Magna Carta
Mood:  chatty
Topic: FYI
Magna Carta is Latin for 'Great Charte'.  It was a document approved by King John of Runnymede in 1215.  Because of the cruel manner in which he treated the English people and his demand for money to help fight his wars, King John was not popular.  The Barons were particularly against the king because he demanded large payments from them.  Eventually they revolted and drew up an agreement which the king accepted.  This document, the Articles of the Barons, was conerted into a Royal Charter which was sent to the sheriff of every county in the land.  Copmmonly known as the Magna Carta, it had a great influence on hitory and marked the first steps to constitutional government - a government according to law.