Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/119

 degree of reputation, though in their times it was thought impossible for any to have been more impious and cruel. In this manner the miseries of the State daily increasing, it was manifest by experience, That certain bounds cannot be prescribed to the wickedness of Man, and that when it is confirmed by precedent ex­amples, and maintained and supported by great persons, and power and authority, gives it means to exert, and show its self against Infe­riors; no man can tell how far it will extend, but by the greatness of the miseries which it pulls down upon the people. And these were the Magistrates in fashion under the Reign of Justinian.

It often fell out, that the Huns invaded the Lands of the Empire, and the Commanders in Thracia and Illyrium having resolved to charge them in their Retreat, they received express Orders from the Emperor to the contrary, as being allied with him against the Goths, and the rest which were Enemies to the very name of the Romans.

The Barbarians making use of that occasion, retreated, after they had committed a thousand outrages upon the Subjects of the Empire, and the more, because they found they should pass as Allies, though they carried with them a vast deal of plunder, and great quantity of prisoners. The Peasants unable to endure, that their Wives and Children should be carried into captivity, got together in considerable numbers, pursued, overtook, charged, defeated the Barbarians, and having