The Smoke-Penny, Chimney Tax, or Hearth-Money, previously alluded to, so
oppressive to the poor, and so obnoxious generally, by exposing every
man’s house to be entered and searched at pleasure, had become so
unpopular that one of the earliest proceedings of the first Parliament of
William and Mary was to substitute a grant in “aid,” of £68,820 per
month, for six months, payable in proportions; the entire assessment for
Shropshire being £1203, and those for the several parishes in the
allotment of Madeley, at 12d. in the £, as under:—
£ s. d.
Madeley 17 02 04
Little Wenlock 10 04 06
Huntington 03 11 10
Beckbury 05 09 02
Badger 03 13 06½
£40 01 7½
The principle ever since continued of specific annual grants to the king
by votes of Parliament, partially acted upon by Charles II., but wholly
disregarded by the Parliament of the succeeding reign, was now fully
established.