Henry, third son of William the Conqueror, was the first of the Norman
kings who was born and educated in England. Foreseeing a renewal of
the contest with the barons (S130), he issued a Charter of Liberties
on his accession, by which he bound himself to reform the abuses which
had been practiced by his brother William Rufus. The charter
guaranteed: (1) The rights of the Church (which William Rufus had
constantly violated); (2) the rights of the nobles and landholders
against extortionate demands by the Crown; (3) the right of all
classes to protection of the old English customs or laws.
The King sent a hundred copies of this important document to the
leading abbots and bishops for preservation in their respective
monasteries and cathedrals (S45).
As this charter was the earliest written and formal guarantee of good
government ever given by the Crown to the nation, it marks an
important epoch in English history. It may be compared to the
statements of principles and pledges issued by our modern political
parties. It was a virtual admission that the time had come when even
a Norman sovereign could not dispense with the support of the
country. It was therefore an admission of the truth that while a
people can exist without a king, no king can exist without a people.
Furthermore, this charter established a precedent for those which were
to follow, and which reached a final development in the Great Charter
wrested from the unwilling hand of King John somewhat more than a
century later (S198). Henry further strengthened his position with
his English subjects by his marriage with Maud, nice of the Saxon
Edgar, a direct descendant of King Alfred (S51).