The English Church

This is referring to the Catholic Church in England, not to the Church of England, which won't be founded for another three hundred years. Because this is pre-reformation and there's still really only one church, they assume that everyone will understand that Church always equals Catholic.

Church's Elections

Ranking clergy elect high positions within the church, such as the Archbishop of Canterbury who leads the church in England.

Barons and Earls

A baron is the lowest ranking English noble, also referred to as a lord. The title of baron is hereditary. Earl is a similar (but higher) noble title. (That old show My Name is Earl has nothing to do with this.)

Free Men

This describes all dudes (not women) who are not serfs or in some form of indentured servitude.

The Crown

Refers to the King of England or his officials. Does not refer to the actual gaudy hat preferred by the King of England.

Relief

A tax on the transfer of noble titles. For example: if a baron died, his son would have to pay a relief to the king in order to become the next baron. King John had been raising the price of this tax and angering the nobility. (Huh. Wonder why?)

Fee

Feudal taxes levied against the nobility by the king either in the form of knights whom the baron or earl would call up to serve the king, or in the form of cash whenever the king needed to increase his military.

Guardian

Someone (usually a male relative) who takes care of the lands owned by a noble family after the death of the titleholder until the heir (usually the oldest son) is an adult and can inherit the title and take over the lands. Ugh. Aren't you glad you don't live in the 13th Century?

This was a system often abused by the king and the nobles themselves, as children are notoriously easy to steal from.

Dower

A widow's share of her husband's wealth. At this time brides paid a dowry (in goods and cash) to their new husband's family when they got married. If their husband died, they were entitled to get some of this money back along with some of their husband's wealth.

"sureties shall not be distrained upon"

Sureties are anything worth money that the king's officials can carry or get a horse to pull. Basically the king repossesses (or distrains upon) anything he wants from people who owe him debts.

Jews

During the medieval era Christians were forbidden from loaning money and collecting interest due to the Church's (since abandoned) interpretation of certain Bible verses. Since Christians couldn't loan money, Jewish people filled the need and became highly successful (and resented) bankers.

Residue

The wealth left over after someone has died…and after his or her taxes have been paid, naturally.

Scutage or Aid

A feudal tax where the king could demand money from noble families during special occasions. The most common examples of these were a tax on the oldest son becoming a knight and a tax on the oldest daughter getting married.

Sheriff

In medieval times a sheriff had the job of carrying out the will of the king as an enforcer of the law, collector of taxes, and judge.

"Ransom his person"

Literally if someone is being held hostage and the kidnappers are demanding money in exchange for the person's life.

"Inquests of novel disseisin"

Lawsuits over property disputes where someone is suing because they feel their property was wrongly confiscated.

mort d'ancestor

Lawsuits over inheritances where someone sues claiming they are owed more of a dead person's wealth.

"darrein presentment"

Lawsuits over what noble benefactor had the right to appoint clergy positions within a church parish.

Assizes

Periodic courts that either travel around or are only held on certain days.

Villeins

Peasants or serfs who were not free to do anything much besides live on and work the land of their vassal overlord…oh, and go to church on Sunday.

"the assessment on oath of reputable men of the neighbourhood"

Basically describes a jury. Respectable men get together, take an oath where they promise to be fair, and then decide on a just punishment.

Holy orders

People who have joined the clergy. The opposite of laypeople, who have not.

"ecclesiastical benefice"

A title or office within the church that provides an income to its holder.

Hundred

A subdivision of a county. Not to be confused with the number.

Wapentake

A subdivision of a county only used in certain locations.

Tithing

A small administrative district historically made of ten men and their families.

Royal demense manors

Lands (including manor houses and castles) owned by the king and his family.

Intestate

Without a will or instructions as to how wealth should be divided.

Constable

A high-ranking member of the military: usually someone who oversees a fortress or castle.

Coroner

An official who investigates on behalf of the king.

Fish-weirs

A type of fish trap that directs fish to one side where they can be easily caught.

The Thames and the Medway

Rivers in Southeast England.

Writ called precipe

Taking away land as a punishment for a crime or as settlement for a lawsuit.

The London Quarter

At the time a standard way of measuring wine, ale and grains by both weight and volume.

Russet

A course, homespun cloth that was usually reddish-brown colored.

Haberject

A cloth of mixed colors. This was fancy stuff back in 1215.

"two ells within the selvedges"

A way of measuring cloth, approximately two forearms length.

Writ of inquisition

A legal order to investigate something, usually an injury or a death.

Fee-farm

Land farmed by freemen who rented from a noble lord

Socage

A feudal agreement where a farmer worked land in exchange for rent or a fee to his noble lord who paid a fee to the king.

Burage

A feudal agreement where a farmer worked land in exchange for rent in the form of a service (often military related) paid to his noble lord who also paid a fee to the king.

Merchants

Businessmen who trade goods often between different locations.

Illegal exactions

A euphemism for taxes.

Escheats

Lands and titles forfeited to the king.

Honours

Large and important estates that come with high noble titles.

Abbeys

Monasteries or convents that are usually created by donations from noble families. The monks choose the abbot to run the abbey with the noble family in charge in the absence of the abbot.

Evil customs

Referring to the tradition where kings were allowed to take forests and virtually any piece of property they wanted for themselves making it illegal for anyone else to hunt or fish on it, or use it in any gainful way.

Warrens and warreners

A piece of land specifically for breeding game (often rabbits) and the person who oversees the livestock (again often rabbits—rabbits were big in 1215).

Mercenaries

Professional soldiers hired to serve in a foreign army, in this case either King John's army, or the forces of the rebel barons.

"respite for the period commonly allowed to Crusaders"

People who went on Crusade were exempt from legal proceedings until they returned.

"took the Cross as a Crusader"

Agreeing to go on Crusade was commonly called "taking the cross" because the man wore the Crusaders Cross (one large cross surrounded by four smaller crosses) to show what he was up to. King John announced his intention of going on Crusade on March 4, 1215.

Crusade

A series of medieval military campaigns where Roman Catholic Christians were encouraged to attack the Muslims living in and controlling the Holy Lands (centered at the city of Jerusalem). They were unsuccessful at removing non-Christians, but very effective at creating a lasting divide and distrust between religions.

Well done, guys.*

*Sarcasm.

Remitted

Paid in full.

The Marches

The swampy region in-between Wales and England.

Transgress

To disobey.

Redress

Compensation

Distrain upon

To force, compel, or seize

Letters patent

Orders from a monarch usually granting a title, in this case granting rights to the barons.

Seals

At the time legal documents were stamped with wax to show authenticity. Each person and office (including the king) had a unique metal stamp that they would press into a blob of melted wax, which was attached to the document to create a fancy seal.

Runnymede between Windsor and Staines

Luckily, this is much less disgusting than it sounds.

It refers to the field along the Thames River where the negotiations took place and where the Magna Carta was signed. It's about twenty miles west of London in-between Windsor (now a part of London) and the town of Staines.