The barons and knights of the county agreed to pay an 11th, the
burgesses, a 7th, and the clergy a 10th on their other movables.
In time, several boroughs sought to be included in the county
representation so they could pay the lower rate. This new system
of taxation began the decline of the imposition of feudal aids,
knights' fees, scutages, carucage, and tallage, which had been
negotiated by the Exchequer with the reeves of each town, the
sheriff and county courts of each county, and the bishops of each
diocese.
The staple [depot or mart, from the French "estaple"] system began
when the export of wool had increased and Parliament initiated
customs duties of 6s.8d. on every sack of wool, woolfells
[sheepskin with wool still on it], or skins exported in 1275.
These goods had to be assessed and collected at certain designated
ports. Certain large wool merchants, the merchants of the staple,
were allowed to have a monopoly on the purchase and export of
wool. Imports of wine were taxed as tunnage as before, that is
there was a royal right to take from each wine ship one cask for
every ten at the price of 20s. per cask.
In 1297, Edward I confirmed the Magna Carta and other items.
Judgments contrary to Magna Carta were nullified. The documents
were to be read in cathedral churches as grants of Edward and all
violators were to be excommunicated. He also agreed not to impose
taxes without the consent of Parliament after baronial pressure
had forced him to retreat from trying to increase, for a war in
France, the customs tax on every exported sack of wool to 40s.
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