Of his Taxations.

IN the very begining of his Reigne, it might passe instead of a Taxation, that he found in king Richards Coffers, in money and jewells, to the value of seven hun∣dred thousand pounds. In his fourth yeare, an extraordinary Subsidie was gran∣ted him; Twenty shillings of every knights Fee, and of every one that had twenty shillings a yeare in land, twelve pence and upward, according to that rate; and of every one that had twenty pounds in goods, twelve pence, and upward according to that rate; but with this caution and protestation, that it should not hereafter be drawn for a President, and that no Record thereof should be made. In his sixth yeare, the Clergie granted to the king a Tenth. In his seventh yeare, the Clergie granted a Tenth and a halfe, and the Commons two Fifteens. In a Parliament holden the ninth yeare of his Reigne, the king moved to have allowed him in every yeare wherein there was no Parliament kept• a Tenth of the Clergy, and a Fifteenth of the Layity; to which demands the Bishops assented, but the Commons would not. In his seventh yeare, a Parliament began which lasted almost a whole yeare, in which a Subsidie was at last granted; so sharpe, that even Priests and Friers who lived of Alms, were forced every one to pay a noble.