payments; a sum computed, from the late
survey or valuation, to be equal to four shillings in the pound of one
year's revenue, or one shilling in the pound yearly, according to the
division proposed.[*] So large a grant was unusual from the commons;
and though the cardinal's demand was seconded by Sir Thomas More the
speaker, and several other members attached to the court, the house
could not be prevailed with to comply.[**]

* This survey or valuation is liable to much suspicion, as
fixing the rents a great deal too high; unless the sum
comprehend the revenues of all kinds, industry as well as
land and money.

** Herbert. Stowe, p. 518. Parl. Hist. Strype, vol. i. p.
49, 59.

[Illustration: 1-371-more.jpg SIR THOMAS MORE]

They only voted two shillings in the pound on all who enjoyed twenty
pounds a year and upwards; one shilling on all who possessed between
twenty pounds and forty shillings a year; and on the other subjects
above sixteen years of age, a groat a head. This last sum was divided
into two yearly payments; the former into four, and was not therefore at
the utmost above sixpence in the pound. The grant of the commons was
but the moiety of the sum demanded; and the cardinal, therefore, much
mortified with the disappointment, came again to the house, and desired
to reason with such as refused to comply with the king's request. He
was told that it was a rule of the house never to reason but among
themselves; and his desire was rejected. The commons, however, enlarged
a little their former grant, and voted an imposition of three shillings
in the pound on all possessed of fifty pounds a year and upwards.[*] [5]
The proceedings of this house of commons evidently discover the humor of
the times: they were extremely tenacious of their money, and refused a
demand of the crown which was far from being unreasonable; but they
allowed an encroachment on national privileges to pass uncensured,
though its direct tendency was to subvert entirely the liberties of the
people. The king was so dissatisfied with this saving disposition of the
commons, that, as he had not called a parliament during seven years
before, he allowed seven more to elapse before he summoned another. And
on pretence of necessity, he levied in one year, from all who were worth
forty pounds, what the parliament had granted him payable in four
years;[**] a new invasion of national privileges. These irregularities
were