Note 255 — PART IV. HISTORICAL SEQUEL TO MAGNA CARTA.

See cc. 7, 26, and 38 of 1217. Blackstone (Great Charter, xxvii.) further considers that c. 35 of 1217 contains “more ample provision against unlawful disseisins”; and this opinion of a great lawyer is shared by a distinguished historian. Mr. Prothero (Simon de Montfort, 17 n.), finds that the words of the re-issue “are considerably fuller and clearer than the corresponding declaration in the charter of 1215.” It will be shown, however, infra under chapter 39, that one object of the alteration was to make it clear that holdings of villeins were excluded from the projection of the judicium parium; and that other alterations in the Charter of 1217 (e.g. chapter 16) are carefully drawn with a similar object.