Jus imponendi vectigana, or, The learning touching customs, tonnage, poundage, and impositions on merchandizes, asserted as well from the rules of the common and civil law, as of generall reason and policy of state / by Sir John Davis ...

CHAP. XV.

Of the Imposition set and taken by King Ed∣ward the second.

KIng Edward the second, in the be∣ginning of his Reign, did as well take the ancient as the new Custome up∣on Wooll, Wooll-fells, and Leather, which ancient Custom must needs be in∣tended an ancient Imposition over and besides the demi mark, which was then called the new Custome, and this ap∣peareth by a Record in the Tower, 3 Ed. 2.* 1.1 Claus. memb. 16. where the King direct∣eth his Writ, collectoribus suis tam antiquae quam novae customae lanarum pellium & cor∣riorum, and requireth them to pay certain Debts of his Fathers, King Edward 1. out of their old and new Customes, and a hundred thousand pound pro damnis oc∣casione retardationis solutionis debitis, &c. and howbeit afterwards, he being a weak

Prince and misguided by ill Counsell, and over-ruled by his unruly Barons, was driven first to suspend the payments of his Customes of three pence the pound, and other duties contained in Charta Mercatoria, during pleasure only, as appea∣reth by his Writs of Supersedeas, directed to the Collectors of his Customes, 3 E. 2. Claus. memb. 16. and after that by an Or∣dinance made 5 Edw. 2. utterly to repeal that Charter, and to abloish all other Im∣positions raised or levied since the coro∣nation of his Father, Ed. 1. except the cu∣stomes of the demi mark; not withstan∣ding after that, again Anno 11. of his Reign, when he wanted Money for his Expedition* 1.2 into Scotland, exquirentes vias saith he in his Writ to the collectors of his customes* 1.3 at London, Rot. fin. memb. 12. in Archivis turris, quibus possemus pecuniam habere commodius & decentius, tandem de consilio & advisamento quorundam mercato∣rum inveniemus subscriptum, which was, that he should receive by way of loan forsooth (which never was repaid) a greater increase of custom upon all mer∣chandizes imported and exported, for it is expressed in the VVrit, that praeter incrementum de lanis coriis & pellibus lanu∣tis,

which was a third part more than the demi mark, viz. twenty shillings for every Noble; the King was to receive for every coloured cloth worth three pound sterling, a Noble; for every other cloath worth fourty shillings, four shillings; for every peece of Scarlet, a Mark; for every Tun of VVine, five shillings; for all For∣reign commodities called Averdepois, two shillings the pound; all which sums of Mony he commandeth the Collectors of his customes* 1.4 to collect to his use upon their Merchandizes; which levy or col∣lection, though it bear the name of a loan, being not made by authority of Parliament, nor with the consent of the whole cominalty, but taken up by the Kings VVrit onely, was nothing else but an Imposition laid upon Merchandizes by the Kings Prerogative.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ed.2.
• * 1.2

  11 E.2.
• * 1.3

  The Writ to his Collect∣tors of his Customs.
• * 1.4

  Collect∣ors of his Customs.