Why was there a tax put on men's beards during the reign of Elizabeth I?

DogRL

Historically, though, the British have led the field in going for the last drop of taxpayer blood. During the 45-year reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), for example, the English discovered a welcome source of revenue in beards. Since whiskers were in vogue, the queen's treasury soon bulged with gold sovereigns extorted from subjects with hairy faces. Sidney Goff, a popular and clever writer who in spite of his sizeable income was always in debt and delinquent in paying taxes, sat one day in a barber shop waiting to have his magnificent beard trimmed. But when a royal tax collector entered the busy shop and saw Goff, he angrily demanded the money owed as tax on his beard. The writer quietly begged him not to make a scene. "Certainly," the tax man said, pleased at the prospect of at last getting money from the notorious deadbeat. Goff then made the barber a witness to the agreement, and whispered further instructions. While the queen's representative read a paper, the writer was lathered and worked over. Finally, Goff stepped out of the chair, but his beard had been shaved off. "As you can see," he told the flabbergasted tax man, "no beard has been trimmed and brushed. Therefore, according to our arrangement, I have not taxes to pay. Good day, my dear fellow." Goff left the shop and the frustrated tax collector behind. And he went clean-shaven for the rest of his days.http://home.no.net/ewing/p15.htm Feb 07 04, 9:47 PM