..
which by the fundamental constitutions of this kingdom were
reserved on the peoples' behalf in the right and power of frequent
and successive parliaments or national meetings in council", and
maintaining a war against his subjects, which amounted to treason.
To prevent his adherents from trying to reinstate him, he was
condemned to death and beheaded in January 1649.
Parishes had to give maintenance to maimed soldiers and provision
for the livelihood to the wives and children of killed soldiers.
Masters of apprentices who became soldiers had to take them back
as apprentices without loss for their absence in defense of the
Commonwealth. Masters who received considerable loss by the
absence of their apprentices received reasonable satisfaction from
the public stock.
To pay for the civil war, an assessment tax on the yearly value of
rents, annuities, and offices was often levied. The main burden of
this tax fell on the gentry rather than the merchants and smaller
men of property, as previous taxes had. An excise tax, a tax on
consumption, was begun on ale and beer and then extended to meat,
salt, starch, soap, and paper. It was gradually extended to many
goods. The excise taxes were paid, as was the customs tax, by
manufacturers on goods made in England and by foreign
manufacturers on goods at the ports.
From 1640-60, Royalists were purged from Oxford and a group of
Baconians moved into the university behind Parliamentary armies.
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