ship money (shipmuni)

In old Eng. law, a charge or tax imposed by the king upon seaports and trading-towns, requiring them to provide and furnish war-ships, or to pay money for that purpose. It fell into disuse, and was included in the Petition of Right as a wrong to be discontinued. The attempt to revive it met with strong opposition, and was one of the proximate causes of the Great Rebellion. It was abolished by statute, 16 Charles I., c. 14 (1640), which enacted the strict observance of the Petition of Right. Mr. Noy brought in Ship - money first for Maritime Towns. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 107. You sands and tens of you sands among his [Milton's] contemporaries raised their voices against Ship - money and the Star-chamber. Macaulay , Milton. Case of ship-money, the case of the King v. John Hampden, before the Star Chamber in 1637 (3 How. St. Tr., 825), for resisting the collection of a tax called ship money, which had not been levied for many years, and which Charles I. attempted to revive without the authorization of Parliament. Though the case was decided in favor of the king, the unpopularity of the decision led to a debate in Parliament, and the virtual repeal of the right to ship-money by 16 Charles I., c. 14 (1640). Also called Hampden's case. ship-owner (ship'ōnėr), n. A person who has a right of property in a ship or ships, or any share therein.