Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/138

 of Assairs, he established both in one place and the other Officers of his customes and two Pretors to whom he gave a certain Sallary by the year upon condition they would apply their utmost endeavor to draw as much money from those duties as was possible. These Mercenary Officers who had no greater desire, than to demonstrate to the Emperor their Zeal and affection to his service, serewed and ra­vished from the Mariners by violence, illegal and unaccustomed Gabels upon all sorts of Com­modities. And at this rate were things ma­naged in those Streights; But for the part of Constantinople he gave the charge of that to one of his Court a great favorite called Addeus born in Syria, with Order to take Dutyes of all Vessels whatever, whether outward or in­ward bound. This Addeus to satisfy the insa­tiable Avarice of his Master, when the Ships had been a certain time in the Harbor, obliged the Masters to pay money for their exemption, or else he would lade their Ships with Com­modities to be transported into Africk or Italy; Insomuch that many people unable to endure those injuries and oppressions, nor the great Expenses they were necessitated to be at in their Navigation, burned their Ships and sled, choosing rather to loose all at once, than to be hourly exposed to the Cares and miseries of their condition. But others who were forced to continue their Trade for subsistance, would not let their Ships to the Merchants under three times the rate as formerly, and then the ­chant