. D. B. Mungo, all of whom have been zealous in help and fertile in suggestion. KNIGHTSWOOD, ELDERSLIE, RENFREWSHIRE, _6th February, 1905_ CONTENTS HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. PART I. EVENTS LEADING TO MAGNA CARTA: PAGE I. William I. to Henry II.: Main Problem, the 1 Monarchy, II. William I. to Henry II.: Problem of Local 16 Government, III. William I. to Henry II.: Problem of Church and 20 State, IV. Richard I. and John, 23 V. The Years of Crisis, 33 VI. Runnymede, and after, 43 PART II. FEUDAL GRIEVANCES AND MAGNA CARTA: I. The Immediate Causes of the Crisis, 58 II. The Crown and Feudal Obligations, 64 III. Royal Justice and Feudal Justice, 93 PART III. MAGNA CARTA: ITS FORM AND CONTENTS: I. Its Prototypes: Earlier Charters, 113 II. Magna Carta: Its Form and Juridical Nature, 123 III. Magna Carta: Its Contents and Characteristics, 129 IV. Magna Carta: An Estimate of its Value, 144 V. Magna Carta: Its Defects, 150 VI. Magna Carta: Value of Traditional Interpretations, 154 VII. Magna Carta: Its Traditional Relation to Trial by 158 Jury, PART IV. HISTORICAL SEQUEL TO MAGNA CARTA: I. Reissues and Confirmations of the Great Charter, 164 II. Magna Carta and the Reforms of Edward I., 186 PART V. MAGNA CARTA; ORIGINAL VERSIONS, PRINTED EDITIONS, AND COMMENTARIES: I. Manuscripts of Magna Carta and Relative Documents, 194 II. Previous Editions and Commentaries, 205 MAGNA CARTA: TEXT, TRANSLATION, COMMENTARY. PREAMBLE. I. The King’s Title. II. The names of the consenting 215 Nobles. III. The Reasons of the Grant, CHAPTER ONE. I. The Rights of the National Church: (1) _Quod 222 Anglicana ecclesia libera sit_; (2) Canonical Election. II. Civil and Political Rights, CHAPTER TWO.