Benevolences, in English history, forced loans or gifts exacted by kings from their subjects without legal authority. The term was first used in 1473 during the reign of Edward IV, although the practice was common in the time of Edward II (1284–1327) or earlier. Parliament abolished benevolences in 1484 during the reign of Richard III, but Richard and later kings continued to enforce these levies. The attempts of James I to collect benevolences caused such vigorous protests that the practice was abandoned after 1621.