Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/152

 Arsenius being banished the Court, conceiving he should do a thing very acceptable to the Emperor, went a while after with Paul to Alex­andria: For during the time of his absence from the Court, he pretended to have instructed himself in all the Niceties and Criticisms of the Christian Faith; but instead of succeeding in his design, he fell into Theodoraes displeasure, who seemed to act in that affair by motives al­together opposite to the Emperors.

When Paul was arrived at Alexandria, and setled there, he caused the Deacon Psoes to be seised, and delivered into the hands of Rhodon (the Governor of the City) to be put to death, objecting, That he was the only man who op­posed his designs, and obstructed the execution of the Emperors orders. Rhodon had Letters continually from the Emperor, pressing him to do whatever Paul should desire; wherefore he caused Psoes to be whipped, and Psoes being an infirm man, died under the correction. The news of his death being brought to the Court, by the instigation of Theodora (who with her prayers and perswasions, never let him rest.) Justinian expressed great indignation against Paul, Rhodon, and Arsenius, as if he had forgot the orders which he had given them. He gave the Government of Alexandria, to a Roman of a Patrician family, called Liberius, and made choice of several Bishops of approved integrity, to go and examine the business upon the place; in which number, one was Pelagius, Archdea­con of the Roman Church, whom the Pope  gilius