Is it true that there were no permanent taxes in England before 1640? If so, how did the king manage without them?
October 31, 2020 | Education
| Is it true that there were no permanent taxes in England before 1640? If so, how did the king manage without them? If not, why should the parliament be convened?
The king traditionally received a fixed amount from parliament annually for the expenses of his court and family. In addition, he received income from his estates. This was enough for running expenses (travel, receiving ambassadors, etc.), but not enough for recruiting an army or building a fleet. This required one-time taxes (they have been approved by parliament since the XIV century).
