Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/134

 the Frontiers unsurnished, he brought those Troops to such indigence, that they had nothing to subsist upon, but the benevolence of good people.

The Emperors Guard consisted formerly of 3500 men, whose pay was greater than the rest of the Army, and sutable to the dignity of the place, as being intended for the choice Souldiers of Armenia, and a select number to be cull’d out of the whole Army, no other being capable thereof: But from the time that Zeno was Emperor, all sorts of people were entertained, and no body so lewd or inexperi­enced but might be admitted for his money. In the Reign of Justin, Justinian received se­veral into the Guards upon the same termes, paying him considerably for it, and finding his number compleat, he entertained near 2000 more, and called them Supernumeraries, but he cashired them as soon as he came himself to the Throne, without any reimbursment. But the best of his Exploits was, That pretending a designe to send Armies into Persia and Affrick and Italy he gave orders for 3500 of the oldest Souldiers to be picked out and prepared for that Expedition as persons of more then ordinary experience, when to speak truth they were utterly unfit for the Warr, and had not the least thought or inclination thereunto; where-upon apprehending that journey exceedingly, they chose rather to remit their arrears to the Emperor, than to undertake the Expedition, and this was not the first time that trick had been