Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Vocational training

The Genesis of Magna Carta

King John's Reluctant Concessions

Though King John spoke of advising, he favored the barons only because he had no other choice after losing a civil war. The first and most important declaration was the liberty of the Church: from 1215 onward, the king was not to interfere with the Church. Pope Innocent III, with whom John had famously quarreled, played a significant role. Despite the king's assertion that his decision was voluntary (“of our own free will”), it is known he was forced to sign the Great Charter after a war with the Church and the barons.

Enduring Principles for Future Monarchs

The rules in this document applied not only to John but to all succeeding monarchs. This is why it reads “for us and our heirs... Continue reading "Magna Carta's Impact: Shaping English Constitutional Law" »

Magna Carta: A Foundation of English Law

The Magna Carta, or The Great Charter, written in 1215, represents a pivotal moment in English history. This bilingual edition presents selected fragments of the original Latin document. Drafted by the powerful classes of society and signed by King John of England, Magna Carta established rules that the feudal monarch had to follow. The use of the royal "we" in the text signifies the king's representation of an institution rather than a singular individual.

King John's Troubled Reign (1199-1216)

King John, brother and successor to Norman King Richard I of the Plantagenet dynasty, ruled England from 1199 to 1216. History often portrays him as a tyrannical and incapable monarch, whose reign was plagued by... Continue reading "Magna Carta: King John, Feudal Law, and Early English Rights" »

The Worcester Chronicle: 11th Century England

A Pivotal Historical Source

This fragment is from a bilingual edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of only two sources documenting English history from the Roman period to the Norman Conquest. It was originally written in Old English, the language introduced to England by Anglo-Saxon culture.

During the 9th century, King Alfred the Great promoted Old English as a literary and cultural language (Latin had, until then, been considered of higher value). He organized the Scholarly Circle, which began translating and writing in Old English for the first time. As a result, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was compiled: a historical chronicle written year by year, organized into annals, containing a vast amount... Continue reading "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: 11th Century England & Norman Conquest" »

Norman Rule and Saxon Degradation

The Irony of Daily Life in Norman England

The whole scene sets up a degradation of the daily life of a Saxon in Norman England, full of ironic humor.

Property, Forests, and the Ranger's Authority

On line 22, Gurth mentions the figure of the Ranger of the Forest. For the Normans, land property was much more important than for the Saxons. When they arrived in England, they reinforced the idea of property by identifying people in relation to their land, which can be appreciated in the names of the nobility (e.g., Simon of Montfort, etc.).

They reinforced private property, and forests were no longer common ground, as they used to be during the Saxon period, but were placed under the administration of Royalty and nobility.... Continue reading "Class Conflict and Linguistic Division in Norman England" »

Source Reference: 27. Katherine Philips, On the Fair Weather just at the Coronation... (1661)

Katherine Philips's Occasional Poem (1661)

This text analyzes Katherine Philips’s poem, “On the Fair Weather just at the Coronation, it having rained immediately before and after.” Composed in 1661, this work is a prime example of occasional poetry—a genre written to commemorate a specific event. It celebrates the Coronation of Charles II, focusing specifically on the Parade of the King on his way to the Royal Palace to be crowned.

Historical Context: The English Restoration

Charles II is the central figure of the Restoration in England, a period spanning 1660 to 1685, during which the monarchy was recovered. England had previously been a Republic... Continue reading "Katherine Philips: Analyzing the Coronation Poem of Charles II (1661)" »

Mary's Perspective on Life and Death

In the fifth stanza, Mary presents death not only as positive but also life as negative. This is a typical Catholic move, to undersell earthly life in favor of eternal life after death.

Mary did have a turbulent life. She married a French Dauphin, and after his premature death, she married Lord Darnley, a womanizer and alcoholic who committed murder out of jealousy. Darnley was later found dead, and Mary married the prime suspect of the crime, the Earl of Bothwell. She was then chased by the Scots and imprisoned for 17 years, suspected of plotting to overthrow Elizabeth, until her execution.

In verse 19, we read: “my speedy death has shortened long annoy”; she would have spent more years in prison had she... Continue reading "Martyrdom and Release: A Catholic Interpretation of Mary Stuart's Execution" »

Robert Southwell's "Decease Release" (c. 1593-95)

Historical Context

This poem, written around 1594, speaks through the voice of Mary Queen of Scots, a key figure in the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Mary's execution in 1587, under the reign of Elizabeth I, followed her alleged involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth. Elizabeth's reign (1558-1603) was marked by the Elizabethan Settlement (1558-1559), which aimed to solidify the Protestant faith after the religious turmoil following the establishment of the Church of England. This settlement required conformity to Anglican practices, further alienating Catholics who viewed Mary as the rightful heir.

The Poem's Meaning

"Decease Release" reflects Mary's motto, "In my End is my... Continue reading "Mary Queen of Scots' Poem: "Decease Release" Analysis" »

He associates the union of the two crowns with the union of two people, this is, with a wedding. The world is the temple where the ceremony is celebrated; the priest is the king, who has allowed and built the union; the espoused pair are the two kingdoms (“realms”), England and Scotland; and the ring is the sea. Jonson is referring to the seas which surround the Island of Great Britain and keep it together as a whole, with no distinction between North and South.

However, the union of the two crowns did not go as far as it could have. The two countries remained distinct, with different politics and administration, only sharing the same king. Under James’ rule, the Parliament passed an act that recognised the Presbyterian Kirk (Church) as... Continue reading "The Union of Crowns: England, Scotland, and the Reign of James I" »

Ben Jonson's Epigram: On the Union

Jacobean Wit and Occasional Poetry

This is an epigram written by the playwright Ben Jonson in the 17th century. Epigrams are short compositions that contain a moral idea; they are inspired by wit and therefore associated with witty poets. Ben Jonson is an example of Jacobean wit, since he had the ability to use words in a clever and humorous way. The term “Jacobean” refers to King James, also called Jacobus. This epigram is an example of occasional poetry, which is specifically written to celebrate or commemorate a certain event. It is titled “On the Union” and was written to gain the favor of King James, honoring his crowning in Scotland as well as in England.

Historical Context: The Stuart Succession

James