The governance of England: otherwise called The difference between an absolute and a limited monarchy. A rev. text edited with introd., notes, and appendices by Charles Plummer.

CHAPTER VII. THE KYNGES EXTRAORDINARIE CHARGES.

THE kynges extraordinarie charges bith so casuelle, þat no man mey knowe hem in certaynte. But yet he may esteme what somme thai bith not like to excede, but yff þer ffall a case ouer moch exorbitant;

and than it shalbe reasone, and also necessarie, þat all the reaume beyre ffor þat case a synguler charge. Such off the said extraordinarie charges as the writer hereoff can now remenbr be theis. Ffirst þe kyng shall often tymes sende owt off this lande his ambassatours, as well to the pope, as to diuerse kynges, prynces, and nacions; and oþer while he shall sende his procuratours and messengers to the counselles generalles. Wich ambassatours, procura|tours, and messengers shall nede to be honerably accompanyed, and well be sene, alsowell ffor the worshippe off þe reaume, as ffor the avaunsynge off þe maters ffor wich thai shalbe sende, to þe kynges right grete charge, wich shalbe more or lesse, aftir thair longe or shorte demure in thair viage. Item, the kynge shall beyre yerely charges vnknowen in re ceyvinge off ligates and messengers sende ffrom the pope, and off ambassatours sende ffrom kynges and oþer princes, and also ffrom grete communalties bi yonde þe see, wich will putt þe kyng to grete expenses while thai bith here, and at thair depart|ynge thai most nedis haue grete giftes and rewardes; ffor þat be sitith þe kynges magnificence and liberalite, also it is necessarie ffor the worship off his reaume. Item, sithen it is not gode þat he rewarde such as do, and shall do to hym seruice, or oþer maner off pleasures, with þe possescions and revenues of his crovne, nor with other possescions off his inherit|ance;—ffor thai be moch more necessarie for the sustenance off his grete estate;—hit shall ther fore be necessarie, þat the kynge make such rewardes with money owt off his cofers, and þat somme off hem haue so largely þeroff, as thai mey bie thaim lande with all, yff thai will. Ffor be this meane þe

kynges estate shall alwey be kept vnblemyshed. And off somme man is highnes shall haue more thanke ffor money then ffor lande; and also money is the most convenient rewarde to hym þat hath not longe serued. This charge woll all wey be grete, and so inestimable grete, þat in somme yere a grete lordes lyvelod shalnot suffice to beyre it, though he wolde selle grete parte þerof. And trewly, when þe kyng rewardith is servantes in this maner, he shewith grete ffauour to all his reaume. Item, it shall nede þat the kyng haue such tresour, as he mey make new bildynges whan he woll, ffor his pleasure and magnificence; and as he mey bie hym riche clothes, riche furres, oþer than be wonned to fall vndre þe yerely charges off his warderober, rich stones, serpes, bauderikes, and oþer juels and ornamentes conue|nyent to his estate roiall. And often tymes he woll bie riche hangynges and other apparell ffor his howses; vessaill, vestmentes, and oþer ornamentes for his chapell; bie also horses off grete price, trappers, and do other suche nobell and grete costes, as bi sitith is roiall mageste, off wich it is not now possible to the writer hereof to remenbr the especial|liteis. Ffor yff a kyng did not so, nor myght do, he lyved then not like his estate, but rather in miserie, and in more subgeccion than doth a priuate person. Item, the kynge shall often tymes sende his comis|sioners in gret myght, and also his juges, to represse and punysh riatours and risers; ffor wich cause he shall odre whiles ride in his owne person myghtely accompanyed. Wich thynge wolnot be done with owt grete costes; ffor no man is bounde to serue hym in suche cases at his owne dyspenses. Item, yff ther come a sodayne armye vpon this londe by see

or by lande, þe kyng most encomptre them with a lyke armye, or a gretter; ffor þe expenses wheroff he shall not so sadanly haue any eyde off his peple. Wherfore he most than do the expences with money owt off his cofers, or put all is lande in jopardie. Loo now we haue remenbred grete parte off the kynges extraordinarie charges; and be ffore we haue shewid grete parte off his ordinarie charges. Wherfore now it is tyme þat it be shewid, how the kynge mey haue revenues and livelode sufficient to beyre theis ij charges.