The Lacock Magna Carta was 800 years old on Tuesday, 11th February 2025
Introduction
This is the story of The Lacock Magna Carta, which is the Wiltshire copy of the definitive 1225 Magna Carta, issued by Henry III on the 11th February 1225. There is some information on Magna Carta in general, but only in so far as to put the Lacock document into context.
The purpose of the site is to try and put the document in perspective for those who may only have a passing interest. A Magna Carta Primer if you will. There are plenty of really good sources of in depth information, should you wish to find out more. If you do, then please have a look at the biliography/further reading page.
This document is the actual Lacock Magna Carta, issued by King Henry III in 1225, bearing his seal and is the Wiltshire copy originally in the safekeeping of High Sheriff of Wiltshire, William Longspée. It is now in the care of the British Library in London.
This is the death mask effigy from the tomb of Henry III at Westminster Abbey. He was the driver behind the 1225 issue of Magna Carta and it was issued under his seal on the 11th February 1225
The Background to 1225
{{ Henry III became King of England at just nine years of age, following King John’s death in 1216. In accordance with John's deathbed request William Marshall was appointed Regent and he, together with Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, the papal legate to England, oversaw the issues of Magna Carta in 1216 and the substantially changed 1217 version. By the time he was seventeen, Henry had decided that he would re-issue Magna Carta under his own seal and on 11th February 1225 issued what became the final and definitive version of Magna Carta. It is clauses of the 1225 charter, not the charter of 1215, which are on the Statute Book of the United Kingdom today.
In terms of content, the 1225 issue of Magna Carta had far more status and authority than the 1216 and 1217 versions issued during Henry’s minority under the twin seals of William Marshall and Cardinal Guala Bicchieri. The 1225 version of Magna Carta derived it's authority from the Great Seal of Henry III himself, which had been introduced in 1218. Most importantly, it removed any suggestion that its liberties were the product of coercion. In the final clause Henry declared that, in return for the charter, everyone in the kingdom had given him a tax amounting to a 15th part of their moveable property. The charter was thus part of a bargain freely entered into between king and kingdom.
Another notable difference was that the 1225 issue of Magna Carta had a long list of witnesses. Headed by Archbishop Stephen Langton (1150-1228), there followed the names of 11 bishops, 20 abbots, nine earls and 24 other magnates and ministers. One of those witnesses was William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury and husband of Ela, the founder of Lacock Abbey.
Archbishop Langton and his bishops also supported Magna Carta, which they had not done before, by proclaiming that there would be sentences of excommunication against all who contravened it. The 1225 charter was given great publicity and circulated to all the counties. The Lacock Magna Carta was the copy issued to Wiltshire and subsequently sent to Lacock Abbey for safekeeping. }}