Subsidy

The subsidy offered Charles a way to ease his financial difficulties. Nevertheless, cooperation with Catholic France raised religious and political concerns in England. A promise within a secret agreement must be distinguished from an action actually carried out: Charles did not publicly convert in 1670.

Wolsey’s subsidies used assessments of income and wealth to judge ability to pay more accurately. Those with greater resources paid more. This brought in more money than reliance on the older system: subsidies raised £170,000 between 1513 and 1516.

MPs resisted granting subsidies for the war in Ireland until the monopolies issue was addressed.