Question 1
1 ‘Finance was the main challenge facing the Councils during the period from 1377 to 1380.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view.
Source A: A chronicler gives an account of the first Parliament of the new reign in 1377.
There were granted for the king’s use by church and clergy, two tenths payable that year, on condition that the king should not burden the people with other demands for his subjects’ money, but should live of his own. In any case it was alleged that his own royal resources were sufficient both to maintain the king’s household and to continue the war, if suitable ministers managed them. Two citizens of London were appointed to be custodians of this money.
The St Albans Chronicle, written before 1422.
Source B: A chronicler describes events in the war with France in 1378.
It was decided by the Common Council of England that Sir John Neville, lord of Raby, should become Seneschal of Gascony, following the capture of Sir Thomas Felton, and should go to Bordeaux with five hundred men-at-arms and as many archers. But he was delayed for a long time by lack of ships, to his very great disadvantage and loss. The good citizens of Bordeaux secretly took counsel how they could harass their enemies and were advised to make a sortie from the town at night. After a night was chosen, they carefully and suitably arrayed themselves for war in their best manner and made their way to a very strong town which was hostile to them, which they took by force with many prisoners and a great quantity of wine.
Anonimalle Chronicle, written towards the end of the fourteenth century.
Source C: A chronicler outlines events in 1378.
Although the duke of Lancaster had drawn wages for keeping the seas and the kingdom, so that he and his men could be ready to go to sea by 1 March, he postponed his embarkation until after June 24. So those who were going to go with him, having spent their wages, were assembled, not at sea, but in their own land. From dire necessity they turned their hands to plunder, and, apart from burning towns and killing people, they did almost as much damage as the French would, had they been there. In consequence there arose universal grumbling among the people, not only from those who were harassed by the plundering, but also those who were compelled to steal.
Chronicon Angliae, written in the fourteenth century.
Source D: An account is given of the meeting of Parliament at Northampton in October – December 1380.
When the prelates and the lords had pondered and discussed this matter at length, they caused the commons to appear before them and gave them their advice. First their advice was to raise a certain sum of groats from every person within the realm. Second their advice was to have an imposition from all types of merchandise bought and sold. Thirdly their advice was to raise a sum by tenths and fifteenths. But, because the tenths and fifteenths were very grievous to the poor commons and the impositions were as yet untried so no one could know what sum would be raised, it seemed to the lords that if they chose to levy four or five groats from every person, this would provide a notable sum by which the king could be assisted.
Rolls of Parliament 1380.
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