ons,
were not, during several years, in a condition to give any more
disturbance to England; and Henry had full leisure to prosecute his
designs on the continent.

The reason why the war against France proceeded so slowly on the part
of England, was the want of money. All the treasures of Henry VII. were
long ago dissipated; the king's habits of expense still remained; and
his revenues were unequal even to the ordinary charge of government,
much more to his military enterprises. He had last year caused a general
survey to be made of the kingdom; the numbers of men, their years,
profession, stock, revenue;[*] and expressed great satisfaction on
finding the nation so opulent. He then issued privy seals to the most
wealthy, demanding loans of particular sums: this act of power, though
somewhat irregular and tyrannical, had been formerly practised by kings
of England; and the people were now familiarized to it. But Henry, this
year, carried his authority much further. He published an edict for
a general tax upon his subjects, which he still called a loan; and he
levied five shillings in the pound upon the clergy, two shillings upon
the laity. This pretended loan, as being more regular, was really more
dangerous to the liberties of the people, and was a precedent for the
king's imposing taxes without consent of parliament.

* Herbert. Stowe, p. 514.

Henry soon after summoned a parliament, together with a convocation; and
found neither of them in a disposition to complain of the infringement
of their privileges. It was only doubted how far they would carry their
liberality to the king. Wolsey, who had undertaken the management of the
affair, began with the convocation, in hopes that their example would
influence the parliament to grant a large supply. He demanded a moiety
of the ecclesiastical revenues to be levied in five years, or two
shillings in the pound during that time; and though he met with
opposition, he reprimanded the refractory members in such severe terms,
that his request was at last complied with. The cardinal afterwards,
attended by several of the nobility and prelates, came to the house of
commons; and in a long and elaborate speech laid before them the public
necessities, the danger of an invasion from Scotland, the affronts
received from France, the league in which the king was engaged with the
pope and the emperor; and he demanded a grant of eight hundred thousand
pounds, divided into four yearly