A Glimpse of Magna Carta

(A Glimpse of Magna Carta - sung by one male voice (indented once), one female voice (indented twice) or in unison (not indented)

JOHN, by the grace of God
      King of England, Lord of Ireland,
            Duke of Normandy and of Aquitaine, and Count of Anjou,
      to his archbishops, bishops, abbots,
                  earls, barons, justices, foresters,
      sheriffs, stewards, servants,
            and to all his officials and loyal subjects,
Greeting.


KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD,
            for the health of our soul and those of our ancestors and heirs,
      to the honour of God, the exaltation of the holy Church,
      and the better ordering of our kingdom,
            at the advice of our reverend father Stephen, archbishop of Canterbury,
      William Marshal earl of Pembroke, William earl of Salisbury,
            Alan de Galloway constable of Scotland, and many others

FIRST, THAT WE HAVE GRANTED TO GOD,
            and by this present charter have confirmed for us and our heirs in perpetuity,
      that the English Church shall be free,
            and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties unimpaired


2.If any earl, baron, or other person
            that holds lands directly of the Crown, for military service, shall die,
      and at his death his heir shall be of full age and owe a 'relief',
            the heir shall have his inheritance on payment of the ancient scale of 'relief'.

3.But if the heir of such a person is under age and a ward,
      when he comes of age
            he shall have his inheritance without 'relief' or fine.

4. The guardian of the land of an heir who is under age
            shall take from it only reasonable revenues, customary dues, & feudal services.
      He shall do this without destruction or damage to men or property.

5. For so long as a guardian has guardianship of such land,
            he shall maintain the houses, parks, fish preserves, ponds, mills,
      and everything else pertaining to it,
            from the revenues of the land itself.
      When the heir comes of age,
            he shall restore the whole land to him,
      stocked with plough teams and such implements of husbandry,
            as the season demands
      and the revenues from the land can reasonably bear

6.Heirs may be given in marriage,
            but not to someone of lower social standing.

8.No widow shall be compelled to marry
            so long as she wishes to remain without a husband.
      But she must give security that she will not marry without royal consent
            if she holds lands of the Crown.

13.The city of London
            shall enjoy all its ancient liberties and free customs,
      both by land and by water.

39.No man shall be seized or imprisoned,
            or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled
      nor will we proceed with force against him,
            or send others to do so except by the lawful judgement of his equals
      or by the law of the land.

40. To no one will we sell, (pause of 3)
to no one deny or delay (pause of 3)
right or justice.