Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/123

 Provinces, from whence it was extorted and sent thither. But the next year there being a scarcity of Corn, and the Ships having trans­ported less from the Provinces, then was requi­site for the subsistance of the people of that City, which was the greatest in the World. Peter found himself in great perplexity, not knowing of what Wood to make his Arrow, nor what remedy to apply to their Distress. Having well considered of a way, at length he pitched upon this, to cause all the Corn to be transported out of Thrace, Phrygia, and Bithynia, to Constantinople, and to compel the Inhabitants of those Provinces to convey it themselves to the Ports, where they were to ship it with a great deal of pains, and carry it by Sea to Con­stantinople; having experimented in their pass­age, all the dangers that could be incurred, in a sullen and outragious Sea.

When they were arrived thorow all those dif­ficulties, and had perfected their voyage, they had but a third part of their due paid them for their pains, and the losses they received were so great and considerable, they had better have given away their Corn, and twice as much more: Yet all this Provision was too small for the sustenance of so populous a City, several persons went to complain to the Emperor, and remonstrate the true state of affairs. The Sol­diers who were in great arrears, and had no Money to furnish themselves with Victuals, be­gan to murmur and repine, and to hold such Meetings and Assemblies in the Town, as Rh