How we cite our quotes: (Clause.Sentence)
Quote #1
If any earl, baron, or other person that holds lands directly of the Crown, for military service, shall die, and at his death his heir shall be of full age and owe a 'relief', the heir shall have his inheritance on payment of the ancient scale of 'relief'. (2.1)
Nobles from military families were especially concerned with their inheritances getting stolen from them…as their jobs did tend to be kind of dangerous.
Quote #2
The guardian of the land of an heir who is under age shall take from it only reasonable revenues, customary dues, and feudal services. He shall do this without destruction or damage to men or property. (4.1-2)
On a scale of 1 to 10, how sad is it that the Magna Carta had to tell people not to destroy the property of the orphan they were supposed to be taking care of? Leave those poor little rich orphans alone.
Quote #3
At her husband's death, a widow may have her marriage portion and inheritance at once and without trouble. She shall pay nothing for her dower, marriage portion, or any inheritance that she and her husband held jointly on the day of his death. She may remain in her husband's house for forty days after his death, and within this period her dower shall be assigned to her. (7.1-3)
Women at this time weren't treated like property…they were treated like really special property that should be handled carefully and given an allowance. Oh. That's also terrible.
Quote #4
If a free man dies intestate, his movable goods are to be distributed by his next-of-kin and friends, under the supervision of the Church. The rights of his debtors are to be preserved. (27.1-2)
Surely the church won't try to steal from dead people, right? You can tell that the Magna Carta crowd trusted the church a lot more than they trusted King John's government.
Quote #5
We will not have the guardianship of a man's heir, or of land that he holds of someone else, by reason of any small property that he may hold of the Crown for a service of knives, arrows, or the like. (37.2)
The king must have been going around and rounding up all the rich heirs he could find so that he could be their "guardian" and steal their inheritances.