Of its 63 provisions, the most important categories relate to the independence of the church in England (no wonder Innocent III was upset); freedom from undue tax burdens; the fundamentals of habeas corpus ("you have the body") by which no one can be imprisoned without due process of law; and unencumbered inheritance rights.

The effects of the original Magna Carta, in the short term, were minimal since Innocent III declared it null and void soon after Runnymede. It wasn't long, though, before the Charter was confirmed by later kings (more on that in our next episode). Its eminent place, and effect, in the modern world of law remains unquestioned.

In fact, one of the greatest treasures of the Library of Congress is a copy of Magna Carta from the 14th century. With its intricate colored pen work and its original pigskin wrapper, this fundamental source of English common law is a priceless holding. Other copies of this wellspring of basic civil rights are equally beautiful.

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