Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/40

 Justianian, and give an account of their humors, their manner of conduct, and by what methods of Tyranny they afflicted the Empire of Rome.

Leo being in the Throne of the Empire, three young Men of Illyrium, called Zimarque, Yti­biste, and Justin (born in Bederiane, and ac­customed to walk up and down the World) to avoid the extream poverty which they suffered, took a resolution to put themselves into the Army, and came on foot to Constantinople, each of them with an old nasty Coat on his back, and nothing with them but a few Bisket for their voyage. The Emperor having received them into pay, put them into his Gardes du Corps, be­cause they were very proper and personable men. When Leo was dead, and the Empire de­volved upon Anastasius, he sent a brave Army under the command of John de Bossu, against the Issaurians who were in Rebellion. After some few days march, the said General caused Justin to be clapped in prison, upon some enormity, with design to have had him executed the next day: But (as the said Bossu confessed many times since) he was diverted by a Vision, which appeared to him in the night, in the shape of a more then ordinary Man, requiring him to set him at liberty, whom he had com­mitted the day before. When Bossu awaked, he regarded not his Vision, and though it appeared again the next night, he took no more notice of it then before: But the third night being visit­ed again, the Vision threatned him more fiercely then