County or diocese: Lincoln. Grant: Graduated poll tax on unbeneficed clergy, Canterbury...

County or diocese: Lincoln.

Grant: Graduated poll tax on unbeneficed clergy, Canterbury province, 1429 Dec 20.

Document type: Particulars of account.

Folios or pages: 1.

This single sheet of parchment is the particulars of account of the prior of Thornholme as collector in the archdeaconry of Stow, in the diocese of Lincoln, of the graduated poll tax on unbeneficed clergy granted to Henry VI by the clergy of the province of Canterbury on 20 December 1429.

The tax was levied at three different rates, according to annual income bracket, and the document gives summary details of the amounts received from clergy in all three brackets. There were two chaplains in the lowest bracket paying 6s.8d. each (i.e., those in receipt of an annual salary or stipend of 100s.), three chaplains in the middle bracket paying 13s.4d. each (i.e., parochial or stipendiary chaplains in receipt of an annual salary or stipend of between 9-12 marks or chantry priests receiving between 10 marks and up to £10 per annum), and none in the highest bracket (i.e. parochial and stipendiary priests in receipt of an annual salary of 12 marks or more or chantry priests receiving £10 or more per annum). The total amount received, therefore, was 53s.4d.

The document is undated, but was probably written around 1 May 1430, when payment was due to be made.

It is wholly legible.