MƒH MAGNA CARTA ~ Part I

Moments from History

I

Moments from History enable current events to interweave with history, the arts and sciences.

The Journal and the Ukraine Disptaches are the flagships of the Blog, which stands separate to the distinctive and thought-provoking Poetry Blog.

I like and enjoy freedom of movement. I am very fortunate in this regard, for I am aware that of the 93 countries that follow this website, albeit ad hoc,[i] several do not enjoy this freedom even though their governments would insist that they do.

I was a lawyer, so my mindset resists too rigid a structure that restricts me. I prefer a loose abode - something along the lines of the house containing many mansions, as one saying goes; more accurately because I live in a country that has one of the greatest freedoms of all - a freedom that defies logic, and certainly mystifies those on the continent and in less tolerant regimes. Namely, an Unwritten Constitution that enshrines itself in that wonderfully understated phrase of a once a year event here - The Queen in Parliament,[ii] when the House of Commons is summonsed to attend upon the House of Lords, to receive from the Monarch, the government of the day's legislative agenda and programme for the next twelve months.

This unwritten constitution lives and breathes; it can be added to and, as I remember my history teacher, Megan Martin, drumming into me all those decades ago, that we have a degree of flexibility in national and local government that is the envy of most, regarded with derision by others; the latter usually being those who prefer totalitarianism, the posh ‘old-fashioned’ word for this century’s increasing problem with despotic regimes, genocide and tyranny. We have at the time of review, one such despot striding the world stage that has, to his surprise, markedly shrunk with much of the world regarding his regime and his nation a pariah state. Another potential tyrant looks on, suddenly not quite so sure that his plan can proceed. I hear the toll bell of history … it’s back to the drawing board if you wish to be sure your nation survives and prospers as is its right so to do!

In the Journal, Wilderness, I received a boost in confidence when a friend referred to my broadcasts as being 'Radio Free'. And, you know, that really got me thinking. Something I do a lot of!

II

This morning, [iii] I read a superb article about Magna Carta that just happened to neatly juxtapose with one of Alistair Cooke's letters in his book 'AMERICA' and his Letter from America Inventing a Nation - America's War of Independence and The Revolutionary War that led to "1776 and all that!"

III

Back to reading Magna Carta - I was in 'heaven'.

I obtain great joy from reading legal documents, especially in the construct of nation-building. I ceased practising law - again, for medical reasons - and retired, 12 years ago (in May 2011) but my whole legal career was underpinned by the laws of succession and trusts, which at times led me to consider and advise on the succession laws of countries within the European Union, and others outside the Union, but nevertheless on the continent.

It enabled me to look at the laws of succession throughout the Commonwealth of Nations and the most remarkable and exciting fact of tracing back those laws to their source - yes, you guessed right - to the mother of parliaments from Commonwealth of Nations to British Commonwealth and back further to the British Empire and its Commonwealth, and back further still, through its four preceding empires, and hence further back still … … to MAGNA CARTA.

IV

To all young people I earnestly entreat you to take up the joy of reading from print again. That, now just ten days away from 2022, already sounds outdated when I look at the breadth and complexity of our internet, our GPS systems, and our almost total reliance upon them. I love working on screen, too. But I am paying a price with my vision. The other week Storm Arwen brought 11 days of power cuts to much of Scotland and large parts of Northern England and Cumbria. I was not affected, being down south, but I keep in mind how disruptive things become when, being so reliant upon my iPhone, if I have no signal, suddenly I have lost access to a shelf of legal and personal documents.

Of course we need our eBooks, our Kindles, our iPads and so forth - I'd be lost without mine - but attach importance to reading good solid books IN PRINT, of all kinds, across the spectrum, and with a heavy dose of well written comedy too - absolutely essential, for it keeps our feet on the ground, stops us getting pompous, or, as my Grandma would counsel, stops me from getting ideas above my station! Grandma did not mean class when she said that either. No. From a different Age, a different Era, a different world even, that was how one spoke when advising someone not to get big-headed! And Grandma and Grandad were definitely below stairs, because my whole family were in service to gentry, and we were, and still are, very proud of that period in our ancestry.

V

I learn to dissect what I read, see and hear. I find it unhelpful, unwise even, to take anything at face value. Look for evidence, real evidence. Not evidence of what you want to find, for when we do that we wash up very quickly onto the shores of fake news. We also reverse the very root of our being … that we shall be presumed innocent unless and until we are proved guilty. So, not the evidence I want ideally to materialise, but evidence of fact. There is far too much given these days to circumstantial evidence and hearsay evidence. And here’s the rub. In reviewing this piece in 2023 I find myself becoming very aware of media, and judgment by media. It is frightening.

With hearsay evidence the rule is simple. It is evidence of what someone, not the defendant, say, and is therefore, inadmissible.

Hey, did you hear?

No?

That horrid Susan Entwhistle walked out the shop without paying ... caused a right stink, I can tell you!

How do you know that?

My Jonathan said he saw 'er with with ‘is own eyes! As brazen as you like!

Yes, but did your lad hear what Alberto said?

No, of course not. Why should he?

She'd left her purse, told Alberto, and as she was about to put everything back he said not to worry and to bring the money in when she's picked up the kids from school later! But listening to you Edna, Mrs Entwhistle is a thief.

Huh!

Well as I always say, there's no smoke without fire! … studying her manicured false nails.

Edna?

What?!

Did you remember to pay for the manicure?

What??!!?? How dare you!!!!

Oh right. Just that they were saying the other day that, how did they put it, youze the one to watch, that un …

WHAT???!!!???

Calm down Edna. I’m pulling your leg.

Just helps you to get a feel for how Mrs Entwhistle would feel.

Andrew? Can you get Edna a pot of fresh tea? Our Edna’s had a close shave with reality. Put it on my tab. I’ll be back later when I’ve drafted those legal docs. Cheers. That filter Coffee is superb!

Edna! Stop it. Enjoy the tea. Bye-zee-bye … … and be good, Edna!

… … … …

Andrew, there’s a luvvee thanks. That Ken Webb is going to get his comeuppence.

Oh yeah? How’s that Edna?

Well … its not for me to say, but …

Edna … give it a rest … otherwise I’ll have to stop you coming in here.

You wouldn’t dare!

Oh, that’s a word I love. Just try me. Now enjoy your Pot of Tea and, Edna?

What?

SHUT IT!!! BE GOOD!!!!

VI

That's why hearsay is inadmissible.

I'll talk a little more about Magna Carta in the next instalment, and we'll take a wander down the library shelf and have a glimpse of one of our greatest poets - Chaucer, and in so doing we've bridged 1215 to 1335!

“To all young people I earnestly entreat you to take up the joy of reading from print again. ”

— Kenneth Thomas Webb

To All Young People

Everywhere!

24 January 2023
All Rights Reserved

© Kenneth Thomas Webb 2023

Written 3 June 2015 and substantially rewritten 24 January 2023 in light of standing down the 12 volumes of Dispatches 2010-2022

[i] ad hoc ~ created or done for a particular purpose as necessary

[ii] The King in Parliament is of course the present status, and I have left the original in the text as a mark of respect to the Late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). In the longest reign in British History, Her Late Majesty enshrined a thousand years of constitutional history.

[iii] 3 June 2015