tallage was the very valuable right of the king (and of other lords) to impose taxation on his demesne, including his boroughs. It could not be refused, though it could be negotiated, and the civic authorities were normally left to distribute the burden. Edward I's incessant warfare against Wales, Scotland, and France placed severe tax demands on his subjects. In the crisis of 1297, after he had left for France, he was urged to let tallage come under parliamentary control. But the document which was taken to be a statute, De Tallagio non concedendo, was only a preliminary demand and the Confirmatio cartarum, which the king eventually granted, was much less explicit and did not concede parliamentary control. Tallages continued to be demanded at intervals until 1340, when Edward III agreed that the consent of Parliament must be obtained.

J. A. Cannon

tallage tax, levy. orig. one levied by Norman kings. XIII. — OF. taillage, f. taillier cut, determine the form of, limit :- Rom *talliāre.