Know that we have granted to the nobles and magnates of our kingdom, on
oath administered to us by Robert de Walerand, that the state of the
kingdom shall be rectified and reformed as shall seem best for the
honour of God, our own faith, and the general good of our realm, by
twelve faithful men chosen from our council, and twelve chosen from the
party of the Barons themselves, who shall meet at Oxford within one
month after the coming Festival of Pentecost. And should, by any chance,
any of those chosen from our party be absent, those who are present may
substitute others in their place; similarly in the case of those absent
from the party of the Barons. And we shall observe inviolably whatsoever
shall be ordained by the twenty-four chosen from both sides and put
under an oath for this special purpose, or by the greater part of them;
and we wish and strictly enjoin that their decisions be observed
inviolably by all. And we shall, without causing any hindrance, carry
out and render effective whatever measures of security they, or the
greater part of them, shall ordain for the observance of these
provisions. We bear witness, further, that Edward, our eldest son,
having taken an oath on his body, has granted by his letters that, so
far as in him lies, he will faithfully and inviolably observe and cause
to be for ever observed everything above set down and conceded. The
aforesaid Earls and Barons also promised that, when the business
above-mentioned has been completed, they will strive in all good faith
to secure the granting to us of a general aid by the commonalty of the
realm.
Given at Westminster on the second day of May.