主题：【文摘】中世纪英国史资料 (1. 大宪章) -- 梦里依稀

发信人: otto (霍枯燥), 信区: History

标 题: 中世纪英国史资料 (1. 大宪章)

发信站: The unknown SPACE (Sat Nov 6 19:07:49 1999), 站内信件

关于《大宪章》

打个不算特别恰当但是比较好理解的比方，假设我们从中国乘飞机飞往美国－－飞

到关岛了，这的确是美国，但是离其本土还差十万八千里呢，好比《大宪章》刚刚

颁布，离真正的法治和民主的路还任重道远；等飞到夏威夷了，这也的确是美国，

可是上面除了毛利土著、日裔华裔、海军大兵和旅游者之外，要想看看典型的美国

人恐怕还是找错了地方，这好比Simon De Montfort和Edward I时期议会刚刚试运

转，机制开始建立，模子已经越来越成型了，但还不能算货真价实；只有飞过了落

山鸡，才是真正地到了美国，好比经过了光荣革命，英国以至近代的法治和民主才

真正地落到了实处；不过实际上加州到处西裔亚裔印度裔犹太裔人士成群，其美国

味道仍然欠一点火候，还得开一阵远路四处兜兜才成，好比光荣革命后的三百年人

类的继续探索和完善补充．回头看看离着十万八千里的关岛，虽然你尽可以嘲笑那

地方如何挂羊头卖狗肉，但那是大家都不得不走过的路，也是一个明白无误昭示方

向的路标，其意义不说自明．

现在就让我们来看看《大宪章》卖的到底是什么样的狗肉，见识一下刚刚摆脱蒙昧

状态的英格兰人怎样在拉丁知识阶层的帮助下找到了一条与众不同的道路，并且从

欧洲的边陲上升为世界的中心．

[翻译正式的历史文件是件难度极高的事情，笔者的水平显然极其有限，如果读者

发现什么问题或是有什么需要补充的，请不吝指教．]

The Magna Carta

《大宪章》

[John在1215年6月15日为男爵们所迫在Runnymede签署的《大宪章》]

John, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy

and Aquitaine, and Count of Anjou, to his archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls,

barons, justices, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants, and to all his

officials and loyal subjects, greeting.

约翰，以上帝、英格兰王、爱尔兰之主、诺曼底和阿魁同公爵以及安如伯爵的名义，

向他的大主教、主教、教士、侯爵、男爵、法官、自由民、郡长、侍从主管、侍从

以及他的所有的官员和从民，诏告．

[John这时已彻底丢掉了Ireland, Normandy和Anjou，成了Softsword, 这里还是顾全

他的面子加上了称号．]

Know that before God, for the health of our soul and those of our ancestors

and heirs, to the honour of God, the exaltation of the holy Church, and the

better ordering of our kingdom, at the advice of our reverend fathers Stephen,

archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, and cardinal of the holy

Roman Church, Henry archbishop of Dublin, William bishop of London, Peter

bishop of Winchester, Jocelin bishop of Bath and Glastonbury, Hugh bishop of

Lincoln, Walter Bishop of Worcester, William bishop of Coventry, Benedict

bishop of Rochester, Master Pandulf subdeacon and member of the papal

household, Brother Aymeric master of the Knights of the Temple in England,

William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, William earl of Salisbury, William earl of

Warren, William earl of Arundel, Alan de Galloway constable of Scotland, Warin

Fitz Gerald, Peter Fitz Herbert, Hubert de Burgh seneschal of Poitou, Hugh de

Neville, Matthew Fitz Herbert, Thomas Basset, Alan Basset, Philip Daubeny,

Robert de Roppeley, John Marshal, John Fitz Hugh, and other loyal subjects:

在上帝的面前，为我们、我们祖先和子孙后代的灵魂无恙，为上帝的荣耀，为圣教会

的升华，为我们王国的富强，在全英格兰地区主教－坎特伯雷大主教Stephen(Langton)、

神圣罗马帝国枢机主教、都柏林大主教Henry、伦敦主教William、温彻斯特主教Peter、

巴思和格拉斯通伯里主教Jocelin、林肯主教Hugh、伍彻斯特主教Walter、考文垂主教

William、洛彻斯特主教Benedict、副执事Pandulf长老及教皇家人、英格兰圣殿骑士团

团长Aymeric兄弟、蓬布洛克伯爵William Marshal、沙里斯伯里伯爵William、沃伦伯

爵William、阿伦戴尔伯爵William、苏格兰警备Alan de Galloway、Warin Fitz

Gerald、Peter Fitz Herbert、珀依图总领Hubert de Burgh、Hugh de Neville、

Matthew Fitz Herbert、Thomas Basset、Alan Basset、Philip Daubeny、Robert de

Roppeley、John Marshal、John Fitz Hugh及其他从民的建议下：

[Poitou是Aquitaine的一个地区，当时还在John手里，由Burgh掌管]

1. First, that we have granted to God, and by this present charter have

confirmed for us and our heirs in perpetuity, that the English Church shall be

free, and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties

unimpaired. That we wish this so to be observed, appears from the fact that of

our own free will, before the outbreak of the present dispute between us and

our barons, we granted and confirmed by charter the freedom of the Church's

elections - a right reckoned to be of the greatest necessity and importance to

it - and caused this to be confirmed by Pope Innocent III. This freedom we

shall observe ourselves, and desire to be observed in good faith by our heirs

in perpetuity. We have also granted to all free men of our realm, for us and

our heirs forever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep

for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs:

一．首先，我们已向上帝保证，并且通过本宪章以我们和我们子孙的名义再次永久确

认：英格兰的教会是不受约束的，其权利不会被削减，其特权不应被损害．我们希望

这一明显由我们自己的自由意志决定的条款将得到遵守，毋论现在我们和我们的男爵

们之间的纠纷，由本宪章确认教会选举自由－－这项权利对教会而言是至关重要的－

－并经教皇Innocent III确认．我们自己必须遵从这一自由，并希望我们的子孙也能

够永久地遵从它．为了我们自己和我们的子孙，我们赋予我们国土上所有自由人如下

特权，并将为他们和他们的子孙以及我们和我们的子孙保持之．

[译者注：这第一条重复着某些神圣不可侵犯的教条，以后的法律也都如此，比如私有

财产神圣不可侵犯、坚持四项基本原则之类．但在这里对John来说有特别意义，教皇

Innocent III刚刚恢复他的教籍取消了对英格兰的禁教令，代价是John接受了教皇派

来的主教Stephen Langton并且接受教廷对英格兰教权的控制，这段话以他的名义说正

是时候．英王对教会的影响从John这起几乎就成了零，所谓“凯撒的归凯撒，上帝的

归上帝”，由国王统领政权，由教皇统领教权．等到Henry VIII为了婚姻之事和教皇

闹翻创立圣公会(Anglican)那是多年以后的后话了．

《大宪章》的为首执笔人就是Stephen Langton，原文用拉丁文写就，是典型的中世

纪知识阶层的作品－－当时教士在知识界处于垄断地位，罗马教廷使用的拉丁文就是

一切正式知识的载体，英语和德语那时都是没有文化的标志，要等到乔叟(Geoffrey

Chaucer)和马丁路德(Martin Luther)以他们的努力为这两家非拉丁语的语言翻案了．

当然，等到出了莎士比亚和歌德以后，就再也没几个人认为英语和德语是野蛮人的

语言了．

Stephen Langton其人思路清楚逻辑严密，颇有现代名律师的风范－－或许应该说现代

律师得有他的风范．这六十三条关系复杂的款项我是无论如何写不出来的，至少写这

第一条时Langton脸上可能有的为教权胜过王权而做出的表情我就做不出．:)

事实上，笔者是从不相信那些说漂亮话的政客的，这些人平时三句话不离“民主”

“自由”“平等”“法治”“人民”等美丽的词汇，其实那都是要听众们也就是人民

们对他们实施“自由”“平等”．等到这些人做事情时，法规是可以被诠释成另外

一个样子的，民主就是他们为民做主，自由平等？你在做梦？你这种被洗了脑的家

伙还知道什么叫自由平等？我能答理你就是你的运气了．

反而是Langton这样有些书卷气的呆子才真正相信这些抽象的原则，把自己的才华

投入到里面订出些切实可行的条款，并且靠着阴差阳错的运气得以实现之．

我再不需要他们说的诺言，

我再不相信他们编的谎言，

我再不介意人们有的流言．

我知道我们不懂甜言蜜语．

能保护我们这些小民的仅仅是冷冰冰的法规和自己的抗争而已．]

[译者：第二条到第十一条这十条是关于遗产法的，其缜密不下于其派生出来的现代

遗产法，Langton不熬白几根头发填补他能想到的所有漏洞大概写不出来．]

2. If any earl, baron, or other person that holds lands directly of the Crown,

for military service, shall die, and at his death his heir shall be of full

age and owe a `relief', the heir shall have his inheritance on payment of the

ancient scale of `relief'. That is to say, the heir or heirs of an earl shall

pay #100 for the entire earl's barony, the heir or heirs of a knight l00s, at

most for the entire knight's `fee', and any man that owes less shall pay less,

in accordance with the ancient usage of `fees'

二．任一伯爵、男爵或是其他由国王直接分封土地的人死后，其继承人如满龄则需缴

纳“遗产税”，缴税以从前的尺度为准．也就是说，伯爵的继承人或继承人们必

须为整个伯爵领地交一百镑的税；骑士的继承人或继承人们必须缴付一百仙，不

过上限为整个骑士领地；其它人依此类推，按照从前的“领地”定义为准，欠得

少也缴得少．

3. But if the heir of such a person is under age and a ward, when he comes of

age he shall have his inheritance without`relief' or fine.

三．但是如果继承人不足龄并且处于被监护中，以后他满龄了也不必缴纳遗产税．

4. The guardian of the land of an heir who is under age shall take from it

only reasonable revenues, customary dues, and feudal services. He shall do

this without destruction or damage to men or property. If we have given the

guardianship of the land to a sheriff, or to any person answerable to us for

the revenues, and he commits destruction or damage, we will exact compensation

from him, and the land shall be entrusted to two worthy and prudent men of the

same `fee', who shall be answerable to us for the revenues, or to the person

to whom we have assigned them. If we have given or sold to anyone the

guardianship of such land, and he causes destruction or damage, he shall lose

the guardianship of it, and it shall be handed over to two worthy and prudent

men of the same `fee', who shall be similarly answerable to us.

四．不足龄的领地继承人的监护人只能从领地内获得合理的岁入、税收和徭役．获得

这些利益时他不得损坏人力物力．

如果监护权被赋予了郡长或是任何一个替我们领取岁入的人，一旦他损坏了人

力物力，我们将扣除他的收入作为赔偿，并将土地授予两个同一领地上的高尚

和谨慎的人管理．这两个人必须替我们或是我们指定的人领取岁入．

如果我们将监护权给予或售予任何一个人，而此人又损坏了人力物力的话，我

们将剥夺他监护权，并将土地授予两个同一领地上的高尚和谨慎的人管理．这

两个人必须同样地替我们领取岁入．

[如何克制搞破坏者]

5. For so long as a guardian has guardianship of such land, he shall maintain

the houses, parks, fish preserves, ponds, mills, and everything else

pertaining to it, from the revenues of the land itself. When the heir comes of

age, he shall restore the whole land to him, stocked with plough teams and

such implements of husbandry as the season demands and the revenues from the

land can reasonably bear.

五．监护人监管期间，他必须以领地本身的岁入保养领地的房屋、园林、渔场、池塘、

磨坊以及其它所有附庸．当继承人足龄后，他必须归还所有土地，外加领地岁入能

供养得起的合理范围的耕牛及时令农耕需求．

[不但不能搞破坏，还得搞建设，并和平移交建设成果]

6. Heirs may be given in marriage, but not to someone of lower social

standing. Before a marriage takes place, it shall be' made known to the

heir's next-of-kin.

六．继承人可能由婚姻取得继承权，但他的出身不得比被继承的一方低．

婚姻发生时，继承人必须让次继承人知情．

[这一条是赤裸裸的门第限制－－不同门第的人可以通婚，但被剥夺经济权利．

　　　而且为了防止某些人搞小动作，受影响的人必须有知情权．]

7. At her husband's death, a widow may have her marriage portion and

inheritance at once and without trouble. She shall pay nothing for her dower,

marriage portion, or any inheritance that she and her husband held jointly on

the day of his death. She may remain in her husband's house for forty days

after his death, and within this period her dower shall be assigned to her.

七．丈夫死后，寡妇可以无条件地立即得到(夫家财产中)属于她的婚姻分成和继承分

成的部分．她不必为她丈夫的遗产、她的婚姻分成或者任何她丈夫死亡日那天由

她和她丈夫共同拥有的继承物付任何费用．她在丈夫死后可以继续呆在夫家四十

天，并在此期间领回她丈夫的遗产．

[坚决保障势单力孤的寡妇的人权．]

8. No widow shall be compelled to marry, so long as she wishes to remain

without a husband. But she must give security that she will not marry without

royal consent, if she holds her lands of the Crown, or without the consent of

whatever other lord she may hold them of.

八．寡妇不应被强迫再婚，她可以按她的意愿寡居．但她不能未经她的领主同意就结婚

(如果她的领主是君主的话，须经王室同意)，为此她得做抵押．

[虽然保障寡妇的人权，但如果她的举动影响了谁的领地，领主有否决权保护自己

的利益]

9. Neither we nor our officials will seize any land or rent in payment of a

debt, so long as the debtor has movable goods sufficient to discharge the

debt. A debtor's sureties shall not be distrained upon so long as the debtor

himself can discharge his debt. If, for lack of means, the debtor is unable to

discharge his debt, his sureties shall be answerable for it. If they so

desire, they may have the debtor's lands and rents until they have received

satisfaction for the debt that they paid for him, unless the debtor can show

that he has settled his obligations to them.

九．只要债务人有足够的动产还债，则无论是我们还是我们的官员们都不会去没收

为偿债而提供的土地和出租的房地产．

只要债务人偿清了债，他的担保就不能被继续扣押．

如果债务人无法偿债，则其担保人就应对此负责．

除非债务人能够证明他已经完成了对担保人的义务，则如果担保人愿意，他们可

以占有债务人的土地和出租的房地产直到他们获得他们为债务人偿债所付的相应

赔偿为止．

[债务逐渐成法，而且政府尽量不影响这种只和两方有关的事情．]

10. If anyone who has borrowed a sum of money from Jews dies before the debt

has been repaid, his heir shall pay no interest on the debt for so long as he

remains under age, irrespective of whom he holds his lands. If such a debt

falls into the hands of the Crown, it will take nothing except the principal

sum specified in the bond.

十．如果任何人从犹太人那里借了钱，并且死前未能偿清的话，无论领主是谁，他的

继承人在未成年之前都不必付任何利息．如果债权人最终成为国家的话，只付本

金即可．

11. If a man dies owing money to Jews, his wife may have her dower and pay

nothing towards the debt from it. If he leaves children that are under age,

their needs may also be provided for on a scale appropriate to the size of his

holding of lands. The debt is to be paid out of the residue, reserving the

service due to his feudal lords. Debts owed to persons other than Jews are to

be dealt with similarly.

十一．如果一个人死时还欠犹太人的钱，他的寡妇可以得到丈夫的遗产而不必付这笔

债．如果他遗有未成年的孩子，孩子们供养也可以以他占有的土地(和总土地)

的比例(从岁入中)获得．债务则由剩余的财产中扣除欠领主的徭役后偿付．

欠了非犹太人的钱也照此同样办理．

[犹太人果然厉害，走到哪里都是债主，英格兰也不例外，这里显然把犹太人

做债主认为是公理一样的东西了．]

[另外，由此可见英格兰本来有犹太人，不过都被John的孙子Edward I赶跑了．]

[遗产是传宗接代时的一个问题，《大宪章》比较彻底地解决了这个问题，既保障了

国家的税收，又鼓励建设解决了农业问题．任何国家，包括近来的中国，首先要解

决的是农业问题，然后才能谈其他问题．英格兰的经济基础从此以积累为主，不受

人口换代的影响，逐渐成为周边地区的一霸．而在此之前，英格兰王主要倚仗的却

是Normandy, Anjoy和Aquitaine的势力和法兰西王对抗．]