22 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. Tonnage and poundage continued to be leviedin. by the royal authority alone. The former addi-i«3o. tional impositions were still exacted. Even newlevies of impositions were laid on several kinds of mer-woney, chandize **.

The custom-house officers received ordersfrom the council to enter into any house, ware-house, or cellar; to search any trunk or chest;and to break any bulk whatever; in default ofthe payment of customs 1 *.

In order to exercise the militia, and to keepthem in good order, each county, by an edictof the council, was assessed in a certain sum , soymaintaining a muster-master, appointed for thatservice ",

Compositions were openly made with recu,sants, and the popish religion became a regularpart of the revenue. This was all the persecutionwhich it underwent during the reign of Charles".

A commission was granted for compoundingwith such as were possessed of crown-lands upondefective titles; and, on this pretence, some money was exacted from the people

There was a law of Edward II", That who-ever was possessed of twenty pounds a year ityland, should be obliged, when summoned, tqappear and to receive the order of knighthood,

" Rufhivorth, vol. ii. p. 8- May, p. >6.

" Rushworth, vol. ii p. 9. 15 . Rufhivorth , vol. ii.

p, to. 1 Idem, ibid. p. ir, 12, ij, 247.

' 7 Idem, ibid. p. 49. St citatum dt militibm..