During the reign of Justinian, those who lived
in Byzantium and other cities raised the price of their silks, on the
plea that at the present time they were dearer in Persia, and that the
import tithes were higher. The Emperor pretended to be exceedingly
indignant at this, and subsequently published an edict forbidding a
pound of silk to be sold for more than eight gold pieces; anyone who
disobeyed the edict was to be punished by the confiscation of his
property. This measure appeared altogether impracticable and absurd.
For it was not possible for the merchants, who had bought their wares
at a much higher price, to sell it to customers at a lower rate. They
accordingly resolved to give up this business, and secretly and
without delay disposed of their remaining wares to certain well-known
persons, who took delight in wasting their money upon such adornments,
and to whom it had become in a manner an absolute necessity. Theodora
heard of this from certain persons who whispered it confidentially,
and, without taking the trouble to verify the report, she immediately
deprived these persons of their wares, and, in addition, inflicted
upon them a fine of a centenar of gold. At the present time, the
imperial treasurer is charged with the superintendence of this trade.
When Peter Barsyames held the office, they soon allowed him all manner
of licence in carrying out his nefarious practices. He demanded that
all the rest should carefully observe the law, and compelled those who
were engaged in the silk factories to work for himself alone. Without
taking any trouble to conceal it, he sold an ounce of any ordinary
coloured silk in the public market-place for six pieces of gold, but
if it was of the royal dye, called Holovere, he asked more than
four-and-twenty for it. In this manner he procured vast sums of money
for the Emperor, and even larger sums, which he kept privately for
himself; and this practice, begun by him, continued. The grand
treasurer is at this moment avowedly the only silk merchant and sole
controller of the market. All those who formerly carried on this
business, either in Byzantium or any other city, workers on sea or
land, felt the loss severely. Nearly the whole population of the
cities which existed by such manufactories were reduced to begging.
Artisans and mechanics were forced to struggle against hunger, and
many of them, quitting their country, fled to Persia. None but the
chief treasurer was allowed to ha