The fiscal constitution of later medieval England : the reign of Henry VI
This thesis is an examination of the constitutional framework of public finance during the reign of Henry VI, prior to the âWars of the Rosesâ. Its central theme is that the governments of Henry VIâs minority and majority rule could not transcend the parameters of scholastic fiscal theory and negotiate generous lay tax grants as a means of effectively financing the Hundred Yearsâ War after the Treaty of Troyes and expansive permanent charges. Parliament preferred to grant low levels of lay taxation, the payment of which was spread out over lengthy time periods, and attempt to increase public revenue by alternative means, namely the granting of novel indirect taxes on aliens and alien poll taxes, and the underwriting of largeâscale loans. In financial terms this strategy failed, and led to increasing problems at the exchequer. Despite notable efforts to efficiently bring in lay tax revenue and manage creditors, a rising tide of government debt characterised the 1430s and 1440s. The only means of effectively resolving this fiscal crisis was through parliamentâs granting of a higher level of lay taxation, which the Commons resolutely opposed. Henry VIâs apparent absence from the politics of his
Brayson, Alex
The fiscal constitution of later medieval England : the reign of Henry VI. This thesis is an examination of the constitutional framework of public finance during the reign of Henry VI, prior to the âWars of the Rosesâ. Its central theme is that the governments of Henry VIâs minority and majority rule could not transcend the parameters of scholastic fiscal theory and negotiate generous lay tax grants as a means of effectively financing the Hundred Yearsâ War after the Treaty of Troyes and expansive permanent charges. Parliament preferred to grant low levels of lay taxation, the payment of which was spread out over lengthy time periods, and attempt to increase public revenue by alternative means, namely the granting of novel indirect taxes on aliens and alien poll taxes, and the underwriting of largeâscale loans. In financial terms this strategy failed, and led to increasing problems at the exchequer. Despite notable efforts to efficiently bring in lay tax revenue and manage creditors, a rising tide of government debt characterised the 1430s and 1440s. The only means of effectively resolving this fiscal crisis was through parliamentâs granting of a higher level of lay taxation, which the Commons resolutely opposed. Henry VIâs apparent absence from the politics of his
fiscal constitution later_medieval england reign henry examination constitutional framework public finance reign henry prior wars central_theme government henry minority majority rule could transcend parameter scholastic fiscal theory negotiate lay tax grant mean effectively finance hundred years war treaty expansive permanent charge parliament prefer grant low_level lay taxation payment spread lengthy time_period attempt increase public revenue alternative mean namely grant novel indirect tax alien alien poll tax large_scale loan financial term strategy fail lead_increase problem exchequer despite notable effort efficiently bring lay tax revenue manage creditor rise government debt characterise mean effectively resolve fiscal crisis parliament grant high_level lay taxation resolutely oppose henry apparent absence politics