Miss Norgate, _John Lackland_, 233, takes a different view, holding that the influence of Stephen Langton dates from an earlier period. The original articles “are obviously not the composition of the barons mustered under Robert Fitz-Walter,” who could never have risen to “the lofty conception embodied in the Charter—the conception of a contract between King and people which should secure equal rights to every class and every individual in the nation.” The correctness of this estimate is discussed _infra_. ----- In addition to the various originals of the Charter issued under the great seal, chapter 62 provides that authenticated copies should be made and certified as correct by “Letters Testimonial,” under the seals of the two archbishops with the legate and the bishops. This was done, but the exact date of their issue is unknown.[48] ----- Footnote 48: No specimen of these Letters Testimonial is known to exist, but a copy is preserved on folio 234 of the _Red Book of the Exchequer_. See Appendix. ----- The same Friday which thus saw the completion of negotiations saw also the issue of the first batch of letters of instructions to the various sheriffs, telling them that a firm peace had been concluded, by God’s grace, between John and the barons and freemen of the kingdom, as they might hear and see by the Charter which had been made, and which was to be published throughout the district, and firmly observed. Each sheriff was further commanded to cause all in his bailiwick to make oath according to the form of the Charter to the twenty-five barons or their attorneys, and further, to see to the appointment of twelve knights of the county in full County Court, in order that they might declare upon oath all evil customs requiring to be reformed, as well of sheriffs as of their servants, foresters, and others.[49] This was held to apply chiefly to the redress of forest grievances. ----- Footnote 49: See _Rot. Pat._, I. 180, and _Select Charters_, 306–7. ----- Apparently, four days elapsed before similar letters, accompanied by copies of the Charter, could be sent to every sheriff. During the same few days, several writs (some of which have already been mentioned) were dispatched to military commanders with orders to stop hostilities. A few writs, dated mostly 25th June, show that some obnoxious sheriffs had been removed to make way for better men. Hubert de Burgh, a moderate though loyal adherent, and a man generally respected, was appointed Justiciar in room of the hated Peter des Roches. On 27th June, another writ directed the sheriffs and the elected knights to punish, by forfeiture of lands and chattels, all those who refused to swear to the twenty-five Executors within a fortnight. All these various instructions may be regarded as forming part of the settlement of the 19th of June, and were dispatched with the greatest rapidity possible.