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SIR JOHN FROISSART
Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the adjoining countries
from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV. Vol.8
page 243
fhould we be thus heavily taxed, and nothing done $** ! Yes, y^s,' replied others: 4 let them call on the king's council, the' pchbifeop of York and the duke of Ireland, who received fi*ty thoufand francs,' fpr the ranfom of John of Brittany, from the coa-ftable of France, which ought to haye gone to the general profit of. the kingdom. Let them call on fir Simon Burley, fir William Elmham, fir Thomas Brand, fir Robert Trefilian and fir John Beau» champ, who have governed the king. If they gave a true account of the fums raifed in, England, or were forced fo to do, there would be more than money enough to pay all expenfes, suid poor people might remain in quiet.1
The king's uncles were mpçh pleafed when thefe fpeeches ^ere told them ; for thofe they had named were unfriendLy to their interefts, and oppofed their obtaining any favours from the court. They encouraged fuch difcourfes, and, to gam popularity, laid j \ The good people who hold fuch language ?ire well advifed in wifhing to. have ah account of the management of the finances, and in refufing to pay their taxes; for, in good truth, there is cafl\ pnough either in the purfes of the king or of thofe yrbo govern him.*
By degrees, this difcontent was much increafed among the people, who declared againft any tax being laid on, and who grew bolder in their lan* guagê when they faw lhat the king's uncles, the archbifhop of Canterbury, the earls of Salifbury and Northumberland, with many other great barons, *• ^ • • • • • ' . ' fupported
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