t a man paid only in the county where he lived, though he
should possess estates in other counties; and the assessors formed a
loose estimation of his property, and rated him accordingly.

* Coke's Inst. book iv. chap. 1, cf fifteenths, quinzins.

** Coke's Inst. book iv. chap. 1, subsidies temporary.

*** Journ. 11th July, 1610.

**** Coke's Inst. book iv. subsidies temporary.

v See Statutes at large.

To preserve, however, some rule in the estimation, it seems to have been
the practice to keep an eye to former assessments, and to rate every man
according as his ancestors, or men of such an estimated property, were
accustomed to pay. This was a sufficient reason why subsidies could not
increase, notwithstanding the great increase of money and rise of rents.
But there was an evident reason why they continually decreased.
The favor, as is natural to suppose, ran always against the crown;
especially during the latter end of Elizabeth, when subsidies became
numerous and frequent, and the sums levied were considerable, compared
to former supplies. The assessors, though accustomed to have an eye to
ancient estimations, were not bound to observe any such rule, but might
rate anew any person, according to his present income. When rents
fell, or parts of an estate were sold off, the proprietor was sure to
represent these losses, and obtain a diminution of his subsidy; but
where rents rose, or new lands were purchased, he kept his own secret,
and paid no more than formerly. The advantage, therefore, of every
change was taken against the crown; and the crown could obtain the
advantage of none. And, to make the matter worse, the alterations which
happened in property during this age, were in general unfavorable to the
crown. The small proprietors, or twenty-pound men, went continually to
decay; and when their estates were swallowed up by a greater, the new
purchaser increased not his subsidy. So loose, indeed, is the whole
method of rating subsidies, that the wonder was, not how the tax should
continually diminish, but how it yielded any revenue at all. It became
at last so unequal and uncertain, that the parliament was obliged to
change it into a land tax.

The price of corn during this reign, and that of the other necessaries
of life, was no lower, or was rather higher, than at present. By a
proclamation of James, establishing public magazines, whenever wheat
fell below thirty-two shillings a