Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/28

 People of Constantinople were permitted to elect a new Emperor, they should run a great risque of being continued in the Army, as long as they lived, and never see their Countrey again. Not long after the Emperor recovering, the Officers of the Army began to impeach one another, and Peter, and John Helluo affirmed, That Bellisarius and Busez were the Authors of that discourse. The Empress having heard the accusation, was so highly incensed, that in a great passion, she sent for the cheif Officers to come back to Constantinople: Having inquired into the busi­ness, and discovered the Authors, she sent for Busez into her Closet, pretending to speak with him about some business of importance: There was a private prison in her Palace, not to be come at, but by several turnings. Into that prison she caused Busez to be put, where the poor Man (though he had been Consul) was kept prisoner a long time, before it was known what was become of him: The Dungeon was so perpetually dark, he could not perceive when it was day, and there was no body to inform him, but a poor mute appointed to carry him his victuals, as if he had been a wilde beast; the whole World thought he was dead, and no one durst mention, either him or his memory. When he had been in this manner, as it were, buried alive, two years and four moneths, and in meer pitty was inlarged; he looked like a man come out of another World, lost his eye­sight immediately, and began to suffer great in­firmities in all parts of his body.

  Bellisarius