ces. Crushing penalties were imposed to increase
the profits of justice. He asserted over fowls of the air the same
exclusive right as over beasts of the forest. The story of Robin
Hood portrays John's attempt to gain the crown prematurely while
Richard was on the Crusades to recover Jerusalem for Christendom.
(In 1198, the bishop barons had refused to pay for a campaign of
Richard's war in Normandy arguing that military service was only
due within the kingdom of England. When Richard was captured,
every person in the realm was required to pay a part of his ransom
of 100,000 pounds, which was double the whole revenue of the
crown. Aids, tallages, and carucage were imposed. The heaviest
impost was one-fourth of revenue or of goods from every person.)
In 1213, strong northern barons refused a royal demand for service
in France or scutage, arguing that the amount was not within
custom or otherwise justified. John had private and public
enemies. No one trusted him and he trusted no one. His heavy
handed and arbitrary rule quickly alienated all sectors of the
population: other barons, bishops, London, and the commons. They
joined the barons to pressure him to sign the Magna Carta
correcting his abuses. For instance, since John had extracted many
heavy fines from barons by personally adjudging them blameworthy
in disputes with others, the barons wanted judgment by their peers
under the established law of the courts. In arms, the barons
forced John to sign the Magna Carta correcting his abuses.

- The Law -

No one, including the lord of a manor, may take land from anyone
else, for instance, by the customary process of distress, without
a judgment from the Royal Court. This did not apply to London,
where a landlord leasing or renting land could take distress in
his fee.

No one, including the lord of a manor, shall deprive an heir of
the land possessed by his father, i.e. his birthright.

A tenant may marry off a daughter unless his lord shows some just
cause for refusing to consent to the marriage. A tenant had to pay
an "aid" to his lord when the lord's daughter married, when the
lord's son was knighted, or when the lord's person was ransomed.

A man [or woman] may not will away his land, but he may sell it
during his lifetime.

The land of a knight or other tenant of a military fee is
inherited by his eldest son. The socage land of a free sokeman
goes by its ancient custom before t