On the Green at the 'Mede



On this very date in twelve hundred fifteen

King John was summoned to the green ...

Upon Runnymede - an island in the Thames

Where he was forced to sign, to make amends



The Great Charter - which returned to the Church

Freedom to choose officials without Royal perk

Also required consent of taxation of Feudal tenants

And punishment of freemen only by law's intent ...



That great event - the signing of the Magna Carta

Marked the beginning of a civility which started ...

Only after King John was killed in battle thereafter

When a combined force of nobles felled the drafter

  

- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

4:40pm Tues. June 15th, 1999



Magna Carta signed June 15th, 1215



King John was killed on Oct. 19th, 1216

during battle fought at Newark, Nottinghamshire.



NB

King John governed England whilst his older

brother - Richard the LionHeart, was on Crusades,

and tried to usurp the throne during his absence.

When Richard died in 1199 - King John's claim

was validated. 



John's son, Henry III - ascended the throne at 9, 

and reigned for the next 56 years.