Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/124

 to presage a Sedition which was ready to break out: Hereupon the Emperor conceiving a displeasure against Peter for his male-admini­stration, resolved to take away his place, not only because of the present inconveniencies, but because he was assured he was very rich, and had heaped up vast sums by his violences and oppressions: But Theodora opposed it, being a great friend to Barzames, by reason (as I ima­gine) of his wicked inclinations, and the in­supportable cruelty wherewith he treated the Subjects; for as she her self was naturally cruel and inhumane, she took particular care, to have such people to execute her designs, as were ab­solutely conformable to her own pernicious dis­position. Some there are notwithstanding, who affirm, That Peter forced Theodora to be his friend, by vertue of certain charms, though she was naturally his Enemy. The truth is, all his life long he had applied himself much to In­chantments, and Necromancy, holding great correspondence with the Manicheans, because they studied them much, and were open favorers of those Arts, as Barzames was of them. Though Theodora understood all this, and more, she loved him never the less; on the contrary she ingaged in his interests with more kindness and zeal, having had her self in her youth great conversa­tion with Sorcerers and Magicians, and placed much confidence in their Art, and many times made very much use of it. It was believed like­wise, That it was not alogether her flattery and complacency, which gave her such influence on