Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/290

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Chap. 23.
of Conſtancy.
269

ten them: and were themselves slain by the eighteenth who had discovered their practise. I forbear to relate the famine in Ierusalem and the well known examples of it there. If I must say something of Taxes also; I deny not but they are heavy ones with which we are pressed. But they are such only, when you look upon them by themselves; not when you compare them with those of old. All, most all the Provinces of the Roman Empire, payed yearly the fifth part of the profits of their pasture, and the tenth of their arable. Nor did Anthony and Cæsar forbear to exact the tributes of nine or ten years to be payed in one. When Iulius Cæsar was slain, and armes were taken up for their liberty, every Citizen was commanded to pay down the five and twentyeth part of all their goods. And more than this all that were Senatours payed for every tile of their house six asses. An immense

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