Again, although the peasants benefited by the growing stability of government, they felt as a grievance the introduction of the new Roman law with its emphasis upon the rights of property and of the state.

Burdens directly imposed by the territorial governments were probably increasing.

If the exactions from the landlords were not becoming greater, it was simply because they were always at a maximum.
At no time was the rich gentleman at a loss to find law and precedent for wringing from his serfs and tenants all that they could possibly pay.

[Sidenote: Peasant classes] The peasants were of three classes: the serfs, the tenants who paid a quit-rent, and hired laborers.

The former, more than the others, perhaps, had now arrived at the determination to assert their rights.