h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

..to have a look at this one, please A13674396

Bob has worked very hard on this one, I would appreciate any help..

Many Thanks


lil xx

Well, I'll have a go. I live in Salisbury, and the Cathedral has the finest of only 4 surviving original Magna Carta.

I also remember being taken to see the site at Runnymede when I must've still been at Primary School.


The history of the of the Magna Carta has been given a bit of a romantic slant over the years, the picture in most peoples minds is the one they were given during their school day’s. The general impression tended to go as follows : >

The history of the of the Magna Carta has been given a somewhat romantic slant over the years. For generations, the picture in most peoples minds has been the one they were given during their school days, which tends to go as follows:



'It was a fine day, there is a large open fronted tent with trees behind with a table set within. Behind the table is a seated man with an angry expression surrounded by several men pointing at a document the angry looking man is signing'. >




[That is how for generations the English school child has been taught to picture the signing the corner-stone of liberty Magna Carta. A quick note about how bad a King John was and rapidly on to the next monarch on the list.] Omit all this in square brackets.


However there is much more to it than that. The angry looking man is, in fact, the unwilling King John, the lookers-on his rebellious barons. The tent is sited in a meadow at Runnymede, near Staines in Middlesex. The document is the famous Magna Carta - the charter of privileges. It was signed in the following way, 'given by our hand in the meadow which is called Runnymede between Windsor and Staines on the 15th day of June in the 17th, year of our reign'.

'The Great of the kingdom were there to whiteness the signing they were the powerful men in England at the time.'

> 'The great of the kingdom, the most powerful men in England, were there to witness the signing.

Magna Carta

'The last words of the first paragraph make it clear to who the Magna Carta addressed:' > to whom



"To all free men of our kingdom we have also granted, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs."

> 'To all free men of our kingdom we have also granted, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs.'

It is clear that the common man did not get a mention it simply did not apply as unless you were a freeman and or a landowner2.

'It is clear that the common man did not get a mention it simply did not apply as unless you were a freeman and or a landowner2'.

'It is clear that the common man did not get a mention at all; it simply did not apply unless one was a freeman and/or a landowner2'.



'There is little of the law in the Magna Carta more a list of grievances the nobility has with the crown the first draught was called the “Articles of the Barons”. However the Magna Carta did establish the principal the power of the king could be limited.'

> There is little of the law in the Magna Carta; more a list of grievances the nobility had with the Crown. The first draft was called the 'Articles of the Barons'. However the Magna Carta did establish the principal that the power of the king could be limited.



'Scholars state that Magna Carta appears to have been a document compiled in some haste and reflects many points of view. The document is constructed with 63 clauses or paragraphs, and included clause's, freeing the hostages of the Scottish and Welsh kingdoms.These were members of the royal families3 held by the English Crown'.

Scholars claim that the Magna Carta appears to have been a document compiled in some haste and reflected many different points of view. The document is constructed with 63 clauses or paragraphs, and included clauses to free the hostages of the Scottish and Welsh kingdoms. These were members of the royal families3 held by the English Crown.







There was also an attempt in Magna Carta to set a standard in measure in England for wine, ale and corn. Also cloth and weights4.

> 'There was also an attempt in Magna Carta to set standard of weights and measures in England, particularly for wine, ale, corn and cloth.


'All the people got was the legend of “Robin Hood“, a product of the time, a man who was supposed to have stood against the kings injustice on behalf of the people.5 And a document that would make no difference to them until the abolition of the feudal system.'

> All the common people got out of Magna Carta was the legend of 'Robin Hood' - a product of the time, a man who was supposed to have stood against the king's injustice on behalf of the people5; and a document that would make no difference to them until the abolition of the feudal system.




The Feudal System

Most of the population were peasants; nearly no peasants were free (better than slaves but not much). Peasants who were not free were either :>

Most of the population were peasants, and very few peasants were free men - they were better than slaves, but not much. Peasants who were not free men were either :


Villains: > villeins:

The largest group of the population landless peasant’s slaves in all but name who could be sold from the land. > peasants

Serfs :

A sort tenant farmer of sorts with a commitment to work on his lords land, > lord's

for the use of thair land, > their



'The main reason for the existence of both classes was labour they were also obliged to provided oxen, ploughs and tools as required'. >

The main reason for the existence of both classes was labour. They were also obliged to provided oxen, ploughs and tools as required'.



'The Great men of the kingdom were called to whiteness the signing was a selection of the most powerful men in England 11 churchmen and 16 powerful landowners.'

> 'The great men of the kingdom who were called to witness the signing was a selection of the most powerful men in England: 11 churchmen and 16 powerful landowners.'


'And the most influential and powerful was perhaps Brother Aymeric of the knights Temple.

> The most influential and powerful man of all was probably Brother Aymeric of the Knights Temple.




Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, and cardinal of the holy Roman Church,

> .... Primate of All England

Henry archbishop of Dublin, > Archbishop
William bishop of London, > Bishop (several examples of this)

Brother Aymeric master of the knighthood of the Temple in England.8

> .... Master of the Knighthood....



William Marshal earl of Pembroke, > Earl (several examples of this)
an de Galloway constable of Scotland, > Constable

Hubert de Burgh seneschal of Poitou, > Seneschal

'The youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine John was born on Christmas Eve 1167, the last of four brothers he was called 'Lackland' due to his poor prospects of getting land.'

> The youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, John was born on Christmas Eve 1167. The youngest of four brothers, he was called 'Lackland' due to his poor prospects of getting land.


I think I've done enough for the moment

Also the rest of it doesn't seem too bad, although I've spotted a few typos

Brilliant!

I will copy and paste this to the page.


Thank you



lil xx