With a realm which was slowly growing poorer, and with a constantly dwindling revenue, he persisted in piling war on war, and on devoting every bezant that could be screwed out of his subjects to the support of the army alone.
"The Byzantine Empire"
Charles William Chadwick Oman
Curious enough, bezant, the doctor, was over here yesterday from Swainson; and as I was walking with him, arm-in-arm, we met Captain Thorn.
"East Lynne"
Mrs. Henry Wood