Magna Carta: A Commentary on the Great Charter of King John With an Historical Introduction

Chapter 46 is a “saving clause,” reserving to archbishops, bishops,

Chapter 5250 wordsPublic domain

abbots, priors, templars, hospitallers, earls, barons, and all other persons, cleric and lay, the liberties and free customs which they previously had. The vagueness of this provision (a mere reference to the undefined and misty past) deprived it of all practical value. The other addition was of much greater importance.