Page:A short English constitutional history for law students (IA shortenglishcons00hamm).pdf/41

 Under Edward HJ. Parliament definitely estab- lished that redress of gricvances must precede the grant of supplies. iv. Under Henry VI. the auditing of accounts was first commenced, but was subsequently permitted to lapse. -. Although direct taxation was being less fre- quently resorted to by the Crown without Parliamentary sanction, there remained open the possibility of raising taxes indirectly by means of the royal prerogative relating to trade and custom duties which the Kings made the most of, Henry VIL, with the Star Chamber ready at hand to enforce his bidding, raised forced loans and benevolences. Under Henry VIIL and the remaining ‘Tudor Sovereigns arbitrary taxation became more rare, the Crown being able to secure fairly freely from Parliament all that was required. Under the Stuarts the question of illegal taxa- tion was brought to a head; these Monarchs, unlike the Tudors, were unable to keep peace with their Parliaments and consequently were forced to raise money in any way possible in order to dispense with the necessity of summon- ing Parliament at all. Two well-known cases serve to illustrate the history of the period: Bate’s Case, under James 1.* Phe Case of Ship Money, under Charles I.* Both these cases were decided in favour of the Crown; but it must be remembered that the judges in those times were very much under the influence of the Crown and held their office during the “royal pleasure.” After the Revolution arbitrary taxation by the Crown ceased. a. Under William and Mary the audit of accounts was re-established, and the “ Civil List” was instituted for the expenses of - the King and the Royal Household, Par- liament granting a certain amount therefor: i a