146 - Concerning the reply that was given to what the bishop and the knight said

Summary

The king spoke to a bishop and a knight who knew about this, to the effect that they should propose it privately to the proctors of the towns and cities, to see what response they would find among them. They spoke as best they could to everybody, expounding the king's intention, how he wished to collect that money for the honour and benefit of the realm. So that they should not have any doubts in this respect, they said it pleased the king that they should choose a treasurer to receive all that money and spend it when he waged war, once the period of truce was over, on men-at-arms and assembling a fleet.

When the proctors heard the arguments put to them by the bishop and the knight, they said they would take counsel on it. The following day they all met together in one place to discuss such an action. Among the arguments put forward, they demonstrated that the kingdom gave each year to the king a sales tax of ten per cent that yielded 18 contos in good coinage and a further six sums of money that were worth ten contos, plus seven contos from the ancient privileges; thus, in all, he had 35 contos. Without their knowing how such a great sum of money was spent, it was disgraceful to promise more. So they asked if he would be so good as to tell them how everything was spent, and to impose regulations on it, especially in the amounts given to men-at-arms and light horsemen. Moreover, on account of the great needs of war, and through pleasing the lords and noblemen, he was taking on so many as vassals, giving them lands that they held from him, that it went beyond all reason. Now that he had made a truce with Portugal, it was good to exercise some moderation in this, and equally with his many other expenses; and if there was any money left over, he ought not to impose any further tributes on them. Should they find that the money was insufficient, they would be ready to do what the king requested.