Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/113

 pleased of his estate, adjudged it to the Empe­ror, and inriched himself by the ruine of other People: For at first, the Magistrates never in­formed themselves, if a man were accused; though there were Witnesses ready to prove the Fact; but without examining the Case, or any legal Conviction, they caused who they pleased to be put privately to death, and seised their estates for the use of the Emperor. At length the wicked Justinian committed the Judgment of all Criminal Affairs to these two Magistrates indifferently, and to the Governor of the Town, commanding each to do what they could, to destroy more People then his Companions. It is reported, That one of them coming to him, to know who should determine in a Cause that had been heard before them all three, the Em­peror told him, He that had condemned most al­ready.

He debased the Office of the Treasurer or Questor exceedingly, though all the Emperors his Predecessors, endeavored to raise it, and put in persons who were to have cognizance of all things, but especially of the Laws, chusing them always as free from Covetousness as they could, well knowing it impossible, but a State must be subject to many disorders, under the administration of an ignorant Questor, or one that comes in to that place with a desire to make himself rich: This Questorship Justi­nian conferred upon Tribonian, whose manners I have elswhere described: After his death, he took the best part of his estate (though he had a Son