[The Rise of the Democracy by Joseph Clayton]@TWC D-Link bookThe Rise of the Democracy CHAPTER I 33/36
All forests made in present reign to be disforested, and all fences in rivers thrown down. (49-60) The foreign mercenaries of the King, all the detested gang that came with horses and arms to the hurt of the realm, are to be sent out of the country.
The Welsh princes and the King of Scots (who had sided with the barons) are to have justice done.
A general amnesty for all political offences arising from the struggle is made. The last three articles appointed twenty-five barons, chosen out of the whole baronage, to watch over the keeping of the Charter.
They were empowered to demand that any breach of the articles should at once be put right, and, in default to make war on the King till the matter was settled to their satisfaction.
Finally there was the oath to be taken on the part of the King, and on the part of the barons that the articles of the Charter should be observed in good faith according to their plain meaning. The Great Charter was signed, and then in a wild burst of rage John shouted to his foreign supporters, "They have given me five-and-twenty over-kings!" Within a week of Runnymede the Great Charter was published throughout England, but neither King nor barons looked for peace.
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