themselves to the one Half of their Revenues fpiri- King Henry VIII. tual, to be paid in five Years following

After this, the Minifter fearing fome Oppofition

of Commons to

to his Demands in the Houfe of Commons, proposed to go there himself, and give his Reafons why the Cardinal Wolfey, Subfidy fhould be granted. We are told, that this Prime Minifter, new Way of making a Demand was much debated goes to the Houfe in the House: And, if they did admit the Cardinal, haften the Supwhether it fhould be with a few Followers only, or ply. wi h his whole Train. The Majority was for the former, but the Speaker, Sir Thomas More, gave his Opinion on the Question in these Words (p), Maifters, for as much as my Lord Cardinal, lately, as yee woote well, layde to our Charge the Lightness of our Toungs, for Thinges uttered "out of this House, it should not in my Minde be amiffe to receave him with all his Pompe; with his Maces, h's Pillars, his Pole- Axes, his Cross, his Hatte, and the great Seale too; to the Intent, that if he finde the like Faulte with us then, we may lay the Blame upon those whome his Grace bringeth with him.' This was agreed to, and the Cardinal in the Manner aforefaid, went into the House, and there in a long and eloquent Oration to them, He charged Francis the French

King with Breach of Faith, in falfifying the • League fworn to for the general Peace of Chriften'dom. Befides, his Neglect of the stipulated Annuity for Tournay, and fome other Matters. Infomuch, that the King could do no other, in this publick Cause, than join with Charles the Emperor in a War against him. That the Charge thereof had been eftimated, and amounted to eight hundred thousand Pounds. Therefore he required, that the abovefaid Sum fhould be raised out of the fifth Part of every Man's Goods and Lands, to be paid in four Years.'

The Author of the Life of Sir Thomas More, tells us, that the House were filent to this Demand, contrary to the Minifter's Expectation;

and

(p) From the Life of Sir Thomas More, by his Great Grandfon Thomas More, Efq. London, 8vo. 1726. p. 51.

King Henry VIII. and when he demanded some reasonable Answer, every Member held his Peace. At laft, the Speaker falling on his Knees, with much Reverence, Excufed the Silence of the Houfe; abafhed, as he faid, at the Sight of fo noble a Perfonage, who was able to amaze the wifeft and moft learned Men in the Realm. But with many probable 'Arguments he endeavoured to fhew the Cardinal,

Debate thereup

on.

6

that his Manner of coming thither was neither 'expedient, nor agreeable to the ancient Liberties of 'that Houfe.' And, in Conclufion, told him, That except all the Members prefent could put their feveral Thoughts into his Head, he, alone, was unable, in fo weighty a Matter, to give his Grace a fufficient Anfwer.' Whereupon, adds our Authority, the Cardinal, difpleafed with the Speaker, fuddenly rofe up in a Rage and departed (2).

Our Author may be fufpected here of a little Partiality to his truly great Anceftor; fince, we are told by Lord Herbert, that Sir Thomas did temporize fomewhat with the Court at that Time. For, the next Day, fays the noble Hiftorian, Sir Thomas More, Speaker of the House of Commons, enforced the Cardinal's Arguments, by endeavouring to demonftrate, That it was not a great deal, on this Occafion, to pay four Shillings in the Pound.' To this he was anfwer'd, That though fome Men were well monied, yet, in general, it was known, that the Fifth Part of Men's Goods was not in 'Plate or Money, but in Stock and Cattle.

6

And,

that to pay away all their Coin, would alter the whole Frame and Intercourfe of Things. For, if Tenants come to pay their Landlords in Corn and Cattle only, and the Landlords again could not put them off from paying thefe Things they had " no

(g) Afterwards, in the Cardinal's Gallery, at Whitehall, the Minifter said to him, I would to God you had been at Rome, Sir Thomas, when I made you Speaker. Your Grace not offended, f. I would too, my Lord, replied Sir Thomas, for then I should have feen the Place I long have defir'd to vifit, &c.

Sir Thomas More's Life. p. 52.

no Need of, there would be a Stop in all Traffick • and Merchandize, and confequently the Shipping of the Nation muft decay; and the Nation itself, " for Want of Money, grow, in fome Sort, barbarous and ignoble. They were defir'd to confider, that the King had already got of them, by · Way of Loan, two Shillings in the Pound, which · amounted to 400,000l. and now to have four Shillings, would come to, in the whole, 1,200,000l. which first and last is full fix Shil'lings in the Pound, and is almost a third Part of every Man's Goods; and cannot be had, in Coin, in the whole Kingdom. For Proof of this, it was alledged, that fuppofing 15,000 Parishes in England, and each Parifh fhould pay 100 Marks, this would only amount to 1,500,000 Marks, which is but 1,000,000 /. And how many Parishes are there in England, out of Cities and Towns, one with another, able to fpare 100 Marks? It 6 was faid, indeed, that there were no less than 40,000 Parish Churches in England, whereas it 6 may be proved there are not 13,000 Parishes ; 'then reckon that the whole Sum cannot amount ' to above 1,000,000l. and the King demanding

800,000 1. and he, after this Valuation, having ' receiv'd 400,000 1. therefore it was judged impoffible to levy the Sum demanded; for if all the Coin fhould come into the King's Hands how 'fhould Men live?'

To these Arguments it was reply'd by the Courtiers, That the Money demanded ought not to 'be accounted as loft, or taken away, but only to ⚫ be transferred into others Hands of their Kindred · or Nation; herein therefore, that no more was 'done, than that we fee ordinarily in Markets; where, though the Money change Masters, yet every one is accommodated. How foever, that no Man ought to refufe unto him that fighteth for ⚫ the Honour and Safety of his Country, fo much C as will maintain him, fince he denies it not even to his Labourer. That thofe who are employ'd, must have been fed when they ftaid idle at Home,

' and

King Henry VIII.

King Henry VIII. and yet that they ask'd no more now, to give the uttermoft Proof of well-deferving Patriots. Howbeit, you may reply, this will exhauft the Coin ⚫ from the poorer Sort; but, to avoid this Objection, let the richer go themselves. Let them fhew, in defending their Country, that they merit the better and greater Parts thereof. Our King will not deny them this Honour. Or, ' when they would defire to be exempt, and lay the • Burthen and Hazard upon others, let them not · grudge yet the giving fo poor a Stipend, as fome of their Servants at Home would fcarcely take to ftand bare-headed to them. Neither are they to value themselves more than others, because they have larger Poffeffions, unless they employ it for the publick Good; fince, in ancient Times, ' and even true Reafon of State, they deserved not fo much, who till'd and manur'd a Country, < as they who defended it. Nor is it well faid of you, when you object that this will carry the Money out of England, and leave it in France; for doth it not carry the Men too, and fo in Effect ⚫ prove but the fame Expence? Notwithstanding,

if you be fo obftinate as to believe that making • War in a Country brings Money to it, do but • conceive a while, that the French had invaded 6 us; would the Money they brought over, think 6 you, enrich our Country; fhould any of us be the better for it? Let us therefore lay afide ⚫ those poor Scruples, and do what may be worthy the Dignity and Honour of our Nation. When you did conceive the worst that can fall out, you 'fhould yet eat your Beef and Mutton here, and wear your Country Cloth; while others, upon a fhort Allowance, fought only that you might enjoy your Families and Liberty. But I fay confidently you need not fear this Penury or Scarcenefs of Money; the Intercourfe of Things being < being fo establish'd throughout the whole World, that there is a perpetual Derivation of all that can be neceffary to Mankind. Thus your Commodities will ever find out Money; while, not to go

6 far,

far, I fhall produce our own Merchants only, King Henry VIII.

who, let me affure you, will be always as glad of

your Corn and Cattle, as you can be of any Thing they bring you. Let us therefore, in God's Name, do what becomes us; and for the reft, entertain fo good an Opinion of our Soldiers, as to believe, that instead of leaving our Country bare, they will add new Provinces to it; or, at least, bring rich Spoils and Triumphs home. At laft, after much Debate and Contention, it was agreed by the Commons, that every Man of Eftate of 20 1. yearly and upwards, fhould pay two Shillings in the Pound; and from 20 l. a Year downwards to forty Shillings, one Shilling in the Pound; and under forty Shillings, every Head of fixteen Years old or more fhould pay four Pence, in two Years. The Cardinal hearing no more was intended, feemed much troubled; and therefore, coming to the Lower House of Parliament, he told them, that he defir'd to reafon with those who oppos'd his Demands; but being answer'd, that it was the Order of that Houfe to hear, and not to reafon, but amongst themselves, the Cardinal departed. Yet, by the liberal Motion of fome of the Lower House, those of 501. Land and upwards, were induced to give one Shilling more, being three Shillings in the Pound, for three Years to come; which at length being continued to the fourth Year, and extended to those who were worth five Pound in Goods, was all that could be obtained.'

We have chose to give this Account in Lord Herbert's own Words, as it is chiefly extracted from Hall's Chronicle, a cotemporary Hiftorian of thofe Times (r). But fince, we think, that he hath curtailed his Author too much, we fhall add what is omitted, from the Chronicle itself.

Hall writes, That it was one Sir John Hufee, a Lincolnshire Knight, who, to please the Cardinal, first made the Motion in the Houfe of Commons, for xiid. in the Pound on Land, upon all those who were worth 50l. a Year and upwards; to be paid VOL. III. (r) Chronicle, Fol. x. Hen. VIII.

C

in

A Subfidy grant

ed.