+Source.+--Holinshed, Vol. III., p. 496.
King Henry, sorely troubled in his mind therewith, determining no more
with peaceable message, but with open war to determine all
controversies betwixt him and the French King, called his high court
of Parliament and there declared the cause why he was justly provoked
to make war against the Frenchmen, and thereupon desired them of their
benevolent aid of men and money towards the maintenance thereof. The
cause was so just that every man allowed it and to the setting forth
of the war taken in hand for so necessary an occasion, every man
promised his helping hand. The king commended them for their true and
faithful hearts. And to the intent that he might spare the poorer sort
of the commons (whom he ever desired to keep in favour) he thought
good first to exact money of the richest sort by way of a benevolence.
Which kind of levying money was first devised by King Edward the
Fourth, as it appeareth before in his history. King Henry, following
the like example, published abroad that by their open gifts he would
measure and search their benevolent hearts and good minds towards him,
and he that gave little to be esteemed according to his gift. By this
it appeareth that whatsoever is practised for the prince's profit and
brought to a precedent by matter of record, may be turned to the great
prejudice of the people, if rulers in authority will so adjudge and
determine it. But by this means King Henry got innumerable great sums
of money, with some grudge of the people, for the extremity shewed by
the commissioners in divers places.