Estelle Kanarski, age 11, of Rochester, N.Y., for her question:

Does the Magna carta still exist?

An angry king put his royal seal upon this famous document on June 15, in the year 1215. This was a long time ago, and no one would expect even a great charter to survive through seven and one half centuries. But the barons and bishops who assembled at Runnymede to compel the king to sign it were angry, too. Each had a copy, and the reluctant king signed every one of them. Three copies of the charter still exist. The copy preserved in Lincoln Cathedral is still in excellent and readable condition.

Magna Carta, the Great Charter, is written in Latin and guarantees certain rights of the English people. Its purpose was to limit the power of the monarch, especially his power against the barons and the church. It was made necessary by the stupid greed and cruelty of King John. Since its signing every English monarch has agreed to confirm it.