Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1177 The King's Pressure

"My client, Mr. Hampton of Buckinghamshire, protested against the payment of an unlawful tax, and therefore his conduct was honorable rather than innocent. In the past, when the kingdom was in danger, the kings were the first to ask for a grant. Gold, and then approved by the parliament. It is extremely rare for the king to directly require the subjects to pay taxes and declare to the subjects that this is his power. We have reason to suspect that the king violated the rights of the subjects under the pretext of defending the kingdom without the consent of the parliament. Property. If His Majesty the King cannot obtain the consent of the Parliament, my client suggests that His Majesty the King should cancel the collection of ship taxes as soon as possible to ensure the majesty of the royal power."

Defense lawyer St. John made a conclusion after arguing with the judge.

After his words fell, the jury and the jury were whispering in the courtroom.

Many gentry and nobles who held similar views to Hampton were moved by St. John's defense. They did not object to Charles I enjoying the royal power, but the royal power must be exercised through Parliament.

"It's a wonderful defense. I don't know how His Majesty the King and the judges will fight back. If they can't find a reasonable reason, then Hampton will win the case, which seems to be a good thing for us." Cromwell After the gentry and nobles patiently listened to the debate between the defense lawyer and the judge representing Charles I, it was obvious that St. John had the upper hand. The tradition of parliament made it difficult for Charles I to cross this gap and freely decide on tax laws.

"Please keep quiet, be quiet!" The judge knocked on the desk and stopped the noise in the courtroom in time.

Twelve judges called an adjournment so they could deliver their final verdict.

Almost all are anxiously awaiting the court's verdict.

Finally, a judge was elected as a representative by the remaining eleven judges, and announced the final decision of the court to everyone.

"British law has two legal axioms, one, 'the whole country is trusted in the personality of the king'; second, 'the king cannot do wrong'. According to the two axioms, the sovereignty of the country can only be trusted in the king alone, Not the parliament. Only the king himself can decide war and peace talks, convene and dissolve the parliament. The public interest of the whole country is placed in the king's position and public role, so in a state of emergency, the king has the pure right to ask his subjects to provide supplies In order to resist foreign enemies, the subjects have only the pure responsibility to obey the king. The ship tax is the supply that the king requires the subjects to provide in a special period in order to resist foreign enemies. This special period is too long due to the complicated overseas situation, so that there are normalized However, once the special period is lifted, the ship tax will naturally be lifted, and it should not be regarded as a regular tax that needs to be approved by the parliament."

"According to the above description, after careful consideration, seven of our twelve judges fully support the king's privilege of taxation during special periods. Therefore, Mr. Hampton lost the case, and the ship tax should continue to be collected, Mr. Hampton. Taxes and corresponding fines should be paid in a timely manner.”

After the twelve judges made the final judgment, many people below were in an uproar.

Under the semi-overwhelming debate of the defense lawyers, seven judges fully supported King Charles. Although some other judges raised doubts, it seemed useless under the premise that the minority obeyed the majority.

The gentry and nobles who were watching were disappointed when they heard the result, including Cromwell.

Hampton's tax defiance and search for an eminent lawyer to defend him ultimately failed.

St. John, who originally expected to change the verdict by his own strength, was so angry that he almost pointed at the nose of the judge who announced the verdict: "Without the approval of the parliament, even the king cannot change the old laws or create new ones." , nor can it be given any legal effect!"

"St. John, that's enough. The result of the verdict is impossible to change, but I believe that if His Majesty the King insists on continuing to collect ship taxes, it may cause a civil uprising." Hampton stopped St. John's impulse to attack the judge.

Although he lost the case, Charles I did not dare to punish him too severely, in case other gentry and nobles were in danger.Paying back the 20 shillings in ship tax and fines was not even worth the expense of hiring a defense lawyer.

Charles I still had a sullen face.Although the court finally declared his victory, but he did not have the joy of victory.

Long before the trial, he called together a dozen judges and pressured them to take his side.At that time, some of the twelve judges questioned him.After the trial, the jury and the audience's support for Hampton made Charles I feel betrayed by everyone.

If the opposition to the collection of the ship tax is so fierce, then he will implement a more complicated "protection tax" next, and the subjects will make trouble in the sky?
The ship tax is that Charles I intends to raise 80 pounds to build more than ten battleships for the Royal Navy in order to revive the Royal Navy.The "National Protection Tax" being planned is to establish a standing army of tens of thousands of people to strengthen his rule and compete in the European continent.

"Why did the Parliament enjoy legislative power in the past, but now it still sticks to the rules? If the Parliament is held, even if they are willing to legislate and levy a ship tax, they will take this opportunity to deprive the royal power." Charles I knew that unless it was a last resort, he would never reopen the Parliament. .Even Chu Yun, who was tens of thousands of miles away, reminded him to be careful of the council.

Although he won the case, Charles I, who was worried, returned to his palace.Twelve judges also left.

"The future of the judges is in the hands of the king, and even many judges are appointed by the king. In order to keep their positions, they must have made a compromise with the king in private, and everyone tacitly understood it." Cromwell left the court. At that time, he whispered to Munch.

"I didn't expect His Majesty the King to cause dissatisfaction among many people, but he is still the King no matter what. Mr. Cromwell, what are you going to do next?" Monk asked.

"I will continue to fight with the royal family for the retention of the lake in the swamp according to the original plan. After this matter is over, I will return to Erie." Cromwell said, "we will see each other again."

On the other side, Hampton, a squire who resisted taxes, has vaguely become a big shot because of this incident. From time to time, squires, nobles, and factory owners communicate with him in private.

"It just happened when we came here to build a factory. I hope that the turmoil here will not easily affect our trading privileges." Li Jinde and other directors of Western trading companies listened to the Hampton tax resistance incident. , as outsiders, they saw something and had to reassess the impact of this incident on them.

(End of this chapter)