he taxes were
taken at some sum that was agreed upon; and we find an instance
mentioned by Cicero (_Ad Attic._ i. 17) in which their competition or
their greediness led them to give too much and to call on the Senate
to cancel the bargain. The Romans at this time derived little revenue
from Italy, and the large expenditure had to be supplied out of the
revenue raised in the provinces and collected by the Publicani. The
Publicani thus represented the monied interest of modern times, and
the state sometimes required their assistance to provide the necessary
supplies.

It seems probable that the Publicani who farmed the taxes of a
province, underlet them to others; which would be one cause of
oppression. These Collectors ([Greek: telonai]) are called Publicans
in the English version of the New Testament, where they are no doubt
very justly coupled with sinners.]

[Footnote 347: Appian (_Mithridat. War_, c. 71) states that
Mithridates invaded Bithynia, for King Nikomedes had just died
childless and left his kingdom to the Romans. Cotta fled before him
and took refuge in Chalkedon, a city situated on the Asiatic side of
the Thracian Bosporus opposite to the site of Constantinople. The
consul would not go out to meet the enemy, but his admiral Nudus with
some troops occupied the strongest position in the plain. However, he
was defeated by Mithridates and with difficulty got again into the
city. In the confusion about the gates the Romans lost three thousand
men. Mithridates also broke through the chain that was thrown across
the harbour and burnt four ships and towed the other sixty off. His
whole loss was only twenty men.]

[Footnote 348: See the Life of Sulla, c. 11. Mithridates was much
dissatisfied with the terms of the peace that had been brought about
by Archelaus, who fearing for his life went over to Murena, who was
left by Sulla in the command in Asia. At the instigation of Archelaus,
Murena attacked and plundered Comana in Cappadocia, which belonged to
Mithridates, and contained a temple of great sanctity and wealth.
Mithridates in vain complained to Murena, and then sent an embassy to
Rome. Appian considers this conduct of Murena as the commencement of
the Second Mithridatic War, B.C. 83. The Third commenced B.C. 74 with
the league of Mithridates and Sertorius. (Appian, _Mithridat_. 64-68;
Life of Sertorius, c. 24.)]

[Footnote 349: Kyzikus. The ruins of this ancient city, now Bal Kiz,
that is Palaea Kyzikus,