Before I discovered Snoppy & Dale's « Patch Mod » (version 1.06), I didn't care much to play -- after reading a lot of forum critics, since the release.
Yesterday, I started a game (with PM 1.06). At the very beginning, after founding my first settlement near ruins, I obtained a gold bonus which catapulted my worth to 844 gold. A few turns after, the Dutch King asked for about 50% of that !
No way : I didn't pay. And after reading all the posts on this thread, that's going to be my firm attitude in the future : I'm not going to make any of those outrageous payments.
Anyway, as it was stated, if you buy military stuff from the King, his REF grows even stronger.