William Sharp McKechnie provides a comprehensive commentary on Magna Carta, structured around an historical introduction and a detailed analysis of the sixty-three chapters. The opening sections trace the long evolution of the English monarchy from William the Conqueror to the reign of John, detailing the complex problems of local government and the troubled relations between Church and State. McKechnie explores the background of the 1215 crisis, examining the immediate causes of the baronial revolt, feudal obligations, royal justice, and the financial exactions that finally drove the barons to Runnymede.
The commentary itself proceeds point by point through the text of the Charter, examining legal, political, economic, and social topics of the thirteenth century. Each chapter is analyzed in its historical context, comparing John's Charter with earlier precedents and subsequent reissues under Henry III. Special attention is given to the exact nature of feudal incidents, the evolution of the common law courts, and the famous guarantees protecting personal liberty and property.
The historical sequence is carefully reconstructed, from the early years of John's arbitrary rule through the loss of Normandy, the quarrel with Pope Innocent III., and the final surrender at Runnymede. McKechnie discusses the formation of the twenty-five executors, the failure of the legal sanctions, and the subsequent outbreak of civil war that tested the stability of the settlement. The volume concludes with an invaluable collection of auxiliary documents, including earlier charters of liberties, the Articles of the Barons, and supplementary royal writs.
Throughout the work, the author maintains a critical approach to the traditional myths surrounding the Charter, offering a balanced assessment of its reactionary and progressive elements. He demonstrates how the document, though rooted in feudal interests, became a cornerstone of constitutional development. The commentary remains a standard reference for understanding the complex machinery of medieval English governance.
The volume balances rigorous legal scholarship with broad historical narrative, appealing to both constitutional lawyers and historians. McKechnie draws freely upon original sources, pipe rolls, and the accounts of contemporary chroniclers to reconstruct the daily realities of medieval life. The work closes with an extensive bibliography and a detailed index of statutes and general subjects, ensuring its enduring utility for research.
