31.—Suggestion to fix a Rent-charge in Lieu.

It appears from the journals that the original intention was to raise the sums to be granted by way of compensation for the proposed abolition of the feudal revenues by an assessment upon the lands which had previously paid those revenues. "The main question being put, it was resolved (in a Committee of the whole House) that the sum of £100,000 a year, to be settled on the king's majesty, his heirs and successors, in lieu of taking away the court of wards and liveries, and tenures in capite and by knight-service, be generally charged upon all lands " ^c.

The apportionment had actually been made out. A paper containing an apportionment of £100,000 per annum ^d, to be settled on his Majesty in com- page 190 pensation for the court of wards (being brought in by the Committee to whom the same was referred) was this day read, and is as followeth, viz.:—

	£	£
Yorkshire	West Riding	2,520	5,800
Yorkshire	North Riding	1,930	5,800
Yorkshire	East Riding	1,350	5,800
Devon		5,000
Essex		4,800
Kent		4,800

&c., &c., &c., ^e

On the 13th of November several members moved to raise money by a land tax, and Mr. Eyre moved to raise £800,000, half by the excise, and the other half by a land rate ^f. And again on the 19th November, many members spoke strongly against the excise, and in favour of a tax on land; "which, they said, ought to pay, and not to charge it upon the poor people, by way of Excise" ^g.