In it England found itself for the first time since the Conquest a nation bound together by common national interests, by a common national sympathy.

In words which almost close the Charter, the "community of the whole land" is recognized as the great body from which the restraining power of the baronage takes its validity.

There is no distinction of blood or class, of Norman or not Norman, of noble or not noble.

All are recognized as Englishmen, the rights of all are owned as English rights.
Bishops and nobles claimed and secured at Runnymede the rights not of baron and churchman only but those of freeholder and merchant, of townsman and villein.

The provisions against wrong and extortion which the barons drew up as against the king for themselves they drew up as against themselves for their tenants.