1st October 1449. Loans to the state made by Lords Sudeley and the Earl of Arundel.

In 1449 the country was on the verge of bankruptcy. It became clear to nobles when only 3 months of salaries were offered to head an army in France. The standard was 12 months. John Watts in Henry VI and the Politics of Kingship notes that:

“…during 1449-50 no one higher than Lord Powys was prepared to go..”

A Great Council was called, which met in September 1449. Following this, a Parliament was summoned, which, unusually, was accompanied by requests of loans.

Lord Sudeley and the Earl of Arundel made loans of 100 marks each on 1st October 1449. The Earl of Wiltshire, Grey of Ruthin, Earl of Devon and the Duke of Norfolk soon followed suit.

The financial situation was the first political matter addressed in the November 1449 Parliament, although an outbreak of the Plague had seen Parliament prorogued until spring of 1450. Taxation was set:

And thus for every whole 20 s . arising from the said annual value of 20 s . from any of the foregoing, over and above the annual charges thereof, to and at the sum of £20, 6 d

And;

persons have any such estate, possession or occupation, up to any annual value exceeding the sum of £20 and up to the sum of £200, over and above the annual charge thereof, for every 20 s . of such value, 12 d

Source: Translations of Parliamentary Roll, British History Online