On Friday, 9 March 2018 17:38:42 UTC, wrote:
On Friday, March 9, 2018 at 12:15:07 PM UTC-5, tabby wrote:

I think you'll find that extract applied to everyone, and still does.

I do not think so. "Freeman" was a specific term-of-art at the time (the Latin liber homo) meaning an individual unencumbered by servitude or obligations to a lord or land-owner. NOT a serf (Villien), House-Serf (Bordar) or slave. Freemen could own land, farm it in their own right, 'own' villiens, even Bordars and slaves. Villiens, Bordars or slaves could not and were obligated to their lords.

A Villien was, by definition, not free, but a Freeman could descend into Villieny by loss-of-land or position.

The Magna-Carta as a great emancipation document is wishful thinking. It was a brilliant move by Henry III to define, solidify and enhance his power by seeming to give up something he did not want and did not affect him in any case. Latter day interpretations are much as latter-day interpretations of the US Constitution - as justifications for laws and behaviors that would have evolved in any case and/or would be self-evident were issues of politics, race, class and religion not contaminating human behavior.

Note that Henry lasted 52 years after the latest version of the MC was signed (by him) in 1225. A long time, indeed.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Most of us are today freemen.