In Barbara W. Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century," the author discusses the practice of levying taxes to fund crusades. This method allowed kings to impose taxes on ecclesiastical income, effectively appropriating church funds for their own purposes. Over time, this practice became viewed by monarchs as an inherent right, altering the relationship between church and state.

This shift not only affected the economic landscape but also signified the growing power of the monarchy in relation to religious institutions. By taxing church income, kings consolidated their authority, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of governance during the tumultuous 14th century.