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TREASURES OF OUR LIBRARY OUR MAGNA CARTA Yes: our own hallowed library has its own full-size copy of the legendary charter of British laws and liberties. It hangs on the far wall of the library's "holy of holies", a closed room, the door of which bears a sign reading "STAFF ONLY". Through the beneficence of a librarian I was granted the privilege of studying the historic document. The original Magna Carta was drawn up in 1215, as a record of numerous laws and practices affecting the lives, livelihoods and freedoms of the British people. Its genesis was in part due to dissatisfaction with the rule of King John, who was a mentally handicapped homosexual. The document was publicly proclaimed and sealed by the King on June 15, 1215, on Runnymeade Island in the Thames. It was never signed, quite possibly because neither His Majesty nor any of the 29 "Barons in Arms" whose seals were added in the margins were able to sign their names. The barons' seals are printed in various colours; the rest of the document is printed "black on white". The King's own seal is the largest. In addition to the personal seals, the Charter bears 22 smaller seals of "The King's Securities", apparently indicating regional authorities, such as Londini, Galway, de Nevill and Basset. King John died in 1216, to be succeeded by Henry III. Even then it was felt the Charter needed revision, and that same year a new version was drawn up, omitting many items which originally had been of only temporary importance. King Henry stated that he accepted the revised version "of his own free will", but at the same time accepted a "grant in aid". The Charter of 1215 had 63 clauses; the 1216 revision had 42. The third, and apparently the last version, more concise again, was written and sealed in 1217. Later important milestones based solidly on Magna Carta included the Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas°Corpus Act of 1679. Of the original Magna Carta of 1215, four copies were made. How precious they were considered is indicated by the fact that all four still exist--two in the cathedrals of Salisbury and Lincoln, where they were originally deposited, and two in the British Museum. Various phrases from the original have over the centuries been lifted "en bloc", and incorporated into the constitutions of various other countries. There is nothing in our copy of the Charter to indicate when it was produced, but a tiny subscription states it was published by M. Walter Dune, of London and Washington. I have been unable to find anyone who remembers how or when our copy came to the Library. Its text is mainly in medieval Latin, with a sprinkling of "Olde English". The Script, in black ink, is somewhat cramped, but neat, and about half the size of average handwriting. A treasure indeed for our treasure-house library! In the immortal words of Stanely Holloway and Marriott Edgar: "And it's through that there Magna Charter, As were signed by the barons of old, That in England today we can do what we like, So long as we do what we're told!" THATS CHAMPION, LADS! Ted Hill