Taxation

Quote from Letter 5,38 to Constantina, Augusta. 1 June 595

The island of Corsica is also oppressed by such an excessive number of exacting payments, and by such heave taxes, that those living there are scarcely able to pay the taxes imposed on them, even if they sell their children. Consequently, the owners of the same island have abandoned their holy republic, and are defecting to the most evil race of Lombards. For what could they suffer from the barbarians more grievous, what more cruel, than that they should be compelled to sell their own children under duress?

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, translated by John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMPS, 2004), II, 354