Royalists reportedly impose heavy taxes on Bristol

3 Aug 1643 (Thu) || Since the Surrendring of Bristoll, it is reported, that the King hath forbidden the Inhabitants thereof to pay any money that they owe to the City of London, but they must pay them yo such as He hath appointed to receive them, and that He will give them discharges for such debts, which, if it be true, how contrary such Commands are to Gods word, any man may discerne that readeth Ezek. 45.9.

And now it is more fully related, that Bristoll hath beene pillaged, and whereas they had compounded to pay 50000. pounds; Prince Rupert hath imposed 150000. pounds upon then, and they are also commanded to maintaine 6000. men in garrison, and to set forth 30. ships presently for the Kings service, whence they may perceive that their cowardly yeilding, hath brought upon themselves, a slavish and arbitrary government, and whereas not long since they refused to lend Sir William Waller 10000. pounds, they are now forced to part with greater summers, but it may be, as seemeth by their easie yeilding, they love the Cavaliers better then them, and desire to be rid of their moneys by force and constraint, and then, Volenti non fit injuria.¹ || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

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¹ “To a willing person, no injury is done”; a principle of law, by which if someone willingly puts themselves in danger, they can’t blame anyone else.

Situation update from Hull

14 Jul 1643 (Fri) || By Letters this day from the Lord Fairfax to the House of Commons, it was certified, That his Lordship¹ is in a very good condition at Hull, with about 1500 men; That only stayes there to recrewt his Forces, and intends very suddenly to advance again into the Field against the Popish Army, who of late do much tyrannize, by charging the Countrey with illegall Taxes and Compositions for Plundering; That Leeds and Bradford are for the present in the hands of the Popish Army, but he doubts not very suddenly to give accompt of some considerable service for the relief of the County against them. || A Perfect Diurnall of Some Passages in Parliament (P)

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¹ i.e. Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax

Wealthy London citizens reportedly refuse to contribute

6 Jul 1643 (Thu) || This day we had intelligence, that 60 able Citizens of London were in the beginning of this weeke summoned to appeare at Habberdashers hall, who being requested to lend 500l a man, answered, that they had lent, given and contributed according to their abilities and therefore desired now to be excused, which so discontented the Publike faith men, that they said openly, if a good bargaine or purchase should offer it selfe to them they would quickly finde monies, but the wise Cittizens perceived the reigne of these members begins to expire, and this over earnest scraping for mony is a shrewd signe they are packing up, to carry all they can to their Publique cheat beyond sea, where such vast summes are laid up in bance, for the future maintenance of the banished Members. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Parliament imposes commodities taxes

17 May 1643 (Wed) || Yesterday the Honourable house of Commons sate close upon an Assize, which is a rate they will impose upon all manner of Merchandises, goods, and commodities, either to be imported or exported out of the Kingdome, and they imposed two shillings upon every pound of Tobacco, two pence upon every quart of Spanish wines, and one penny upon every quart of French wines; upon a Barrell of strong Beere two shillings, and upon a Barrell of small Beere six pence. And this day they imposed rates upon Gold and Silver-Lace, and upon Linnen Cloth, and after this manner they intend to proceed upon all other Wares to the intent that they may raise a constant and continuall supply for the maintenance of their Armies, onely so long as these civill Warres continue, which God grant may be speedily ended, so as the true Reformed Protestant Religion, the Priviledges of Parliament, the Lawes of the Land, the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and the Kings legall and just Prerogative, together with His Safety, may be firmly established. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

Sussex villagers refuse to pay Parliamentarian assessment

21 Apr 1643 (Fri) || Out of the County of Sussex it is informed, that at Pulborow, a Village in that shire, a Company of Malevolents were gathered together, who stood upon their guard, and refused to pay the weekly Assessments for the maintenance of the Parliaments Army, and they had elected one Master Bishop, brother unto Sir Edward Bishop to be their Captaine, and they much sleighted Collonell Stapelyes, and Collonell Morleyes Troopes of Horse, threatning, that if they durst come amongst them, they would send them packing without their horses and Armes, but when it came to the upshot, and that the horse appeared indeed before them, they were glad to submit, and disband themselves. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

Parliament employs troops to enforce London tax collection

Sunday 9 Apr 1643 || This day we had particular intelligence, that according to an Order made in the House of Commons the weeke before, for taking six Musketeers from the Court of Guard, to assist their Officers in collecting the monethly Taxe, and plundering the houses of all such as refused to pay it, there was great spoile committed in the Citie of Westminster; most of the Inhabitants thereof, out of their duty and obedience to their Soveraigne Lord, refusing to contribute to the Warre against him: and that they did begin to Plunder in the Prebendaries houses, none of which they spared, because they met with none but refused to pay so unjust a Taxe (but for a more unjust imployment) as was set upon them; which done, they fell upon the Towne, spoiling and robbing every one, of what sort soever, who had denied to yeild his purse at the first demand. So that it seemeth by the method, that the best way to spoile and oppresse the Subjects, is to begin in the oppression and spoile of the Clergy. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Berwick inhabitants refuse to pay Royalist tax

1 Apr 1643 (Sat) || From Barwicke they write, that the Commissioners of Array in Northumberland, have imposed a Taxe of 1500.li. to be levied upon the Inhabitants thereof, towards the maintenance of the Queenes Jesuiticall Army, which they refuse to pay, because it is illegally imposed upon them, whereupon Colonell Muschampe is gone thither with foure Regiments of Souldiers, and two peeces of Ordnance to forces and constraine them to make payment of that Taxe; and to that purpose, the said Collonell and his Companies are come to Warke within fourteene miles of Barwicke; but it is thought, that they will not dare to enter the Towne in a Hostile way, for angring the Scots, and making a breach between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, yet the Townsmen are making ready to stand upon their guard, though without any Ordnance, for they were carried away to Hull when the last Pacification was made betweene the King and the Scots. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

Southwark inhabitants refuse to pay war taxes

18 Mar 1642/3 (Sat) || It was advertised that there were 10000 men or upwards gathered together in the Burrough of Southwarke, to resist those that came to plunder for the 20. part, and did beate them backe: and that they continued in this posture till the Afternoone, when Captaine Mainwaring (he whom His Majesty hath branded for his seditious courses, both in his Proclamations, and other writings) came with his forces and dispersed them, taking some nine Apprentices and others of small note, who were committed to the Prisons. And it is signified withall, that whilest these tumults held, and as often as the Plunderers came, the people of Southwarke cried aloud, Cut the Round-heads throates, for they may as lawfully take our purses, as plunder our houses: which words were proved at a Committee, and makes some sober men believe that this is but the Prologue to a further play; and that the people will not long endure these pressures, which every day begin to increase upon them. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Sir William Russell allegedly tyrannises Worcester & Tewkesbury

27 February 1642/3 (Mon) || Out of Worcestershire it is informed, that the King hath made Sir William Russell High Sheriffe of that County, and Governor of the City of Worcester, by force whereof he Tyranniseth with such insolency, that he hath deprived the Major of his Authority and government, and made him a meere cypher, he hath Violated the Ancient Charters and Priviledges of that City, and like an absolute Conqueror, he hath imposed an arbitrary and illegall tribute and monethly Taxe of 3000 li. upon that County, and with rigour and severity compelleth the Inhabitants to make strict and exact payment there, whereby the City and whole County of Worcester is utterly disabled, to yeeld the weekely contribution of 566. poundes 13 shillings, lately ordered by the Parliament, to be paid by them for the supporting of their Army, unlesse he be driven from thence by force and armes, which is not likely to be effected yet, because the Parliament hath no forces, nor any considerable partie in that County, the most part of the Inhabitants thereof being disaffected Malevolents , who, as it seemeth by their ready complyance with the Cavaliers, ardently desire to grone under the yoke of their bondage.

And it is further Informed from thence, that the said Sir William Russell dealt most perfidiously with Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, for he promised the Inhabitants thereof, that if they would peaceably admit him into their towne, that he would not injure or damnifie any of them which they granted upon those conditions: and hee was no sooner gotten in, but presently he began to search for armes, and finding none, in an Imperious manner he menaced to pillage them if they would not discover where they were hidden, the Townsmen submisly and truly answered, that the Souldiers which were lately departed from thence to Gloucester, had taken them all along with them, whereat he grew inraged, and imposed a fine of 3000. li. upon them for suffering their armes to be carried away: ut canem cedas facile invenies baculum, he had an intent to get their monyes from them, and made that a colour for it, which they could not remedy. In his words, he professeth himselfe to be a Protestant, but all his Councell of warre are known to be strong Papists, whose irrefragable¹ Principle is not to keepe promise with those whom they may terme Hereticks. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

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¹ indisputable, incontestable

London tax collectors face refusals; dissenting officials officials committed to prison

25 January 1642/3 || By Letters it was this day certified, that upon Friday last, the House of Commons sent for diverse of the City to demand payment of the 20. part which they were Assessed at; but that the Aldermen, and others which were then convented, did refuse to pay it: whereupon sundry of them were committed presently; an Order being made that daye by the House of Commons, that eight Aldermen should be shipped away for Colchester Gaole, or if that were too full, to the Gaole at Harwich. And when it was objected on their parts, that such Commitment was against the Law of the Land, and that it had beene so adjudged in the case of Bastwick, Pryn, and Burton: Answer was made, that they had beene committed by inferioue Courts, but these by Ordinance of Parliament which nice distinction, I doubt, will hardly satisfie these unhappy men who suffer under it; or those who may hereafter suffer by it. For fetters will bee fetters still, though they be of gold; and men will judge of their captivity and thraldome, not by the quallity of their Judge, but by the cause of their restraint. ||

This day in Aldersgate-street, the Sessors came to sesse the twentieth part of the goods, that were generally denyed, one Gentleman said flatly that he would not give a farthing, and the Vintners wife at the Starre in Aldersgate-street brought her five children to them, protesting that these were all the twentieth part of goods they were like to have of her. ||

Sir George Whitmore, Master [Michael] Gardiner, sent to the Tower, from thence with Sir Richard Gurney, late Lord Mayor, and two other, are tomorrow to be sent unto the Island where Master Prin and Master Burton were kept prisoners; some say no further then Colchester.¹ || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

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¹ Whitmore  and Gurney were Royalist officials who had in various ways refused to cooperate with London’s Parliamentarian junta. Whitmore was moved on to Yarmouth, and then other prisons; Gurney was in fact never moved, and remained in the Tower until his death in 1647. Gardiner, the Commons Journal reveals (20 January 1643), was a vintner who had refused to pay Parliament’s “twentieth” tax and was sent to Norwich city gaol. Presumably the uncooperative vintner’s wife mentioned above, was his.