Magna Carta: The Source of London and Vatican Power – and Power for the People

Rothschild gutted key provisions, setting the world on a course towards neofeudalism....

The Magna Carta and the circumstances surrounding its implementation, numerous revisions, and ultimate gutting at the hands of Rothschild, provide insights into how the City of London and Vatican acquired an unprecedented level of power – and how we, the people, can restore our freedoms.

As Santayana once said, those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. The reverse it also true – those who remember history can apply proven strategies and precedents from the past to achieve desired outcomes for the future. As Ecclesiastes 1:9 reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Setting the Stage

The Magna Carta was “signed” in 1215 at by King John who affixed his Royal seal on the document, ending a longstanding rebellion among barons to curtail the abuses of the Crown.

Reminiscent of today's elected officials, John couldn't manage the country's budget and so shifted the burden of raising money onto the taxpayers.

John had inherited the kingdom from his brother, King Richard the Lionheart, who had “spent almost (nearly) ten years outside the country, crusading in the Middle East and then battling in Normandy to hold on to England’s claim against lands in France,” writes Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) President Lawrence Reed.

The Crown raised money from the aristocrats, who were land owners. In exchange for privileges as aristocrats, they paid money to the Crown for war in lieu of having to actually fight. The money was used to hire mercenaries in the battle for land, resources, and loot.

As heir to the throne, John took possession of the wealth his brother had accumulated, only to squander it. Richard had also lost land in France that John sought to recover.

Through battles with France, John lost England's holdings in Normandy – and then French King demanded that he pay reparations.

As sovereign, John was still required to answer to the Pope.

Whatever John wanted, he simply took. His agents shook down merchants while traveling from town-to-town. If a bridge needed to built, the King simply conscripted others into forced labor. If he needed horses or wagon, he seized them from the owners without compenation.

An exasperated Pope Innocent III excommunicated John “because he couldn't keep his hands off the church's affairs or its money.”

Among the most prominent church leaders to advise the Crown was Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, who answered to the Pope.

After John confiscated Papal estates in England and Ireland to pay debts, the Pope directed the French to invade England.

Backed into a corner, King John claimed 14 percent of the church's income for the Royal budget.

Langton responded by mobilizing the Barons against John to curb his abuses of power over and forcing him to affix his Royal seal on the Magna Carta at Runnymede.

John agreed to the terms of the great charter, promising to protect church rights, refrain from the illegal imprisonment of barons, provide access to swift and impartial justice, and limit feudal payments to the King.

No taxation without representation, the Magna Carta affirmed in two clauses:

“No scutage (a tax paid in lieu of compulsory military service) or other aid is to be levied in our realm, except by the common counsel of our realm.” (Clause 12).

“All merchants may enter or leave England unharmed and without fear, and may stay or travel within it, by land or water, for purposes of trade, free from all illegal exactions (“evil tolls”), in accordance with ancient and lawful customs.” (Clause 41).

“If anyone has been dispossessed of lands, castles, liberties or of his rights, without lawful judgment of his peers, it shall immediately be restored to him.” (Clause 52).

Langton forced him to return territories to the Vatican, pay rent for their use, and reimburse the Pope for revenue he had withheld.

John agreed to the demands and swore his fealty to the Pope and then rejected the charter, setting off the First Baronial War.

Since the King was back in the Pope's good graces, Pope Innocent III released himfrom his oath to obey it.

The following year, the Barons enlisted the French to invade England, and John died of dysentery, ensuring that his nine-year-old son, Henry was crowned King.

Surrounded by new advisors, young Henry promptly reaffirmed the charter in 1216.. By this point, key passages from the Magna Carta were missing….