BENEVOLENCE

(Lat.) In English History, a species of tax levied by the sovereign. As its name implies, it was nominally a gratuity; but was, in point of fact, exacted as a forced loan, with or without the condition of repayment, under the reigns of the Plantage net kings. By a statute ol Richard III. benevolences were declared illegal; but they were again exacted by Henry VII., and occasionally, by means of circulars under the privy seal, by his succe ors By 13 C. 2. slat. 1. c. 4. no voluntary aid can be raised on be half of the king without the authority of paxliamet the general illegality of levying money for the use of the crown without such authority was declared in 1G88 by the Bill of Rights. [s. 156]