I was begotten in Calice and born in Kent, God sende me a good lot to pay my rent. Per Edward Tibbot, Sison, Grombalds Ashe, 300,725,1s. 2d. God save the bul of Westmerland. Robert Reerson, Vicare of Sokborne, 146,943,-5s. 10d. Fortuna an sorte nec curo forsan an forte. The Offices of the Kitchen, and Members of the same, Westm. 258,155,-5s. 10d. Out of this rich Lottery, God send advancement to Bexly. Per Parochianos de Bexly, in com. Kanc. 360,080, -1s. 3d. As God hath preserved me, so I trust he wil reward me. Frauncis Corbie, Seneschal of the Queenes Countie of Ireland, 347,714,-2s. 1d. For the hamlet of Radclife. If God sende us a good lot it may us prevaile. Heave after, poor Heaver, for the great Lot. Per the parish of Heaver, Kent, 159,467,-1s. 3d. Arthur Kempe, my father's eldest sonne, God send me a lot though I come after none. 91,223,-18. 3d. Topsham is buylded upon a red rydge, [bridge. I pray God sende a good lot to maintayne the kay and Per John Michell, Topsham, 354,651,—is. 2d. Wy twee hadden gherne een goet lot believet Godt. Anthon van Hove and Robert Harison, London, 286,984, -5s. 10d. The head of a snake with garlick, is good meate. Per Thomas Watson, Cirencest'r,-2s. ld. Hope made me venture. Per Henry Armiger, Bakonsthorpe, 260,076,-5s. I hope to hear the trumpet* sound, A lot worth to me a thousand pound. Edward Denis, Esquire, of Shewbroke, 185,370,—1s. 2d. * From this and similar allusions, we conclude that the greater lots were announced on being drawn with a flourish of trumpets. Draw Brighthemston a good lot, Or else return them a turbot. Per John Turpin, Sussex, 334,060,—18. 3d. One and thirty lots; God sende us a fayre day, And finishyng of the kaye. Per John Darte, of Barnest. (Barnstaple), 186,625,-5s. For the Haberdashers. Our sum put in, Is in hope to win. Per C. and H. of Lon. 119,958,-3s. 4d. Paule planteth, Apollo watereth, God giveth the increase. Will. Bedle, de Evesham, 315,301,—1s. 2d. We Cookes of London, which worke early and late, Per Rich. Tomson, Lond. 268,094,-18. 2d. Jesus est amor meus. P. Neh. Hornesey, de Frossend, 228,954,-1s. 3d. How so ever Saint Katherins whele shall be running, The inhabitauntes therof wil come home laughing. William Iden, S. Katherin's, 114,878,-1s. 3d. William Wood. A poore Wood I have been long, and yet am like to be, but if God of his grace send me the great lot, a rich Wood shal I be. Per London, 310,669, -1s. 3d. Gibers, Cole, and Florida Have brought me unto great decay; I pray to God, of his mercy and grace, Thomas Parkins, London, 115,335,-1s. 3d. For the town of Cambridge, in this open place, God save the Queene and the Duke of Norfolkes grace. Per Robert Sly, Maior of Cambridge, 105,470,-1s. 3d. Deus dat cui vult. Derrike Anthony, London, 115,063, -2s. 1d. God give us good fortune. By the Maior and Burgesses of Reading, 287,143,-5s. 10d. Allarde Bartering A maid and I am of advise To marry, if we get the great price. 50,547,-3s. 4d. We are poore butchers and come very lagg, We shall be fayne to take the bottell and the bagge. From Hastings we come, God send us good speed; Never a poor fisher town in England, What chaunce to me befal I am content withal. Sir George Speake, of Whitlackington, in Somersetshire, knight, 193,066,-5s. 10d. Privy Seals or Benevolences. This unpopular and unconstitutional mode of raising money from the subject, without the authority of Parliament, was invented by Edward IV. His example appears to have been imitated occasionally by Henry VII. Henry VIII. Mary, Elizabeth, James, and Charles I. Hall very circumstantially relates, in the quaint language of his time, the origin of this mode of subsidy, and of the name which it acquired. The King, preparing for a war with France, "conceived," says the Chronicler, "a new device in his imagination, by the which engine he might covertly persuade and entice his rich friends to give and grant him some convenient sum of money towards his inestimable charges and incredible costs; which thing if they did not willingly assent to, he then would impute the greater in gratitude or the more unkindness: whereupon he caused his officers to bring to him the most rich persons one after another, and to them he explained the cause, the purpose, and the necessity of the war begun, &c. King Edward had called before him a widow, much abounding in substance, and no less grown in years, of whom he merely demanded what she gladly would give him towards such great charges? By my troth,' quoth she, 'for thy lovely countenance thou shalt have even 201.' The king looking scarce for half the sum, thanked her, and lovingly kist her. Whether the smell of his breath did so comfort her stomach, or she esteemed the kiss of a king so precious a jewel, she swore incontinently that he should have 201. The king, willing to shew that this benefit was to him much acceptable, and not worthy to be put in oblivion, called this grant of money a benevolence. Notwithstanding that many with grudge and malevolence gave great sums towards that new-found Benevolence. using such gentle fashions towards them, with friendly prayer of their assistance in his necessity, so tempted them, that they could none otherwise do than frankly and frely yelde and geve hym a reasonable reward."* King James I. had frequent recourse to this method of raising money, to the great dissatisfaction of many of his subjects. Some illustration of the mode of levying these contributions in the county of Surrey, and of the complaints to which they gave rise, are subjoined. more. But * Vide Hall's Chronicle of the History of England, under the 13th of Edward the Fourth. (82.) A Privy Seal addressed by Queen Mary to William More, of Loselev, levying on him a Loan or Benevolence of £.20, A. D. 1556. By the Queene. Trustie and welbelovyd, we grete you well, and let you wit that, knowinge the fidelitie and faithfull good will you bere towards the suretie of or parson, and defence of yor contrey, the savegard wherof we doubt not but you do so much tender as you will not faile to do your possible endevor towards the mainten'nce and defence of the same. We understanding your habilitie, have appointed to take of youe by waye of lone the some of twentie pounds, to be repaid againe unto you between this and the feast of the nativitie of our Lord God, which shalbe in the yere a thowsand fyve hundreth fiftie-eight at the furthest. Wherfore our pleasure is you shall cause the said som'e of twentie poundes to be furth with uppon receipt herof delyvered unto or trustie and welbeloved John Skynner, esquier, to our use, whom we have appointed to receive the same at yor hands. And this our l'res of Pryvie Seale, subscribyd by the said John Skynner, confessinge the receipt of the said some to our use, shalbe suffycyent to bynd us and our heyres to repay and answer the said some, unto you or your assignes, at the day before appointed. And bycause we make our full accoumpt of the receipt of so much money at yor hands, we require you in no wise to faile us herein. Geven under our Pryvey Seal at or mannor of St. James, the xviith daie of September, the fourthe and fifthe yeare of or raine. |