Ship Money Flashcards
Outline Ship Money from inspection to the Sovereign of Seas
- 1631 inspects dockyards and demands report on navy, clambering onboard every ship and asking questions.
- Ship building programme : 4 new ships built by 1634. Sovereign of Seas launched autumn 1637 with 102 guns and a model.
What were benefits and consequences of Ship Money?
+ - Regulate foreign shipping, protect trade from piracy, bolster negotiations.
/- Dutch still annihilated Spanish fleet in English water at Downs, 1639.
How did the first and second writ differ?
First writ on 20 October 1634 raised over 90% with Charles to be master of the seas. Second writ more controversial but remained the model for decade. Second writ, 1635, requested £218,500, almost 5 subsidies. Yet 90% raised. Protests after realisation it would be annual, Saye and Sele refused to pay, sued a constable and lost two oxen.
What was the test case for Hampden’s Trial?
Early test case with Saye and Sele resolved ship money to be used in national emergency determined by government.
What did Russell argue about Hampden Trial?
- Russell – 12 judges handpicked yet 5 didn’t uphold Charles’ view. Judges valued Parliament’s consent to taxation. Hearings attended by those with humble origins.
What did judges argue at the Hampden Case?
- Oliver St John argued a Parliament may be called in time writs are issued but Holborne argued broadly about prerogative. Alison Gill argued that opposition became ‘more determined and more violent.’
Why did Hampden Trial arguably have tiny impact?
Collection delayed by 3 months but final yield was still 90% despite the plague and difficulties with Scotland – case had little impact.
What rating disputes were there?
- Middlesex – Chelsea protested at ship money ratings, when Acton paid more for subsidy yet they were charged equally.
- Cambridge – so many exempt due to University privilege.
were rating disputes significant or not?
Argued that rating disputes were a safe method of taking a stand against the levy as unconstitutional. Even with disputes between 1634-40 £800,000 was paid into Treasury of the Navy and was swift. Coastal counties paid best. Resistance to pay showed through complaints and country had legal consciousness.
Why did Ship Money end?
Ship money a means of calling off Parliament indefinitely. Ship money ended with Bishops War. Subordinate officers couldn’t not pay as this would threat locals. Gentry were underassessed, Hampden paid £1. Tax strike in 1639 due to ship money and coat and conduct payment, unpaid constables refused to make payments.
