New Impositions

"Impositions: The Crown traditionally exercised the right to impose import duties for the regulation of trade and the protection of domestic industry. New Impositions of this kind were imposed by Elizabeth I on currants and tobacco (1601) and extended by King James I to most imports (1608) after a favourable ruling in Bate's Case (1606). In the face of Parliament's angry protests in 1610, the tax was amended to ensure that the greatest impact fell on foreign merchants." -The Stuart Age, 1603-1714, by John Wroughton. Page 151-152

Impositions were among the rights that King James I was to give up under The Great Contract of 1610, as drawn up by Lord Treasurer Robert Cecil, then Lord Salisbury, in return for a greatly increased income. However negotiations fell through.

References