Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/126

 vertue and goodness of their Officers; but they turned their thoughts wholly upon ways of re­moving them, not being able to endure per­sons so opposite to their own natural temper.

Peter, as I said before, succeeding John, in the management of the Treasury, was the cause of a thousand miseries to particular persons, hav­ing imbezled the Fund, which of a long time had been raising by an antient and laudable custom, for the relief of several poor families; sending part of it to the Emperor, and keeping the rest for himself, whereby he acquired vast riches, whilest they died with hunger, who had no­thing else to maintain them, but those annual Contributions. Besides which, he coyned Money of Gold, much less then the former, and made it currant by Proclamation.

These in the Reign of Justinian were the per­sons, who managed all the Offices, and publick imployments. I shall now speak of the methods which he used to ruine all, people of estates, though to exhibite their misery, there needs (in strictness) no more then what I have spo­ken of the Governors of Provinces, and Col­lectors, who had private and peremptory in­struction, to ruine all people whose estates were in Land.

The Roman Emperors were formerly ac­customed to remit to the people, the arrears of such Money as was owing to the Exchequer, that such of them as were unable to pay, might not be in fear all their life long; nor the Trea­surers have opportunity to raise Money, where many