John Fountaine
Encyclopedia
John Fountaine was commissioner of the great seal of England
from 1659-60. He was imprisoned for refusing to pay the parliament's war tax
in 1642, during the First English Civil War
.
Admitted to the bar in 1629, Fountaine distinguished himself by refusing to pay the war tax levied by parliament and, pursuant to a resolution of the House of Commons
was “secured and disarmed” and imprisoned in the Gatehouse
. He is thought to have been a member of parliament, due to having been granted the privilege of attending services in St. Margaret's Church while imprisoned, though he does not appear on surviving lists of members.
He was involved in royalist organizing in 1645, but later recommended compromise, and joined the anti-royalist government. For this, Edward Foss labelled him “Turncoat Fountaine.”
In 1651 he was pardoned and restored to full citizenship, and later appointed to various public offices. He continued to hold offices after the Restoration.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from 1659-60. He was imprisoned for refusing to pay the parliament's war tax
Tax resistance
Tax resistance is the refusal to pay tax because of opposition to the government that is imposing the tax or to government policy.Tax resistance is a form of civil disobedience and direct action...
in 1642, during the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
.
Admitted to the bar in 1629, Fountaine distinguished himself by refusing to pay the war tax levied by parliament and, pursuant to a resolution of the House of Commons
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
was “secured and disarmed” and imprisoned in the Gatehouse
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
. He is thought to have been a member of parliament, due to having been granted the privilege of attending services in St. Margaret's Church while imprisoned, though he does not appear on surviving lists of members.
He was involved in royalist organizing in 1645, but later recommended compromise, and joined the anti-royalist government. For this, Edward Foss labelled him “Turncoat Fountaine.”
In 1651 he was pardoned and restored to full citizenship, and later appointed to various public offices. He continued to hold offices after the Restoration.