Researchers have announced an incredible breakthrough. They’ve announced that a document previously believed to be an unofficial copy of the Magna Carta turned out to be an original 1300 version. This was contradicted by the landmark discovery made by medieval historians David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent. It sure deepens the historical context of that original Magna Carta narrative, granted by the often tyrannical King John in 1215.
Allowing the Magna Carta to be seen as anything other than a radical, foundational precedent would be a mistake. It reaffirmed that even the king and his government were not above the law. Edward I has recently come up with a new one, HLS MS 172. Such a document was recently awarded to the former parliamentary borough of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria. For almost four score years, this treasure was poorly labeled. In 1946, it was sold to the Harvard Law School library for a mere $27.50.
David Carpenter, professor of medieval history at King’s College London, revealed the true relevance of HLS MS 172. He achieved this only after running massive tests. He expressed surprise at the find, stating, “I felt amazed. First that it existed at all and secondly, that Harvard didn’t realise what they had.”
Carpenter and Vincent utilized advanced techniques such as spectral imaging and ultraviolet light to analyze the document’s condition and confirm its originality. Carpenter noted, “Using spectral imaging and ultraviolet light… I worked through it word by word and it matched perfectly to the other six,” referring to the other surviving original Magna Carta documents issued in 1300.
The distinctive markings as well as the peculiarities in the handwriting of the document helped to authentically identify it. The first “E” in “Edwardus” stands out as a remarkable aberration. The capital “D” that follows poses a unique feature for historical manuscripts. Only seven original Magna Carta documents from Edward I’s issuance are known to still exist, making HLS MS 172 one of the world’s most valuable documents.
The provenance of HLS MS 172 is just as fascinating. Nicholas Vincent explained its journey through history: “It was then passed down through an evil aristocratic family of the 18th century, the Lowthers, who then gave it to Thomas Clarkson, who was the leading slavery abolitionist. Clarkson’s estate devolved upon Forster Maynard. He is one of the most celebrated flying aces of the First World War.
This discovery further emphasizes the Magna Carta’s lasting importance. Carpenter emphasized its foundational role in shaping modern law and democracy, stating, “It asserts a fundamental principle that the ruler is subject to the law… It’s the foundation stone of the western tradition of law and democracy.”
Amanda Watson, the assistant dean for library and information services at Harvard Law School, praised Carpenter and Vincent as exemplary. She congratulated them for their historic discovery. She remarked, “Congratulations to Professors Carpenter and Vincent on their fantastic discovery. This work exemplifies what happens when magnificent collections, like Harvard Law Library’s, are opened to brilliant scholars.”