In a town, he
might have watchmen to help him see that the streets were peaceful
at night. The constable assisted the Justice of the Peace, the
high constable, and the Sheriff. He pressed men into military
service. He collected taxes for the Sheriff and collected the
money for purveyance, the money for the poor, maimed soldiers, and
various kinds of prisoners, which the parish had to pay. He was
often the spokesman for the village in village concerns, such as
too many alehouses, brought to the attention of justices at
quarter sessions. The constable and churchwardens together
collected money for the parish, looked after the needy, and kept
in close touch with the overseers of the poor, who cared for the
sick and old, found work for the idle, took charge of bastards,
apprenticed orphan children, and provided supplies for the
workhouse.
In 1609 the East India Company was given a monopoly by the Crown
that was indefinitely long as long as it was profitable to the
realm in the King's opinion. Interlopers were to forfeit their
ships and goods, one-half to the Company and one-half to the
Crown. Monopoly status made the Company competitive with the Dutch
and Portuguese monopoly companies. The Crown received a gift or a
loan from the Company in return. At first, the Company raised
capital for each separate voyage. But voyages tried to undercut
each other and rival factions squabbled over cargoes.
Pages:
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741