history of law

-1-
History of the Magna Carta

Long before 1216 there were thunderclouds about suggesting a storm to come. By the

Opening of 1203 there seems to have been a good deal of discontent, which may have

influenced John’s murder of Arthur, his potential rival. Because of the factors already

noted the situation deteriorated as time passed.

From 1206 John was involved in several major quarrels with various barons, which

led him inter alia to carry out expeditions to Ireland and Scotland, in the course of which

his intractability became more and more evident, and in 1209 there were signs of plots

brewing in the north. In August 1212 he was busy organizing a great expedition against

the Welsh by a large force of mercenaries, but abandoned it because of persistent and

lurid rumors of the imminence of a baronial revolt. Certain barons were ordered to send

hostages for their good behavior, castles were taken over and suspects hunted down. The...