<P> Tudor historians rediscovered the Barnwell chronicler, who was more favourable to King John than other 13th - century texts, and, as historian Ralph Turner describes, they "viewed King John in a positive light as a hero struggling against the papacy", showing "little sympathy for the Great Charter or the rebel barons". Pro-Catholic demonstrations during the 1536 uprising cited Magna Carta, accusing the King of not giving it sufficient respect . </P> <P> The first mechanically printed edition of Magna Carta was probably the Magna Carta cum aliis Antiquis Statutis of 1508 by Richard Pynson, although the early printed versions of the 16th century incorrectly attributed the origins of Magna Carta to Henry III and 1225, rather than to John and 1215, and accordingly worked from the later text . An abridged English - language edition was published by John Rastell in 1527 . Thomas Berthelet, Pynson's successor as the royal printer during 1530--1547, printed an edition of the text along with other "ancient statutes" in 1531 and 1540 . In 1534, George Ferrers published the first unabridged English - language edition of Magna Carta, dividing the Charter into 37 numbered clauses . </P> <P> At the end of the 16th century, there was an upsurge in antiquarian interest in England . This work concluded that there was a set of ancient English customs and laws, temporarily overthrown by the Norman invasion of 1066, which had then been recovered in 1215 and recorded in Magna Carta, which in turn gave authority to important 16th century legal principles . Modern historians note that although this narrative was fundamentally incorrect--many refer to it as a "myth"--it took on great importance among the legal historians of the time . </P> <P> The antiquarian William Lambarde, for example, published what he believed were the Anglo - Saxon and Norman law codes, tracing the origins of the 16th - century English Parliament back to this period, albeit misinterpreting the dates of many documents concerned . Francis Bacon argued that clause 39 of Magna Carta was the basis of the 16th - century jury system and judicial processes . Antiquarians Robert Beale, James Morice, and Richard Cosin argued that Magna Carta was a statement of liberty and a fundamental, supreme law empowering English government . Those who questioned these conclusions, including the Member of Parliament Arthur Hall, faced sanctions . </P>

The first written agreement among the colonies to stand together in resistance to great britain was