![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Chancellor Morton's fork
In the reign of Henry VII, Archbishop Morton, as Lord Chancellor, was tasked w/ imposing a new tax. To collect the money, he deployed a device, later called by some Chancellor Morton's fork or Morton's crutch:
"If the subject is seen to live frugally, tell him because he is clearly a money saver of great ability, he can afford to give generously to the King. If, however, the subject lives a life of great extravagance, tell him he, too, can afford to give largely, the proof of his opulence being evident in his expenditure."
Such a beauty.
In the reign of Henry VII, Archbishop Morton, as Lord Chancellor, was tasked w/ imposing a new tax. To collect the money, he deployed a device, later called by some Chancellor Morton's fork or Morton's crutch:
"If the subject is seen to live frugally, tell him because he is clearly a money saver of great ability, he can afford to give generously to the King. If, however, the subject lives a life of great extravagance, tell him he, too, can afford to give largely, the proof of his opulence being evident in his expenditure."
Such a beauty.
Permalink: https://plus.google.com/115290581164606462017/posts/NudA7gNNo6m
Subscribe