Chapter 46, Footnote #41
The King on forced loans
We find the king's answer in Winwood's Memorials, vol. iii. p. 193, 2d edition. ``To the third and fourth (namely, that it might be lawful to arrest the king's servants without leave, and that no man should be enforced to lend money, nor to give a reason why he would not) his majesty sent us an answer. That because we brought precedents of antiquity to strengthen those demands, he allowed not of any precedents drawn from the title of usurping or decaying princes, or people too bold and wanton; that he desired not to govern in that commonwealth where subjects should be assured of all things and hope for nothing. It was one thing submittere principatum legibus, and another thing submittere principatum subditis. That he would not leave to posterity such a mark of weakness upon his reign; and therefore his conclusion was non placet petitio, non placet exemplum. Yet with this mitigation that in matters of loans he would refuse no reasonable excuse, nor should my lord chamberlain deny the arresting of any of his majesty's servants, if just cause was shown. The Parliament, however, acknowledged at this time, with thankfulness to the king, that he allowed disputes and inquires about his prerogative much beyond what had been indulged by any of his predecessors.---Parliamentary History, vol. v. p. 230 This very session he expressly gave them leave to produce all their grievances without exception.