Note 1044 — Chapter VI · JOHN AND THE BARONS 1214–1215

The list of these thirty-eight is headed “Obsecutores et Observatores,” and ends thus: “Isti omnes juraverunt quod obsequerentur mandato viginti quinque baronum.” Another MS. adds: “Omnes isti juraverunt cogere si opus esset ipsos XXV barones ut rectificarent regem. Et etiam cogere ipsum si mutato animo forte recalcitraret,” M. Paris, Chron. Maj. vol. ii. pp. 605, 606. Considering the whole context, I think there can be little doubt that “rectificare regem”—though an odd way of expressing it—really means here “to do right to the king.”