18. Lay Subsidy 1524

There is a record of Sutton in the reign of Henry VIII. This is the account of the Lay Subsidy. This was levied by Parliament in 1524 to help the king to fight the French. The tax was on land and goods.

Many of the same names appear on this list and the Muster Roll. There are however only fourteen names on this as compared with 39 on the Muster Roll. Nine of these men are tenants of John Copley, Lord of the Manor.

John Coyte was the only tenant of Lord Clifford in Sutton, he paid the largest amount 30/- for his goods. The first name on the list is John Blakey, evidently he came home safely from Flodden, he paid 11/- for his goods. John Parkinson, the other Sutton man who fought at Flodden, is also mentioned, he paid 5/- on his goods. Robert Harker had a dwelling of his own and paid 10/- land tax and 10/- for his goods. On the Muster Roll is the name Robert Bag. This surname is very uncommon in the village, and is never found in other documents. On the Lay Subsidy list are Laurence Brigg and his son Robert. This surname is common, and quite possibly the "Robert Bag" should be "Robert Brigg".

Edmund Harper, son of John Harper is on the list but he appears to have paid nothing. Thomas Rakes also had a dwelling of his own, for this he paid 10/-, while for his goods he paid 20/-.