My British Empire

  Chapter 92 meeting

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  After meeting these ministers, Edward invited all the ministers who participated in the meeting to come to the Palace of Westminster to hold his first pro-government meeting.

  Beside the long conference table, Edward sat at the main seat, Bishop Thomas on the left, Earl of Warwick on the right, and the remaining ministers sat down in turn.

   "Ministers, today's meeting is of great significance. Our respected His Majesty Edward personally presides over England's affairs!"

   "So, everyone speak freely and report the current situation in England to His Majesty!"

   After saying this, Bishop Thomas sat on a chair and acted like he was listening.

   "Your Majesty! The most urgent thing now is - there is no pound in the treasury!"

   The first to speak was the Minister of Finance, Faris Alexander.

  Chancellor of the Exchequer Literally, this position is responsible for the custody of the royal family's jewelry. However, as a basic privilege of the king, before Queen Anne came to power and before the Bank of England issued national debts, the law stipulated that all precious metals in the kingdom belonged to the king, and the king used the coins for payment. Therefore, the treasurer of jewelry and precious metals actually controlled the kingdom. major financial affairs.

   "Tell me the specific situation! Your Excellency the Minister!"

  Edward looked at the tall and thin Chancellor of the Exchequer with dark blue eyes, and said softly.

   "Your Majesty! Please let me explain it to you in detail!"

  Faris stood up, bowed to Edward, and said.

   "The tax revenue in 1547 and this year reached 450,000 pounds! In addition to the 80,000 pounds obtained from the dissolution of the priory, the total income reached 530,000 pounds."

   Hearing such a huge income, the ministers present were all surprised, ordinary nobles can only get such a figure in their lifetime.

   "However, after deducting the military expenses for the expedition to Scotland and the suppression of riots in various places, there is only 80,000 pounds left in the treasury!"

   "There is also the navy's annual military expenditure of 30,000 pounds and the salaries of the ministers in London. 80,000 pounds are not enough, and the treasury still owes the ministers' salaries of 20,000 pounds."

  After saying this, the Chancellor of the Exchequer sat down as if nothing had happened, staring at Edward with staring eyes.

  Not only him, the other ministers also stared at Edward with staring eyes, without saying a word.

  Edward just wanted to talk about tax increases, but when he came to his senses, he thought, am I taking the blame for these guys?

  I raised taxes as soon as I took office, and my reputation in that place would be stinky. It will not be easy to reverse it in the future!

   "Sir John, how many pounds are left in the royal family?"

  Edward looked at a short and fat minister not far away from him, and asked him.

   "Here, Your Majesty! The royal family's income has been cut a lot this year due to the riots in various places. Except for the necessary expenses, there are only 30,000 pounds left. But this will..."

   "It's nothing to worry about. The annual interest is 10% for lending these to the treasury!"

   "And the last time the pirates entered London, were those businessmen irresponsible? Let them collect 20,000 pounds, 50,000 pounds will be enough for the treasury to last until the next quarter!"

   Interrupting Fatty, Edward looked at the Minister of Finance Farris Alexander again.

   "Enough! Your Majesty!" Faris responded in a hurry, with a look of surprise on his face.

  He did not expect that the royal family, which has always been stingy, would support the treasury. This surprise came so suddenly that he couldn't believe it for a while.

   "Yes, Your Majesty! Follow your instructions." Sir John looked aggrieved, and his tone was full of reluctance, as if he had been raped.

   After all, 10% interest is really too little. According to the current market, once 30,000 pounds are released, 50% interest is considered low.

  John Robert, the Minister of Royal Affairs, specializes in managing the income of the royal family, such as the output of the territory of the Lancaster Territory, as well as the income of the royal family's real estate and shops in various places. It can be said that it is Edward's direct retainer.

  Edward is quite satisfied with this retainer handed down from Henry VIII. The income of the Tudor royal family has been increasing every year, so he did not replace this minister who has served the royal family for many years.

   "Your Majesty, the most important task now is to quell the riots that have occurred in various places. This riot not only disrupted the revenue of the treasury, but if it is allowed to continue, the rule of the royal family will be in danger!"

  The Chief of Police who spoke next—John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.

  lordconstable: Chief of Police. The name sounded like a police job, but it was actually a military job.

  This position is very subtle. If lord is not added, it actually refers to the sheriff (constable) appointed by the king in the counties and hundreds of households. The translation of "Chief of Police" is thus named. But in fact, the police chief is a military post, and his main responsibility is to command the army of the Kingdom of England together with the hereditary royal general (that is, the post before Duke Edward was deposed) during the war.

  So, in the current absence of Duke Edward, the Earl of Warwick is responsible for the security and military (militia) issues of the entire England.

   "Well, recently the militias in various places have been serving extraordinarily in order to suppress the riots. Not only have the expenditures of the treasury been drained like water, but the militias in various places have also lost a lot."

   "Let's do this, Your Excellency Francis! You can draft a decree later, ordering the sheriffs of each county to maintain or eliminate the riots in this county!"

   "If the riot in any county continues to expand, I will meet him again in the Star Chamber Court!"

  Edward said loudly, his tone was full of domineering, if one ignores his youthful appearance.

  It's a pity that Edward has reached the stage of development, and his voice began to change.

   "However, if there is no riot in any county and the timely suppression of the riot, report his name and reward him!"

  Edward knew that the sheriffs everywhere were basically vested interests, and they turned a blind eye to the riots instigated by the gentlemen, and they were full of water.

  If you don’t threaten them, they will not work hard. If you add the temptation of interests, they will definitely exert 120% of their strength.

   "After the meeting is over, show me the decree after you draft it, and let Baron Randall stamp it!"

   "Yes, Your Majesty!" "Yes! Your Majesty!" Secretary of State Don Francis and Keeper of the Seal Borman Randall responded in unison.

  The Secretary of State was very powerful in England at this time. Before the cabinet appeared, the Secretary of State actually performed the functions and powers of the cabinet.

   Today, the "cabinet secretary" (called "second minister" in Japan) who is actually in charge of the affairs of various ministries in the UK, and the "secretary of state" in the United States are in fact the continuation of this concept of the position.

  As for the Minister of Seals, this position does not seem to be important today, but it was an important position in history.

  In the feudal era, the Great Seal was regarded as a symbol of national power. In 1642, Charles I fled from London and took the Great Seal away, which almost made Congress unable to operate.

  When James II fled, he deliberately threw the Great Seal into the Thames River to obstruct Congress from governing.

  (end of this chapter)