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Troops were in Garrison, and then deliver them, in what quantity and at what rate the Officers pleased, and not according to what was reasonable and just. This Impost was called, the Impost of Victuals, by which those who had Lands, paid ten times greater Tribute then formerly, so that really it was taking from them, so much Blood out of their Veins, being obliged to carry their Corn to Constantinople, after they had suffered so much by quartering the Army. These disorders and oppressions the State owes to Barzames and John de Cappadocia, whom their Successors imitated exactly in the Continuation of their Crime: And so much for the Tax called the Impost of Victuals. The Impositions were like a Plague, which came suddenly upon those whose Estates were in Land, and took from them, not only the hopes of living tolerably well, but the means of continuing their Life, as miserable as it was. For though the Lands were all thrown up, and deserted by the Ruine or Flight of the Owners, or their Tenants, who were either Killed or Frighted out of their Country, or else hid themselves to avoid Persecution, Justinian without any reluctance exacted these Impositions, which were very frequent in his time; I conclude in few words, the Taxes call the Descriptions were imposed to repair the Losses which the Cities had brought upon such as were proprietors in the Country. But it would be an infinite Trouble, to undertake an Account of all the Evil Effects which ensued upon these Taxes,
