siastic can be found. From the list given in the Parliamentary History, vol. 1. p. 492, it appears, on the contrary, that the earl of Wiltshire was in this committee as the proctor of the clergy. The first seeds of the Reformation were sown, according to Blackstone, by the sixteenth statute of Richard II, which provided for the endowment of vicarages, in all future appropriations of benefices to monasteries. Comm. book 4. ch. 33. But this was only a prospective act, merely providing that in the progress of the practice of appropriation the church should not be left wholly destitute of a parochial clergy. Parl. Hist. vol. 1. p. 448. When the usurpations of the Roman pontiff had prepared the soil, the true seed of the Reformation was sown by the doctrine of Wicliffe.

(k) This objection, with some others, was advanced by Melancthon in the following censure. Inspexi et Uuiglephum, qui valde tumultuatur in hac controversia, sed deprehendi in eo multa alia errata, ex quibus judicium de spiritu ejus fieri potest. Prorsus nec intellexit, nec tenuit fidei justitiam. Inepte confundit evangelium et politica, nec videt evangelium nobis concedere ut legitimis omnium gentium politiis utamur. Contendit presbyteris non licere ut possideant quidquam proprium. Decimas nullis vult solvi nisi docentibus, quasi vero evangelium vetet uti

politicis ordinationibus. De dominio civili sophistice et plane seditiose rixatur. Ad eundem modum de cœna Domini sophistice cavillatur publice receptam sententiam. Lewis, p.

113.

(1) The tax required was three groats from every person, male or female, who had passed the age of fifteen years, of what state and condition soever except beggars; the sufficient people of every town being required to contribute to the assistance of the less able, so as that none should pay more than sixty groats for both himself and his wife. Parl. Hist. vol. 1. p. 361.

(m) However in the year 1428 a poll-tax was granted to Henry VI, but modified in regard to the situation and circumstances of various descriptions of people. Ibid. vol. 2. p. 201. In the year 1449 another poll-tax was granted to the same king, but this was limited to foreign merchants. Ibid. p. 250. In the year 1512 a tax of the same nature was granted to Henry VIII, but varied according to the ranks of the people from ten marks to one groat. Ibid. vol. 3. p. 14. In the year 1641 a poll-tax most minutely modified was voted, varying from one hundred pounds to sixpence. Ibid. vol. 9. p. 416. And a similar one was granted in the year 1660, after the Restoration. Ibid. vol. 22. p. 302, 460. But in truth a poll-tax,

in the same proportion in which it is subjected to such modifications, migrates from its own nature into a property-tax.

(n) This earl was the son of Philippa, only daughter of Lionel duke of Clarence, the third son of Edward III, whose second son died young. He was in the year 1386 declared presumptive heir of the crown. His descendants afterwards claimed the crown under the title of the house of York, Lionel having been subsequently created duke of York. Ibid. vol. 1. p. 387, 388.

(0) In the beginning of this reign the commons had contented themselves with praying the lords to appoint a council for the king.

(p) This was a direct violation of the statute of Edward III, which provided that no other than the specified acts should be considered as treasonable, unless they should have been so declared by the parliament.

(9) In the writs issued for electing members for this parliament a clause was introduced, ordering the sheriffs "to return those persons that were the most indifferent in the present disputes." This however was discovered, and the king was obliged to renew the writs, and even to specify that the obnoxious clause had been inserted contrary to the ancient form. Ibid. p. 411.

(r) Hume has particularly commended. Rich

ard II. for not having imposed any tax without the consent of the parliament, vol. 8. p. 46. But as his policy consisted in corrupting the parliament, and rendering it the instrument of his oppressions, little could be gained for his vindication even if this were established. Walsingham however charges him with practising various arbitrary acts of extortion, ending in the confiscation of seventeen counties.

LECTURE XXIX.

Of the history of England, from the beginning of the reign of Henry IV. in the year 1899, to that of the reign of Henry VIII. in the year 1509.

I CONCLUDED the preceding lecture at the deposition of Richard II, and the establishment of the family of Lancaster on the throne in the person of Henry IV, a memora