he had thus, in a manner, renounced the right. As the people did not underftand the force of this argument de bene effe, he explained it to them twelve years after, by informing his parliament that "he had taken it only de facto, according to the example of former kings, from the death of their past predeceffors, until the parliament had passed an act for it themfelves." Satisfied with this explanation, the beginning of next year, parliament granted this fubfidy to Charles. 4. Loans. Thefe differed from aids and benevolences, already fpoken of, as the latter were confidered as gifts, whereas when loans were required, repayment was at the fame time either expressly promised or understood. This fpecies of fubfidy was introduced by Edward IV. in order to fupport his war with France. Rapin relates an adventure, which fhews at least the nature of this loan. The king, who was one of the handsomest men in Europe, having afked a rich widow how much fhe would lend him, the answered, that "she could not refufe refufe twenty pounds to a prince who borrowed with fo good a grace." The king, much pleafed with the lady's politenefs, faluted her; in return for which honor, the widow doubled the fum fhe had firft promifed him.-The benevolences of King James were formal exactions; they were required as free gifts. Charles I. was no fooner come to the throne, than parliament granted him two fubfidies, and then were proceeding to examine grievances. The king, not pleased to have the conduct of his minifters and favorites examined into, diffolved the parliament, after it had fat three weeks. Being in want of more money, he directed letters under his privy feal, to all fuch as were judged able to lend, requiring them to advance fpecific fums, and promifing to repay them in eighteen months. The next year this mifguided prince went to work upon a larger fcale, and proceeded with greater violence. Not contented with borrowing certain fums from every Peer, he determined on a general loan, to be affeffed ac cording cording to the last fubfidy, with a promise of repayment! In collecting this loan, he had recourfe to artifice, and to violence. I fhall only fpeak of the latter. The commiffioners were ordered "that they treat apart with every one of thofe that are to lend. "And if any fhall refufe to lend, and "fhall make delays or excufes, and per"fift in their obftinacy, that they exa"mine fuch perfons upon oath, whether .. they have been dealt withal to deny or "refufe to lend, or make an excufe for "not lending? Who hath dealt fo with "him, and what speeches or perfuafions "he or they have ufed to him tending "to that purpofe? And that they should "alfo charge every such person, in his ma"jefty's name, upon his allegiance, not "to difclofe to any other what his an"fwer was.", "That, as much as they may, they hinder all discourse about it, "and certify to the privy-council, in writing, the names, qualities, and dwellingplaces of all fuch refractory perfons, "with all speed. That they admit of no "fuit to be made, or reasons to be given, "for "for the abating any fum*". All lords and gentlemen were ordered to repair to their country-houses, that their abfence might cause no delay or obstacles to the subscriptions. Such gentlemen as fhewed any reluctance, had foldiers quartered upon them; and fuch of the com mon people as refused to fubfcribe to this loan, were enrolled as foldiers, and compelled to ferve in the army. Gentlemen in higher life, who oppofed these illegal and unconftitutional proceedings, though in the most peaceable way, were fummoned before the council, and if they perfifted in their refusal to lend the money, they were fent to prifon. Among these were Mr. Hampden, Sir John Elliot, and Sir Thomas Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford.-They were even denied the benefit of habeas corpus, and, by the unanimous decifion of King Charles's righteous judges, were remanded back to prifon. As this infatuated prince could not thus procure money enough to + Rushworth, T. 1. p. 418. carry carry on the war with France, he called a third parliament, fent warrants to all parts for releafing the gentlemen from prison who had refufed to lend him money, met his parliament, promised to redress all these grievances, and "That noe man should be hereafter compelled ર to make or yielde any guife, loane, "benevolence, tax, or fuch like charge, "without common confent by act of par"liament." In confequence of this, his grateful parliament gave him five fubfidies, which the king acknowledged was the greatest gift that had ever been given in parliament t. Charles foon quarrelled with this parliament alfo, and in the fourth year of his reign had recourse again to his old expedients. 5. Monopolies. James the Ift. granted many of these, and his fon followed his example. Between them both, almoft every article of trade was betrayed into the hands of monopolifts; falt, foap, beer, coals, cards, ftarch, wine, old rags, &c. * Rushworth, T. 1. p. 588. + Ibid. No |