Magna Carta of Chester of the clauses in the Magna Carta of Chester and those in the Magna Carta indicates that it was written after King John issued the latter on 19 June 1215. In the early 1200s, the Earldom of Chester was the only county palatine on the Welsh Marches; Ranulf III ruled Chester as a separate feudal domain. His barons living outside of Cheshire are referred to as his 'knights from England'. In the late 12th century manuscript "De laude Cestrie", Lucian of Chester describes the county as obedient, 'more to the sword of its prince than to the crown of the
Magna Carta of Chester of the sword' ("exceptis placitis ad gladium meum pertinentibus"), similar to Clause One of the Magna Carta's 'pleas of the Crown.' Similarly, Clauses 1 and 4 conclude with references to a private prosecutor and witnesses respectively, paralleling the provisions made in "Magna Carta" Clause 38 to prevent unsupported allegations by local officials. Clause 6 grants the Cheshire barons rights within the Cheshire forests to: assart; cultivate land; and sell dead wood. In contrast to the 'forest clauses' of the "Magna Carta" (44, 47 and 48), there is no mention of disafforestation or curbing officials. Clause 8 protects widows and heirs,