The History of England from the
Invasion of Julius Cæsar to the Revolution of 1688

David Hume

Chapter 46, Footnote #46
The choice of the amount


We learn from Winwood's Memorials (vol, ii. p, 193) the reason assigned for this particular sum: ``From thence my lord treasurer came to the price; and here he said that the king would no more rise and fall like a merchant. That he would not have a flower of his crown (meaning the court of wards) so much tossed; that it was too dainty to be so handled; and then he said that he must deliver the very countenance and character of the king's mind out of his own handwriting; which, before he read, he said he would acquaint us with a pleasant conceit of his majesty. As concerning the number of nine-score thousand pounds, which was our number, he could not affect, because nine was the number of the poets, who were always beggars, though they served so many muses; and eleven was the number of the apostles, when the traitor Judas was away; and therefore might best be affected by his majesty; but there was a mean number which might accord us both; and that was ten; which, says my lord treasurer, is a sacred number; for so many were God's commandments, which tend to virtue and edification.'' If the Commons really voted twenty thousand pounds a year more on account of this pleasant conceit of the king and the treasurer, it was certainly the best paid wit for its goodness that ever was in the world.


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Histeng, Chapter 46 Reign of James 1.