Great Contract
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Contract was a plan submitted to James I and parliament in 1610 by Robert Cecil. It was an attempt to increase Crown income and ultimately rid it of debt.
Cecil suggested that, in return for an annual grant of £200,000, the Crown should give up its feudal rights of Wardship and Purveyance, as well as New Impositions. The plan was eventually rejected by both James and Parliament. Whether it would have helped the financial situation at the time remains speculation.
