[1] If little Arthur has forgotten what I mean by the people being free, let him read the eighth chapter over again.
CHAPTER XXII.
HENRY III.—1216 to 1272.
Why taxes are paid; how Henry the Third robbed the people; how Simon de Montfort fought against King Henry, and made him agree not to tax the people without the consent of the parliament.
The reign of John’s son, who was called Henry the Third, was very long and very miserable. He was made king when he was only nine years old, and there were civil wars for almost fifty years while he lived.
You must think that such a little boy as Henry was, when he was made king, could not do much for himself, or anything at all for his subjects. But he had a wise guardian, called the Earl of Pembroke, who did many things to repair the mischief done by King John. However, that wise man died very soon, and then the king behaved so ill that there was nothing but quarrelling and fighting for the greater part of his life.
I think you do not know what TAXES are; I must tell you, that you may understand some things you must read about in History.
Taxes are the money which subjects pay to the king, or to those persons who govern his kingdom for him.
I must now tell you why taxes are paid. Every man likes to live safely in his own house; he likes to know that he and his wife, and his children, may stay there without being disturbed, and that they may go to sleep safely, and not be afraid that wild beasts, or wicked men, or enemies like the old Danes, may come and kill them while they are asleep. Next to his life and the lives of his wife and children, a man likes to know that his money and his furniture are safe in his house, and that his horses and cows, and his trees and his corn-fields, are safe out of doors.
Now he could never have time to watch all these things himself, and perhaps he might not be strong enough to fight and drive away the wicked men who might try to rob or kill him; so he gives money, which he calls taxes, to the king, who pays soldiers and sailors to keep foreign enemies away, and policemen to watch the streets and houses, to keep away thieves and robbers: besides he pays the judges to punish men who are found doing anything wrong.
So you see that whoever wishes to live safely and comfortably ought to pay some taxes.