But in itself the Charter was no novelty, nor did it claim to establish any new constitutional principles.

The Charter of Henry the First formed the basis of the whole, and the additions to it are for the most part formal recognitions of the judicial and administrative changes introduced by Henry the Second.

What was new in it was its origin.

In form, like the Charter on which it was based, it was nothing but a royal grant.

In actual fact it was a treaty between the whole English people and its king.