A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 17 · Part 1 – Part 2
Of his TAXATIONS.
IN his second yeare, in the monethmonth of September, he sent Privie Seales, to the wealthiest Citizens of London, for monies to bee borrowed of them: and in October following, the customes of Merchandises, both outward and inward were raised, and then were letten out to Farme. In a Parliament holden at Westminster, the third yeare of his Reigne, there were given him three entire Subsidies, and six fifteens by the Temporalty, and by the Clergie foure entire Subsidies. This yeare also Henry Lord Mordant, convicted in the Star-Chamber, for divers misprisions, was fined to pay ten thousand Marks, and Edward Lord Sturt…n for the like offence to pay six thousand Marks, and Henry Earle of Northumberland for offences laid to his charge, to pay thirty thousand pounds, and some yeares after Sir Iohn Bennet, Iudge of the Prerogative Court was fined to pay twenty thousand pounds. In his fourth yeare he repayed threescore thousand pounds to the Citizens of London, which the Londoners had lent to Queen Elizabeth, three yeares before her death; an act by which he got more love, than hee payed money. In his seventh yeare hee had ayd througho…t England, for making his eldest Son Prince Henrie Knight: which though levied with great moderation, brought him in great summes of money. In his eighteenth yea…e, in a Parliament holden at Westminster, the Temporalty gave him two Subsidies, and the Clergie three: and in another Parliament, in the yeare 1623. the Temporalty gave him three subsidies; and three fifteens; the Clergy foure Subsidies. Besides these Subsidies hee sent abro…d many great Privie Seales, and had also a benevolence throughout the Realme: not without some grudging, but without any just cause; for it should have been remembred, that he took it not out of covetousnesse to gather wealth, but out of very necessity to supply wants: For by his imploying many Embassadours in Ordinary, many Extraordinarie, by his necessarie bounty to his followers, and by his charge of keeping severall Courts; none of all which hee could avoyd: His expences were farre greater than any of his Predecessors had ever beene,
Of his Lawes and Ordinances.
THE day of his removing from Charter-house, at his first comming into England, he caused Proclamation to be made, that all Monopolies and Protections should cease; as likewise all oppressions done by Salt-Peeter men, by Purveiers, and Carters. On the 26. of May following hee set forth a Proclamation, restraining all persons under great penalties from killing of Deere, or any kind of Fowle used for Hawking. The seventeenth of May, Proclamation was made against Robberies on the borders: and on the nineteenth of May, another for …niting the people inhabiting about the borders of England and …c…land, to live in love …nd qui…tnesse. In this first yeare, in a Parliament …hen holden… it was Enacted, that neither Arch-bishop, nor Bishop, should Alienate, Grant, or Demise, or in any sort convey, no not to the King himselfe …y of the Honours, Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, being parcell of the possessions of his Arch-bi…op, or Bishoprick: and if any were, it should be utterly voyd, and of no effect, notwithstanding any former Law, Act, or Ordinance to the contrarie. He then also, caused himself by Proclamation to be Enstyled King of Great Britaine, that the division of England and Scotland might be no more remembred. In his second yeare, by his Letters Patents he incorporated the Fel…-makers of London, by the name of Master, Wardens, and Communalty of the Art or Mysterie of the Felt-makers, granting them divers privileges and liberties, for their good government of their Corporation. In Novem. of his second yeare, were Proclaimed in London certaine new pieces of coyne, both of gold and silver, with the true valuation and weights of them, according to the Mint of both Nations, English and Scottish. In a Parliamen… holden the 3. year of his Reigne, the Oath of Allegiance was devised and ordained, and soon after min…tred to all sorts of people.
This yeere also hee m…de Proclamation to redresse the misimployment of L…ds, or goods given to … uses. Also this yeare, he set forth a Proclamation for beari…g of … in S…ips to be in this manner, that from thenceforth all the Subjects of gre… …ritt… should bea…e in their mayne top, the Red-Crosse, co…monly called the … Ge…ges Cr…sse, and the … Crosse, commonly call…d St. Andre… Cr…sse joyn…d toge…her, and the Subjects of South-Brit… should ca…y in their Foretop only the Red-…ro…se as they were wont; and … …ubjects of North-Bri…ine only the White-Cro…se. In this …ourth yeare on the … he set …orth a Proclamation, commanding all Iesui…s, Semin…ry … to depa… the Realme before the first of August following and … returne upon pa…ne of death, according to diverse Statutes in that … …rovided. In his second yeare he had set forth a Proclamation against … increase of new buildings, which being little regarded; Now in his four… y…re he renewed the said Proclamation… adding withall that the … and windowes of all new buildings should be either of Brick o… stone… … …sobeying whereof, many were called in the Star-chamber, and there fined… … yeare, he gave order for planting of Mulberry Trees; and breeding of … wormes, that England might be a Country as well of silke as Cloath: In his …venth yeare, he instituted the Order of the Baronets, which hath much dege…ated …ince his institution, and thereby having been devised for the benefit of …, hath caused but little contentment unto England. This yeare also the …ing himselfe in person came to the Star-chamber, where he had appointed the …-men to meet… and there, for the better keeping of Coynes of Gold within … Realme… he raised the prizes of them; ordayning the price called the Vnity, which went before but for twenty shillings, to bee cur…ant now for tw… and twen…y, the double Crowne and all other peeces to encrease in the l…ke proportion. in his fifteenth year, he granted to the Apothecaries of London to be a Corporation for themselves, and their successours for ever; and by Letters Pa…en…s made them a Body Politick and corporate. In his time by his appointment … strict decree passed in the Star-chamber against Duells and single Comb…ts, and a strict Law was made in Parliament against stabbing with a dagger o… knife, making it to be wilfull Murther.