Ship Money - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition ship-money

Definition :

Ship-money, an imposition formerly levied on port-towns and other places for fitting out ships for the defence of the realm. It had become obsolete, but was revived by Charles I., who attempted to levy it in the county of Bucks. John Hampden, a gentleman of the county, was accordingly assessed at 20s., which he declined to pay, and proceedings were taken against him in the Exchequer. Judgment was given for the Crown, 'which gave such offence to the nation and occasioned great heart-burnings' in Parliament. Resolutions were at once passed condemning the judgment, and it was reversed and the whole abuse abolished by 16 Car. 1, c. 14. See Case of Ship Money, (1737) 3 St. Tr. 825; Broom's Const. Law, p. 306.