The Angevins and the Charter (1154-1216) The Beginning of English Law, the Invasion of Ireland and the Crusades

This volume opens a vivid window onto the Angevin age, gathering together the statutes, letters, poems and courtroom dialogues that shaped early English law, the first forays into Ireland, and the fervor of the Crusades. The editors have modernised the language while preserving the original’s lively, sometimes partisan voice, allowing listeners to hear the very words that drove medieval debates and decisions. By arranging the extracts strictly chronologically, the collection lets students trace the evolution of legal and political ideas from Henry II’s reign through the reign of King John.

Designed for classroom use yet equally rewarding for any curious mind, the book invites listeners to draw their own inferences from primary sources rather than receive a polished narrative. The range of material—from statutes and constitutional charters to personal diaries and ballads—offers a rich tapestry of medieval life, encouraging an active, investigative approach to history. Whether you’re a secondary‑school pupil or a university student, the sourcebook provides the raw evidence needed to reconstruct the first steps of England’s legal tradition.