The favourite system of this King was the Holy-War, and his intemperate zeal led to the point before us. Failing in the attempt to recover Jerusalem from the Saracens, he concluded a truce of three years with Saladan their King; and, on his return towards England through Germany, was made prisoner by the Arch-duke of Austria (upon a pretext that he had killed the Margrave Conrade at Tyre); who delivered him into the hands of the Emperor, where he remained a captive full fifteen months, till he was ransomed[143].
The sum demanded for the King's release is generally allowed to have been 100,000l.; though some writers reduce it a third part, and call it 100,000 marks; but, let it be either of them, it was, in those days, a sum not to be raised without the greatest extortion; and I am justified in saying, it was not done without what, eventually, almost amounted to sacrilege[144]. The church was ransacked for plate, which was pretended to have been only borrowed for the moment—but the debt was never repaid.
HENRY IV.
In the eleventh year of King Henry IV. a certain portion of the customs in the several ports, of subsidies in several ports, of the issues of the hamper [now the Hanaper], and of the profers [sic] of escheators and sheriffs, were, by the King's letters patent, set apart for the expences of his Household. This was done by the assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, assembled in the King's Council[145].
EDWARD IV.
In the Reign also of King Edward IV. it was usual for the King to grant to his servants, or ministers, assignments for their salaries, or debts, upon divers officers who were concerned in receiving his revenue; viz. upon Sheriffs of Counties, Bailiffs, or Men [fortè Mayors] of Towns, Collectors of Customs, Subsidies, &c. Upon these assignments the Assignees had Patent-Letters, Tallies of the Exchequer, or Writs of Liberate currant, made forth for their avail; and, in default of payment, they brought actions of debt in the Court of Exchequer, upon such Assignments, Tallies, or Liberates, against the Sheriffs, or other Officers aforesaid; many instances of which may be seen in the fifth year of King Edward IV. in the Placita coram Baronibus, 5 Edward IV. in the Rolls of the Exchequer[146].
The King was wont to distribute his revenue in such manner as he thought fit. He assigned, at his pleasure, part of it to the expences of his Household, and other parts to the expences of either civil government or war[147].
An act done within the verge of the King's Palace was said to be done in præsentiâ Regis. The party offending was tried in the Court held in the Palace, before the Steward and Marshal; and the proceedings there, were styled Placita Aulæ Domini Regis de Coronâ[148].