How we cite our quotes: (Clause.Sentence)
Quote #1
All forests that have been created in our reign shall at once be disafforested. River-banks that have been enclosed in our reign shall be treated similarly. (47.1-2)
And with a snap of his fingers all the forests and rivers were public again and all the townspeople cheered. It's like the ending to a movie…except it didn't really happen because King John didn't really mean it.
Quote #2
We will at once return all hostages and charters delivered up to us by Englishmen as security for peace or for loyal service. (49.1)
These hostages are probably the children of nobles King John was keeping locked up to make sure that their parents stayed loyal to him.
Quote #3
To any man whom we have deprived or dispossessed of lands, castles, liberties, or rights, without the lawful judgment of his equals, we will at once restore these. (52.1)
It sounds like he's already lost a war; he's undoing everything that's happened in his entire reign. But maybe he has his fingers crossed behind his back…
Quote #4
If we, or in our absence abroad the chief justice, make no redress within forty days, reckoning from the day on which the offence was declared to us or to him, the four barons shall refer the matter to the rest of the twenty-five barons, who may distrain upon and assail us in every way possible, with the support of the whole community of the land, by seizing our castles, lands, possessions, or anything else saving only our own person and those of the queen and our children, until they have secured such redress as they have determined upon. (61.3)
If the barons had actually been able to follow through on this, the looks on their faces when they assailed the king and seized his possessions would have been priceless.
Quote #5
We have remitted and pardoned fully to all men any ill-will, hurt, or grudges that have arisen between us and our subjects, whether clergy or laymen, since the beginning of the dispute. (62.1)
This is the Bart Simpson chalkboard clause where the king tells everyone how sorry he is over and over again, but doesn't really mean it.