AN ABSTRACT OUT OF THE RECORDS OF THE TOWER, Touching The KING'S Revenue: AND How they have supported themselves. By Sir ROBERT COTTON, Knight and Baronet. LONDON, Printed for G. Tomlinson, T. A. and A. C. AN ABSTRACT OUT Of the Records of the Tower, touching the King's Revenue. THE Kings of England have supported and repaired their estates, either 1. By annual proportioning their Issues and Expenses with their certain and casual Revenues, and that either by 1. Advice of their privy Council, Or, 2. Parliament. 2. By abating and reforming the excess of 1. Household. 2. Retinue and Favourites. 3. Gifts and Rewards. 3. By raising of Money, and improving the Revenues of the Crown, and that either by the 1. Grant of the Subject, Or, 2. Power absolute in the Sovereign. First, for proportioning the Issues and expenses, with their certain and casual Revenues. H. 4. Anno 12. when the Revenue and profits of the Kingdom, together with the Subsidy of Wool, 〈◊〉 and Tenth of the Clergy, amounted to no more than 48000 l'. of which 24000 l'. was allotted for the expense of house, most of the rest to the guard of the Sea, and defence of this Kingdom, the Realm of Ireland, Ex Rot. orig. intent. Act. Conc H. 4. Marked 21. and Dominions in France. In this estimate the profit by Wards and Marriage, was but two thousand. And then an Ordinance was made by the King, Prince, and all his Council the●e named the Roll. The like was Anno 11. when for the charge of House was appointed 16000 l'. and 7000 l'. to the City of London in discharge of the King's debt. Ex Rot. in acts Conc, An, 2. H. 5. H. 5. Anno 2. did the like as his father, entering upon the Roll, as an ordinance in future, That the Treasurer of England, or of the Exchequer, shall annually make declaration, of the state of their office, and the Revenue of the Realm, together with the charge of the King's House, Chamber, Wardrobe, Garrisons, Navy and debts. Anno 3. H. 5. the like assignments were made proportionable to the Revenue which in the great custom of Wools, Ex Rot. orig. A. 8. H. 5. M●r●ed B B. the petty custom, Tonnage and Poundage, Revenue of Wales, and the Duchy of Cornwall, the Hamper, the accounts of Sheriffs and Escheators, the exchange of Bullion, and the benefit of Wards and Marriage (then rated at but 1000 Marks a piece) risen not to above 56966 l'. and being at such time as he undertook the conquest of France. Anno 9 H. 5. the Revenue of the Kingdom amountting to 55743 l'. 20 s. 10 d. was so by the King with advice of his Council, Ex ordinat. anno 9 H 5. Marked Ox 7. ordered as before. And by this Record it appeareth, that the Clerk of the Navy, and not the Treasurer, was the officer only for that place. Ex Rot. Par. anno 12. H. 6. H. 6. anno 12. in Parliament, Cromwell then Treasurer, delivering up an account of the axitus and introitus of the Exchequer, settled the estate of his expense, of which there was allowed for his House 10978. and to his Chamber and Wardrobe 2000 l'. The rest to defray the debts and necessary occasions of the State. Ex computo Dom. Burleigh T●●●●a●. Queen Elizabeth anno 12, at which time, besides the Wards, and Duchy of Lancaster, the profit of the Kingdom was 188197 l. ' 4 s. The payments and assignments 110612 l'. 13 s. of which the household was 30000 l'. privy Purs● 2000 l'. Admiralty 30000 l'. which by an estimate 1. Mali anno 1604. was 40000 l'. and i● now swollen to near 50000 l', yearly, by the error and abuse of Officers. 2. For abating and reforming the excess of— 1. Household. 2. Retinue and Favourites. 3. Gifts and Rewards. 1. For abating and reforming the excess of household, either by 1. Parliament. 2. Council-table. 1. By Parliament. Anan 3. E. 2. An ordinance was ma●e pro hospitio Regis, Ex Angl. Manuscrip. fol, 29. in ease of the people oppressed with purveyance, by reason of the greatness thereof, and the motive of that Ordnance was All honneur de dieu et al honneur et profit de Saincte Esglise et al honneur de Roy, et son profit, et au profit de son peuple selons droit et reason delserement quod le dit nostre Signeur le Roy fist à son Coronment. Ex libro dicto a ula R●gis. And about this time was the King's house new form, and every Officer limited his charge and salary. Anno 36. E. 3. Rot. Par. anno 36. E. 3. The household was brought to such moderation of expense, as may be answerable to the Revenues of the Crown: and a Commission granted at the Petition of the Commons to survey and abate the household, which not taking th●●●esired effect, Anno 5. Rot. Par. anno 5. & 6. R. 2. the Commons petitioned that 〈◊〉 excessive number of Menial servants may be remedied, or otherwise the Realm will be utterly undone, and that his household might not exceed the ordinary revenues of the Realm, etc. Anno 4. H. 4. Rot. Par. an. 4. 7. & 11. H. 4. the people crave reformation of the King's house. And anno 7. that he would dismiss some number of the Retinue, since it was now more chargeable, but less honourable than his progenitors. And that the ancient Ordinances of the household, in ease of the people, might be kept, and the Officers of the household sworn to put the Ordinances and Statutes in due execution, and so consider the just griefs of his subjects by unjust purveyance, contrary to the Statute, that hereafter Vous poir viure le vostre biens propres in ease de vostre peuple, Ex ordinat in ●o●. ●ct. Conc. anno 11. H. 4. Marked R R. which the King willingly doth, as appeareth by an ordinance in Council, whereby the charge of the household is limited to 16000 Marks. Rot. Parl. anno 12. & 18. H. 6. Anno 12. & 18. Hen. 6. the charge of the King's house is reduced to a certainty, and lessened by Petition and order in Parliament. Ex rot. Parl. anno 12. E. 4. Ex lib. Or●in. hospit● tempore. E 4. Anno 12. E 4. The King promises to abate his household, and hereafter to live upon his own. So settling a new form of his Court, which is extant in many hands, entitled Ordinations for the King's House. And to ease the charge of the King's house, the Queens have allowed a portion of their jointure, sui●ng to their own expense, to the Treasurer of the household; as did Philippe, the wife of Edward the third. And so likewise Henry the fourth his wife, anno 7. And H. 6. his wife allowed 2000 l'. a year out of her estate. 2. Excess of household abated and reform by Council Table. Ex aula regis fact. tempore. E. 3. Edward the third caused his household to be certain in allowances, making thereof a Book by way of Ordinance, which is called Aula Regis. Act Conc. 8. H. 4. Marked P P. Henry the fourth counselled his son the Prince, and the rest of his Council, to ordain such moderate governance of his house that may continue, Au pleiser du Dieu et du peuple. Hen. 6. Anno 27. Mich. receipt. 27. H. 6. reduced his charge of house to 12000. l'. whereof 2000 l'. was out of the Queen's Jointure. Ed. 4. Anno 12. reformeth it again, Ex lib. Ordin. hospiti● temp. E. 4. and publisheth a book of Orders for their better direction, which afterwards Cardinal Wolsey, for the more honour and profit of the King, amendeth. Ordinat. Card. Wolsey, temp. H. 8. And that still remaineth the groundwork of the present government; which being now so much corrupted, it may seem fit either to put down the Tables, and leave all the attendants to allowance of money, as France and Spain doth, or else by setting up the Hall again, reduce the Household to the best, first, and most magnificent order: So all things being spent in public, will be to the King's honour, and the secret waste by chamber-diet & purloining, prevented, to the King's benefit. For there is never a back door in Court, which costs not the King so little as 2000 l'. yearly. And few mean houses in Westminster that are not maintained with food and firing by stealth of the Court Instruments. 2. By abating and reforming the excess of Retinue and Favourites. Thus Henry the second did with William de Ipre Earl of Kent, a Netherlander, Ex Gerratio Dorobornens. and all his Country men and followers, when they grew heavy, and a burden to the State, unable to foster more than her own natural children. Thus Richard 1. did with Otho Earl of York, Ex Ric. Canonico in vita R 1. and all th● Bavarians, although he was the son of his sister, taking from him that Earldom, for that the people opposed it, and giving him in exchange the Title of Poictou. Thus Henry the third did with his half brethren the Earl of Pembroke, and Bishop of Winchester, Ex libro sancti Al●an. & Wil R●sh●nger & liber Baron. P P. and all the Poictors their followers. Ex ordinat. 3. E. ● in libro l●gum, M S. fol. ●85. Thus Edward 2. did by his Ordinance, L●● to●●●g●age sire Pieres de Gaveston s●it entirement ●●stre desire ent●vi● 〈◊〉 Roy, & de son servis: Item Burgois de Till soit ouste & son fia● quod est Mar●scall del Exchequer. Ite● quod Bertram Assabi & son frere & ceux de Gascoigne & Aymerick de Trisc●mband sei●s oustre & ses Terres prizes en le main le Roy. Ex rot. Par. anno 10 R 2. Thus Richard 2. did with the Bohemians, anno 10. by an Act of Parliament at the petition of the people surcharged. Thus Henry 4. did with the Gascoines and Welsh in like sort overburdening and impoverishing the King and Realm, Ex rot. Par. anno 7. & 12. H. 4. with perpetual suits, so that in Court (as the Record saith) there were Ne ad nul substance des personnes vaylantes & suffesants si besoigne seroit mes de Rascail● par la grendre part. 3. By abating and reforming the excess of Gifts, and Rewards. Hence was it that the wisdom of former times foreseeing the mischief that the open hand of the Sovereign may bring the State into, made a Law, 11. R. 2. That whatsoever cometh to the King by Judgement, Rot. Par. anno 11. R. 2. Anno 2. 4. & 5 H. 4. Escheat, Forfeiture, Wardship, or any other ways, shall not be given away, and that the procurer of any such gift shall be punished. Rot. Par. anno 7. H. 4. Thus the Parliament continued 7. H. 4. until the King was out of debt, making frustrate the grant, and ordaining a penalty of double value to every mover or procurer of any such. Rot. Par. anno 11. H. 4. N. 23. The like anno 11. H. 4. and that no petition for any thing should be delivered the King, but in the presence of the Council, who might examine it, lest the King's wants should light upon the Commons. Rot. par. 2. anno 25. H. 6. M. 24. And to keep the hands of King Henry 6. from wasteful ●iving, the Council induced him to convey to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and others, all profits of Words, Marriages, Reliefs, Escheats and forfeitures, to defray the charge of his house. It is one of the greatest accusations against the Duke of Summerset, Ex Rot. Par. anno 28. H. 6. for suffering the King to give away the possessions of the Crown in manner of a spoil; for so are the words of the Record. And it was made the first and chiefest Article to depose King Richard for wasting and bestowing the Lands and Revenue of the Crown upon unworthy persons, Ex rot. Par. anno 1. E. 4. and thereby overcharging the Commons by exaction. 3. By raising of money and improving the Revenue of the Crown, either By the 1. Grant of the Subject, which is 1. general, as Parliament, Or, 2. Particular. 2. Power absolute in the Sovereign, as by— Loans, Or, Benevolence. 1. General, as in the Parliament, Ex lib. Rubro in Scaccario ex joh. Eversden. wherein they give the King part of their own by way of retribution only, as for I. defence of the State: hence grew the scr●tage granted to H. 2. R. 1. King John and H. 3. To E, 2. Ex histor. Roffensi. Ex Rot. tempore. Ed. 3. Ex rot. Par. anno 2. 3. 7. R. 2. divers Fifteen and Tenths for his wars against the Scots and Welshmen. The Subsidy of Wools, and other contributions to Edw. 3. for his wars. And the like granted to Rich. 2. an. 2.3.7. so they may be employed in the wars and particular Treasurers to account in Parliament. So in the 8. and 9 H. 4, on the like condition. Tonnage and Poundage began an. 5. E, 3. Rot. P●r. anno 8. & 9 H. 4. had thence his original. And therefore 13. Ed. 4. and 1. Hen. 5. they are granted so in express words, and that they proceed of good will, and not of duty. Precedents of this nature are plentiful in all the Rolls of Parliament. Ex benedicto Monacho in vita H. 2. II. For maintenance of Religion and Church as in the year 1266. Ex Adamo Merioneth. To H. 2 was given 12 d. in the pound. And in the 18. of E. 1. a Fifteenth was granted to expel the jews. Ex rot. Par. anno 4 R 2. And anno 4. R. 2. a Tenth of the Clergy, and Fifteenth of the Commons for his help to suppress the Wicklivian heresy. Ex Radulpho Cogsh●ll ex hist. Roffensi. Rot. Par. anno 23. E. 1. 13. E. 3. & 7 H. 4. III. For support of the laws and liberty of the Common wealth. So did the Statute to H. 3. an. 27. for confirmation of the great Charter. For the like a Fifteenth was granted 29. or 23. E. 1. and 13. E. 3. and 7. Hen. 4. that the laws may be executed against Purveyors. Rot. Par. anno 15. E. 3. N. 16. Ex rot. Par. anno 7. 8. 10. 11. R. 2. Ex rot. par. anno 4. & 7 H 5. Ex rot. Par. anno 7. E. 4. iv For redress of the aggrievances, as in the 15. of Ed. 3. so that the King would perform their petitions, or else they held themselves not bound to pay the grant they had given. The like was the 7. 8. 9 10. and 11. of R. 2. The Tenth and Fifteenth granted the 4. and 7. of Hen. 5. is upon condition that they lay no impositions upon the State. And in the 7. E. 4. the State relieveth the King, so he will promise to live hereafter upon his own, and not burden the State: The which he professeth to perform. Ex orig. anno 3. R 2. And it is to be observed, that to improve the Grants of Subsidies to the extremest value, there were new Commissioners appointed to survey and advance men's fortunes above the estimate of the former taxes. And Commissions have been granted out, as 3. R. 2. to enable him out of his own by an act of Resumption of Lands, Offices, Claus. anno 6. H 3. Rot. ordinat. anno 5. & Cl●us. anno 9 & 10. E. 2. Rot. Par. anno 1. R 2. Rot. Par. anno 1. 2. & 6. H. 4. Ex Rot. Par. anno 1. & 2. H. 5. Annuities, etc. Thus did H. 3. anno 6. And E. 2. anno 5. 9 & 10. by an Ordination of the Prelates, Earls and Barons. All grants made by Edward 3. to unworthy persons, R. 2. resumed anno primo. And by H. 4. anno 6. all patents for life or years since the fourth of E. 3. were resumed. At the petition of the people H. the 5. revokes all grants out of the principality made to unworthy persons, and all annuities out of the customs of Wool deducting 20000 l'. a year out of all other annual pensions rateably, Rot. Par. anno 28. 29. & 33. H. 6. leaving the remain of any to the Patentees. H. 6. anno 29. & 33. resumeth in England all Lands, Offices, Liberties, and Grants, from anno 1. Rot. Par. anno 4.7. & 12. E. 4. Ex act. Conc. anno 21. H. 6. Rot. Par. anno 2. H. 7. and the like anno 21. in Ireland. So did Edward the 4. anno 4.7. & 12. And H. 7. an. 2. resumed all grants made by Ed. 4. or R. 3. 2. Particular, by Loans 1. Voluntary, or Benevolence, 2. Compulsive. 1. Loans voluntary, Rot. Par. an. 13. E. 3. Act. Conc. 20 & 22. H. 6. as upon assurance of Bond of the Nobility. So was William de la Poole bound for E. 3. anno 13. in great sums. And the Duke of Gloucester, anno 2. H. 6. And the Cardinal pawned his silver vessels for H. 6. his debt. Pawn upon Jewels. Thus did H. 3. anno 26. to the Archbishop of York: Claus. anno 26. H. 3. and when his own were at gage, he took Aurum & Jo●alia Feretri sancti Edwardi Confessoris, and pawned them. Edward the first employed one Andaver ad jocalia sua impignoranda. Claus. anno 29. E. 9 Edw. 2. pawned his jewels to the Lord Beaumont. Rot. Franc. anno 9 E. 2. Com. Inscript. 30. E. 3. Pat. anno 7. R. 2. Henry 4. Edw. 3. pawned Magnam Coronam Angliae to Sir John Wesenham for 8. years. R. 2. pawned Vasa●●●●a & diversa jocalia, to Sir Robert Knolls. Hen. 4. Invadiavit tabellas & tressellas suas Argentent de Hispania. H. the 5. Pat. anno 5. H. 5. Pat. anno 10. 12. & 29 H. 6. pawned his great Crown of gold to the rich Bishop of Winchester. And H. the 6. to the same man then Cardinal, many parcels of his Jewels in the 10. 12. and 29. of his reign. And the like to many others. And the late Queen to ease her people, did the like with her jewels in the Tower, besides the often Mortgage of her Land. Upon assignment of Customs and Subsidies. Act. Conc. an. 22. H. 6. So did the Cardinal Beauford lend 10000 l'. to H. 6. anno 22. upon security of the Customs of London and Southampton. Ex billa signat. anno 15. H. 6. & 12. E. 4. The King intending to turn the course of most Trade thither. And H. 6. anno 15. and E. 4. anno 12. did secure their debts, by assignment over of the next Subsidy or aid that should be granted from the Church or Laity to them, being a device (in truth) to draw on a supply the sooner from the State. Upon the great Seal, or privy Seal. Rot. orig. anno 3●. H. 4. M●●ked B B. The great Seal under which they should have (without paying fee) a patent sealed for repayment of their deuce by a day certain. The privy Seal, which is of late most in use, and it is worthy of observation to see the willingness of former times in respect of these. Rot Act. Conc. anno 13. H. 6. In the 13. of H. the 4. there is a Roll entitled, L● nommes de ceux qui ont da prester au R●y les sommes escrits. The Archbishop of Canterbury lent 1000 Marks, the Bishop of Lincoln as much, the Bishop of Norwich 600. the Bishop of London 500 Marks, the Bishop of Bath 400 Marks, the Lord Privy Seal 200 l'. the Clerks of the Chancery a thousand Marks. Particular grants of the Subject by Loans compulsive. ●x ●r●in. C●nc anno 3. H 5 M●●ked N N. So were the Merchants of Florence, Venice, and S. Luke, compelled by an order in Counsel, 3. H. 5. because they had by grace and sufferance, Du Roy grants, privileges, etc. reportants grand lucre pour Lex ercise de Leur Merchandre en le Angleterre. And the persons that refused to lend, were committed to the Fleet. Act Conc. 3. H. 6. Neither were the English more free in anno 3. H. 6. divers being enjoined to attend the Council Table, or else to pay the demanded Loane. Ex instruct. Co●mi●●. 14. H. 8. In the time of H. 8. anno 14 of his reign, he exacted by way of Loane, 10 l'. in the 100 of all Goods, Jewels, Utensils and Land, according to the extremest rate revealed by oath, of the possessions, notwithstanding there is a law 2. R. 2. ●. R 2. That none shall be denied (in demand of any Loane,) his reasonable excuse. Particular grants of the Subject by Contribution, or benevolent Gifts. These were of old usual and free: therefore called, Ex ●harta Ep●. ●ant. rot. Cl●us. 29. E. 1. claus. 35 E. 3. Liberalitas populi by R. 1. and Curialitas by E. 1. E. 3. H. 4. And H. 5. confessed them to proceed Ex spontan●a voluntate, nec de ju●o vindicare potest. Yet did H. 6, anno 20. in an Instruction to Commissioners employed in procuring a benevolence, say, that forasmuch as by the Law he might compel all his Subjects, Ex instru●tione ●rig. ●●no 2. H 8. and at their own charge to attend his wars, he was contented to spare such as would contribute but as much after his degere and reputation,, as two days in his personal service would stand him in; thereby implying a necessity in them to give, to escape a further expense. This Law upon which H. 6. grounded himself, was by a Statute in Queen Mary's time repealed; and that since repealed: this last year hath made a reviving of the former, whereby the King is remitted into his former advantage, Ex act Par. anno 5. Mariae. and the subject in the former mischief. And 8. H. 8. anno 17. although he moveth for a benevolence, he sought it with no other stile then Amicable grant, yet he threatened the refusers with convention before his Council, and confiscation of goods. The Kings raise money, and improve the Revenues of the Crown, By power absolute in the Sovereign in the disposing 1. Lands. 2. Merchandise. 3. Regalities. 1. Lands, as by selling, which hath been often and old, if they were not of the ancient demeasne lands, which our forefathers held impious to alienate from the Crown. And those were such Lands as go under the title of Terra Regis, in the book of Doomsday, ●●ber Doomsday. and were the lands of Edward the Confessor: of other lands I never observed question, neither do ever find that acts of Resumption ever reached to lands that were sold for valuable consideration. By passing in Fee ●arme, except places of the King's residence, Parks, spacious wastes, or Forests, all the lands of the Crown, which remains either in the annexation, custody, land●, or the Queen's jointure, and exceed not yearly 32000 l'. These although largely estated out in several natures, some for lives, some for years, will one with the other be advanced to a triple rent, which amounting to 96000 l'. leaving an annual improvement of 64000 l'. And if the offer be not made restrictive for the new Tenant, there is no doubt but his Majesty shall find ready and hearty undertakers amongst the Gentry and Nobility too, who have any place of residence near any of his Majesty's Manors. And the King's security the better, since their abilities will settle the Fee-farm rend upon more land than the purchase. If any shall object against this a loss by fines and profits of Courts, a prejudice in not serving necessity (as of late) by sales or diminution of Regalities in seizure of so many Royalties. It may be answered to the first, that the casual profits of Courts, never defrayed to the present Officers their fee and expenses. And this appeareth from a collection made the 44. year of the late Queen, where the total issue of such certain charge exceeded the receipt of such chances above 8000 l'. To the second, if looking upon the several Rates of the King's lands exposed to Fee-farm sales, we find some of 50. others at 21 years, as to the late contractors, and make out of these extremes a Medium of the largest forty years, and set on the other side the common and current estimate for d●ad rends 15 year's purchase, we must find that 5 l'. land sold unimproved respectively to the like trebled by a Fee-farm will be 250 l'. loss to his Majesty in the sale. As for Regalities, though it may add somewhat to the Subject in increasing such his petty command, it can nothing to a Sovereign, whose transcendent power drowneth in it all such subordinate Dependencies and Regards. But if we consider besides the former improvement the increase of casual advantage at diminution of certain charge, we shall have just cause not to continue this course. For if the Commissioners in this business may be ordered by instruction to reserve upon every Manor of above 30. l'. per annum, a tenure in a Knight's service by half a Fee and of above 50 l' in Capite. by an entire fee, and by the purchase to pay his Rent into the receipt himself, half yearly, and strike there his Tally; the former will advance the Revenue accidental of the Crown in Wardships, primer seisin, Alienations and Aides, and the latter cut off at once so many their unnecessary Receivers, Auditors, Stewards, Bailiffs, and Clarks, as stand the King in yearly above 12000. l'. As for other deuce or casual Revenues, which now fall under the charge of these Officers: The collection and payment may be as it hath been with the rest, from the time of H. 2. until of late days laid ●on the Sheriffs of the Shires, and all the accounts left to the two Auditors of the press to draw up, and the Clerks of the Pipe to enter in Magno Rotulo, as in former times; for it must seem strange to all men of judgement, that it should be with those Officers who had their beginning but since the 25. year of King Henry the eight, by addition of his new Revenue of 150000 l'. from the suppressed Monasteries, otherwise then with all things in Nature and reason Cessante causa & effectus, not to be discontinued when as all Crown annexed. Lands that gave them their just employment for the most part passed from the Sovereign into the Subject's possession. Besides this of a general disposing in Fee Farm, there hath been a project in particular to infranchise the Copyholders in the several Manors which I should hold to be of more prejudice to his Majesty, than the other, bringing with it all the former inconveniences, loss of Fines, Regalities, and advantages of Sale, and being without many of the advantages, as Wardships, Primer seisin, Alienation, and Aids; for no man will buy quillets but in soccage, and discontinuance of Officers, who must still remain, though they can bring but l●ttle benefit. Rot Par. anno 7 H. 4. 2. By farming out for years, Lands, Casualties, or Wastes, as in the 7. of H. 4. the State held it more just to help the King out of his own, then to burden the commonwealth, and therefore gave way by Parliament to the King, to improve up his Lands, though in Lands, though in Lease, provided that the Lessee should have refusal of the bargain if he would. Rot ●n●. anno 2. E 1. Edw. the 1. anno 2. granted a Commission to farm out all such Waste quod absque injuria alterius sieri potest. And in anno 15. asserted a great part of his Woods for rent, and dissafforrested in most Counties of England for a sum of money which they gave him. Rot. Par. a●● 0 15. E. 1. And it was not the least of charitable thrift in the King, to reduce much of his waste to habitation of Christians, especially the remote Forests, which would increase many thousand families for his service, and bring many thousand pounds to his Coffers. But in the carriage of this business there must be much caution to prevent commotion: for in them there are many that have right in Common, sans numbered. And the resolution in agreement with them must be sudden, and confident: for multitudes are jealous and inconstant, and the instruments to effect this, must be such as be neighbours interessed and popular, not strangers. And the first demise to the Inhabitants, and at under and easy values. 3, By manuring of Lands. R t. C●●●. ●no 1●. 3. M ●●. Thus did H. anno 13. in removing out of most of his Parks (as Gillingham, Brigstocke, Chiffe, Woodstock, Haverell) all men's Cattles pro bobos, pro lardaria Regis in parcis praedial is impinguendis. And E. 1. commanded all the Escheators in England, ex colore seminary & appropriare ad maximum Regis proficium omnes terras quae Regi & Corona suae devonerint per mortem aliquorum vacatione Epi●copatum, R●●. 〈◊〉 2. & ● b 1. etc. The Kings raise money, and improve the Revenues of the Crown. By Merchandise 1 Trading themselves. 2 licensing others to Trade Commodities, 3 Improving Customs 1 Lawful. 2 Unlawful. 1 Trading themselves, thus did Edw. 1. Anno 22. Rot. voscon. 22. E. 1. who seized into his hands all the Wools in the Kingdom as the Merchants were lading them in the Ports, giving them security of payment at a long day and a shortprice; and then transported them to his own best and readiest sale. Thus did Edw. 3. Anno 12. with all the Tin and H. 6. Rot. Almgne 12. E. 3. Act. Cons. An. 20. H. 6. Anno 20. by advice of his Counsel took up by way of purveyance a great quantity of Grain, and transported it into Cascoigne, where by reason of a Dearth the price was extreme, and in Anno 31. he arrested all the Tin in South-hampton, and sold it to his own present use, and in the year following using the advantage of the Statute which bond all men to trade the Staple commodities to no other place but Calais, Ex billa signat. An. 31. &. 32 H. 6. vented himself many sacks of wool to other Ports of better advantage. And the late Queen Anno 1567. Warrant sub. private sigillo An. 9 Eliz. Reginae. caused by Warrant of privy Seal a great quantity of Beer to be purveyed, transported and sold to her own use beyond the seas. 2 By lycencing others to trade Commodities 1 Lawful or 2 Unlawful. First Lawful but solely. Thus did H, 6. Rot. Par. An. 29. H. 6. N. 15 by approbation of Parliament with all the trade of Allome for two years, granted to the Merchants of South-hampton for 8000. pound, and again for the like sum to those of Geneway. Secondly, Unlawful or prohibited. Thus did many of the Kings after such time as the heavy burden of imposition began in the miserable necessity of H. 3. called then by no better name than Maltolt, and continued until the 15: Rot. Claus. Anno 19 H. 3. year of R. 2. by divers intermissions, (for then I find the last Petition of many in Parliament against it) was altogether taken away. Rot. Par. 15. R. 2. For when R. 2. and his Successors found the Revenue lessened, by the importunate cry of the people, whereby impositions were laid aside, then began to advise an other supply out of the unbounded Prerogative, and finding a greedy desire of one Merchant to prevent another of his market (restrained by that Statute which tied them to one time, Ex. Bill. Signar Anno 20. R 2. and one Port Calais for all Staple commodities) they used to sell Licenses with clause of Non obstante, whereby they dispensed with multitudes to trade what commodities, and to what places they would. To the Merchants of New Castle, R. 2. gave leave to carry Wool Fells &c, to any Port besides Calais, upon condition that they should pay for them Custom and Subsidy according to Le sage discretion de vous & vostre Council, to divers Citizens of London H. 4. in like sort dispenceth for great quantities of Tin for seven years paying 1000 Ex Pet. Anno 7, H 4 Ex. Pet Anno 5 R. 6. Ex. Act. Com. yearly above the custom H. 6. Anno 5.21. 30. reneweth to the Town of New Castle the same Licence they had Anno 20. R. 2. and granteth 600. sacks of wool to Benedict Benony, Merchant of Florence with an obstante any Statute or restraint. In this year such Licenses were so frequent that the Town of Calais complained in Parliament of their decay thereby, yet without relief as it seemeth, for the same King Anno 36. giveth leave to Laurence Barbarico to transport from London or Cicister 12000. Ex. B ll● Orig An. 10. ●. 4. sacks of Wool to what Ports he list, and Edward the 4. Anno 10. borrowing 10000 pound of divers Merchants permitted them non obstante, any Law to carry any Staple Commodities to the straits of Morocco until they were satisfied their sum. H. 7. raised much money by giving leave to many Merchants to trade inward and outward commodities prohibited, as to Alonso de Burgues great proportions of Wood, Anno 6. H. 7. Ex. lib. Comp. in't. H 7 & Dudley. and to a multitude of others all kinds of grain and other forbidden things: as in Anno 20, 21, 22. Improving of Customs by 1. Farming out of Ships 2. Raising the book of rates 3. Farming the Customs. 1. Ex. lib. H. 7. Farming out of Ships to the Merchants and taking security of them either to bring in or carry out yearly as much Commodities as shall yield the King in Customs the sum agreed on, or else to make it up out of their own money thus did H. 7. many years not only with his ships, but with divers stocks of money. 2. Rot. Claus 29. E. 1. Rot. Almaigne 3. E. 3. Extract. Brux. Ell●. Raising the book of Rates this was in some sort done Consensu Mercatorum by Ed. 1. and Ed. 3. And again in H. 8. time of which the house of Burgundy complained as against the treaty of intercourse, and of late so stretched, as it is feared it will prove the overthrow of Trade. Neither do I find this course at any other time, as a branch of this may partly fall out, the benefit Princes made by Prerogative power of imposing inward and outward upon Commodities over and above the ancient Custom or Subsidy. The first that used this course after the State was settled from a King of a Voluntary government after the Conquest (when as Kings ruled more by the edge of the sword then by rule of Law was H. 3. about the entrance of his Reign, Mag. Charta. Dor claus, An 16. H 3. N. 20. but finding it to be an apparent overthrow of Commerce and Trade, against the great Charter, made proclamation Anno. 16. H. 3. in all the Ports of England that all Merchants might come faciendo rectas et debitas consuetudines sed tibi timeant de Malistoltis for it had no better name than Maltolts. Stat An. 25. E. 1. Some Impositions being laid by Ed. 1. he in Anno 25. taketh them away with promise that neither he nor his Successors should do any such thing without assent of Parliament, Rot. Par. 31. E. 1. M. 42. granting in Anno 31. to the Merchants many immunities as release of prisage for which they requite him with some increase of Customs, but not as imposed by his own power, Stat. 34 E. 1. Ca 1. & 2. for he in Anno 34. declareth that no tallage or aid should be levied without the assent of Parliament nor nothing to be taken of wools by colour of Maltolt, in E. 2. it appeareth that levying of new Customs, and raising old, was the destruction of Traffic, and therefore repealeth all Maltolts, only in Anno 11. & 12. he taketh by way of Loane, Rot. Cl●us An. 11. E. 2 and with leave of the Merchant, some former increase upon wool, ascribing nothing to any supreme power to impose. Rot. Finem 4 E. 3. The like did E. 3. Anno 1. confirming in Anno 2. the great Charter for free Traffic. But having about Anno Quinto granted certain Commissions for a new kind of raising Tallage, Stat. 2. E. 3. Ca 9 the people complained the year followng whereupon he repealeth the said Commissions, and promiseth never to assess any, Stat. An 11 E 3. Cap 1. but as in time of his Ancestors After in Anno 11. by reason of a Statute then made, restraining all men upon pain of death from transporting any wools without Licence from the King and Council. Rot. Almain 12, E. 3. M. C. 22, in Dor E. 3. made great advantage by selling of dispensations of that Law, and grounded upon it many impositions, but it fell so heavy upon the people, that their discontents so fare increased that the King was enforced to cause the Archbishop of Canterbury to persuade them to patience by his godly exhortations, Stat. 13. E. 3. Rot. Par● 13. E Stat, 14. E 3. yet notwithstanding he continued by gentle intermissions the advantage he had by that Law, taking an improvement of Custom for opening the passage, that thereby was shut in. Anno 13. until the same year the State made purchase of their former freedom and discharge of the Maltolt by granting the tenth Sheafe and fleece, etc. And thus it continued all his Reign, being a time of great necessity and expense by reason of the wars, he sometimes taking the advantage either to raise an imposition, or else to gain an aid from the people in discharge thereof, they continually urging the injury in barring them their Birthright; and the King on the other side, the greatness of his own occasions, and it may be gathered by Record, that thus it held on, until the fifteenth of R. 2. in which year is the last Petition against Impositions generally grounded (in likelihood) from the King's power in restraining or permitting trade all the time after: though Licence with Non obstante were ordinary, Lcience granted by H. 4. H. 5. H. 6. to many Merchants with Non obstante any Statute. yet were they to private persons and for particular proportions of commodities, whereby the King succeeding raised no less benefit than by sale of any general permission. To this of impositions I may add the Rule I find Anno 20. H. 6. made in counsel, That all goods for payment of Subsidy shall berated of commodities domestic, as they may be sold between Merchant and Merchant; and if foreign, then so as it shall appear upon Oath of the Merchant or his Factor they stood them in at the first, and the general Maxim which limits all Regal advantage upon Trade of Merchants is, causa honesta sit & necessaria, ratio facili● tempus idoneum. Farming out of Customs. So did Ed. 3. Claus Au. 5. E. 3. Orig. 17. E. 3. Rot. with the new and old customs at London for 1000 Marks monthly to be paid into the Wardrobe. The like he did Anno 17. R. 2. Anno 20. letteth out for term of life the Subsidy of Cloth in divers Countries, and E. 4. Anno 1. the Subsidy of ulnage of Cloth. Thus did H. 8. with his Customs, and since his time the late Queen, and our late Sovereign Lord King james, and it was so then in use in the best governed State (Rome) which let out their portions and Decims to the Publicans. King's raise money, and improve the Revenues of the Crown. By Regalities 1 Temporal or 2 Mixt. As for 1 Liberties etc. 2 Penalties of Laws. 3 Letters of favour. 1 Liberties in granting restraining or renewing them. It is a course usual that the Kings have raised money by calling in question the Charters and Liberties of Corporations, Leetes, free Warrens, and other Royalties. Thus did R. 1. proclaiming Quod omnes Chartoe & confirmationes quae prioris Sigilli impressione roboraverint irrita forent nisi porsteriori sigillo roborentur. Ex. Rado. Cogsh ll. And H. 3. Anno 10. enjoined all qui suis volebant libertatibus gaudere, ut innovarent Chartas suas, de nova regio sigillo getting money thereby. Edw. 1. by divers Commissions, with Articles called Articuli de Ragman annexed to them, Rot. Ragman. Anno 7. E. 1. called in question about Anno 7. all the liberties and freedoms of England, Gilbert de Thornton his Attorney putting in information by quo warranto against all persons, as well bodies politic as others, whereby they are enforced anew to renew their Charters, and Fine for their Liberties. Ex. quo Warrant, 13. E 3. The like was in Anno 13. E. 3. in whose time Anno 9 All clauses of allowances by Charter of Amerciaments, Fines, etc. imposed by the King's Ministers upon any of the Tenants of other men, were adjudged void, and the penalties made payable to the King's Officers, Com. term. Hill. An 9 E 3. 9 3. Rot. 8. unless they made a new purchase of their Liberties; and this was one of the usuallist and easiest means to raise money from the people, because it lighteth only upon the best abilities, and if there were now but twenty pound taken of every Corporation, of every Person that holdeth by Charter his liberties 50. pound for renewing of them. And of every one that claimeth by prescription ten pound for purchase of a Charter. All which would be easy and acceptable, it would amount to above one hundred thousand pound. 2. For penal Laws they have been sometime, but with ill success wrought upon. When R. 2. Anno 22. begins his Course, Instruct. Orig. 22. R. 2. appointing in all his Commissions Bushey only to be of the Quorum for compounding with Delinquents it wrought in the affections of his people such distaste, that it grew the death of the one, and deposition of the other, No less fatal was the like to Empson and Dudley, Proc. contra Dudley An. 1. H. 8. and there is no string will sooner jar in the Commonwealth than this if it be generally touched. 3. For Letters of favour either for mitigation or dispatch of justice. Of the first sort there be many found in H. 6. and E. 4. their times, sometimes of Protection, although by course of the Common Law, none are warrantable but to such as are going in Obsequium Regis, or Ibidem Moraturi, sometimes freeing men from Arrests by calling them up to appear before the King's Council, sometimes in cases highly criminal, relieving the Prisoner, in commanding the Judges to make stay of all proceed upon supposal of indirect practices until the King was better informed. Of the second sort there are many in H. 7. Lib. Acquit. inter. H. 7. & Dudley. his time where the King hath taken for writing to the judges of Assize, money for his Letters of favour. 4. For Offices thus did King john with the Chancellorship, selling it for term of life to Grace for five thousand Marks. Divers Offices now in the gift of the Master of the Rolls were engaged to the Chancellor and Treasurer of England, as are to be found in Records of H. 4. H. 5. and H. 6. to be passed by warrant under the King's hand and upon some Consideration. And H. 7. renewed this course using Dudley as his instrument to compound with Suitors for those and any other places, and by that Record we find the Chancellor the chief justice the Keeper of most of the Record, the Clerks of the Assizes and peace, the Masters of the game and Parks, and what else carrying either profit or reputation paid to the King, Familius in vita Lewis 12. some proportion of money for their places. Neither is this different from the course of other States for in France, Lewis the 12. (called the father of his Country) did so with all the Offices not being of judicature which his Successors did not forbear. Vasques C. 12, 40, 43. In Spain it is usual and Vasques the Spanish Advocate and Charles the fifth. precsribeth it to his son as a rule in his last instruction drawing his ground of reason and Convenience from the example and practice of the Sea of Rome. Instruct. Car. 5 to Phil. 2. The like might be of all inferior promotions that are or may be in the King's Gift whether Ecclesiastical or Temporal, if they were after the true value in profit and reputation listed into ranks according to the several Natures of their employments respectively. 5 For honour, and that either by power legal or election. Of the first it is only in respect of Land whereby every man is to find, when the King shall require that hath ability to be made a Knight and is not. Of this sort there is plenty of examples. The other out of choice and grace; As Hugo de putiaco Bishop of Durham was by King R. 1. created Earl of Northumberland for a great sum of money, And I doubt not but many of these times, would set their ambition at as high a price. And for his Majesty now to make a degree of Honour hereditary as Barronets next under Barons, and grant them in Tail taking of every one a thousand pound. In Fine it would raise with ease ten thousand pound. And by a judicious election be a means to content those worthy Persons in the Commonwealth, that by the confused admission of Many Knights of the Bath held themselves all this time disgraced. 6 For Coin and Bullion by which although some Kings out of a last shift have seemed to relieve themselves, yet was it (in truth) full of danger and distrust to the Commonwealth being assured token of a Bankrupt State, and to the Prince in conclusion of most disadvantage, for the Revenues of the Crown being commonly in certain Rents they must in true value, howsoever in verbal sound be abated to the proportion that the money shall be abased, and every man will rate his Commodity in sale, not according to the account of pence or pounds, but to the weight of the pure Silver contained in the current money; As for example, that which was before the descrying of the Coin worth five shillings in the pound weight, will (if the allay be to the half) be held at ten shillings, and so in every proportion respectively, for money is not merely to be esteemed in respect of the sculpture or figure, but it must value in Pecunin quantum in Massa, and Silver is a Commodity as other wares, and therefore holdeth his estimation as they do according to the goodness. And the Lord Treasurer Burleigh in Anno one thousand five hundred sixty one, when the Court of State affected an abasement of Coin, after a grave deliberation advised the Queen from it, and never would give way to any such resolution in his time. But that benefit which truly the King may make more of Bullion then now he doth, is to erect again Cambrium Regis his own Exchange, an Office as ancient as before H. 3. and so continued until the middle of H. 8. the profit of it being now engrossed amongst a few Goldsmiths, and would yield above two thousand pound a year if it were heedfully regarded, and then should the King himself never want the materials if two things were observed; the one to permit all men bringing in Bullion to Trade outward the value thereof in domestic Commodities at an abated Custom, the other to abate the mighty indraught of Foreign Manufactures, and unnecessary Wares, that the outward Trade might overbalance the inward, which otherwise will (as it hath done) draw on this desperate consumption of the Commonwealth, which in Anno twenty seven E. 3. was otherwise, for then the exitus exceeded the introitus pounds, and in the last times of the late Queen, for at this time the unmeasurable use of Luxurious Commodities was brought in, as Wine, Spices, Silk and fine Linen, etc. For of the latter sort above ten Groats the Ell, there is above 360000 pound yearly spent, which is half the value of our transported, maketh the State to buy more than they do sell, whereas a good Father of a Family ought to be Vendacem and not Emacem; Besides the condition of our people is now such that the greater part neither get nor save, which in a private house is an apparent Argument of ruining, and must be no less in a Commonwealth. And it is observed generally that hence the want of Bullion now is such, that there is not money (in specie) sufficient to pay the Lender's their principal, so that Usury is paid for money upon supposition and not really. If then his Majesty shall be pleased to advise of his Counsel to advantage himself, any otherwise by Coinage it will be safer to do it upon a simple Metal then by any impliant or better suit, which well governed States both modern and ancient used; for Rome in her greatest pitch of glory had their money Ere argento, auro, puro puto, and so have all the absolute Monarchies to this day in Christendom. And I believe it may be wrought to his Majesty of good value, and to the state of much ease if it may be put in practice with discreet caution, and constant resolution, for the danger may only be in the venting of the quantity, which may clog the State with the useless money in extension of example which may work in by degrees an abasement of Bullione. The proportion that I would hold beneficial and safe should be in the Mass at first one hundred twenty thousand pound by which his Majesty should gain ten hundred thousand pound clearly, the increase annually twelve thousand pound in which his Majesty should gain a thousand pound. And the limitation that none be enforced to take any but in sums under 20 s. and then but the twentieth part proportionably. Against this some may object that it will either not advantage the King so much as is projected, either from the difficulty in venting, or facility in counterfeiting, or else prejudice the State with a worthless money. The benefit to the King will easily fall out if he restrain Retailers of victuals and small wares from using their own tokens; For in and about London there are above three thousand that one with another cost yearly five pound a piece of leaden tokens whereof the tenth remaineth not to them at the years end when they renew their store which amounteth to above fifteen thousand pound. And all the rest of the Realm cannot be inferior to the City proportion and the form and figure may with an Engine so subtle bee nulled that the charge will prevent all practice of false play for the prejudice, since London (which is not the 24 part in people of the Kingdom) had in it found above 800000, by a late inquiry by the order of the late Queen and so falleth out to be 2. pence a person in the entire State, it may be nothing either of loss by the first uttering being so easy, nor burden any with too great a Mass at a time since continual use will disperse so small a quantity into so many hands. But on the other side willbe to the meaner sort (except the retailers that made advantage formerly of their own Tokens as the King shall now) of necessary use and benefit, for the buyers hereafter shall not be tied to one seller and his bad Commodities as they are stilll when his tokens hereafter made current by authority, shall leave him to the choice of any other Chapman. And to the poor in this time of small Charity. It will be of much relief since many are like ro give a farthing Alms that will not part with a greater sum. Besides it cannot but prevent much waist of silver that by the minting pence and halfpences is occasioned, there willbe no cause hereafter to cut Bullion into proportion so fit for loss, what that hath been may be conjectured. If we mark but of the great quantities from the penny downward since H. 8. time stamped, how few remain. Whereas of all the Coins from three pence upwards which are manuable (or manual) plenty pass still in daily payment. Regalities mixed. As for restitution of the temporalities of Abbots and Bishops for which H. 7. received great sums. Corodaries in Cathedral Churches. And having in every Cathedral and collegiate Church as incident to his Crown a Corodarie and made money of it at the highest rate he could. Vacancy of Bishoprics. The benefit of the vacancy of any Bishop some Kings have used to their best advantage, making a Circular remove of as many as in reputation and profit were inferior to the place void, Concurrent Jurisdiction as the Pope had in former times. Besides these there are two of no mean Commodity. 〈…〉 The one is grounded upon a concurrent Jurisdiction with every Ordinary in the Diocese with the King by having the power Papal in that point invested in him by Act of Parliament, may exercise by his Commission or otherwise remit to the Ordinary for some valuable respect. Thus did Cardinal Wolsey with Wareham the Archbishop of Canterbury and all other the Bshops of the Kingdom after he had got his Legative power. Ex. Composit. Orig. inte●. Wolser & Arch. Cant. dat. 14. H. 8. And this if it were put in practice would draw to the King two hundred thousand pound into his Coffers. The other is the short account yielded the King of such Ecclesiastical Tenths and duties as were often or annually paid unto the Pope in former times. Tenths of the Church Lands now in the Laity. And now by Statute invested in the Crown, for in former times the Sea of Rom● received them not as only out of the mere Spiritualties of Spiritual persons, which Lands being now divided from the Church into the hands of the laity, yet ought they to pay this duty, since they were settled in the Crown by a former Law, and no subsequent ever hath discharged them. FINIS.