Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/47

 though they knew the contrary: They did not hide themselves now to do their villanies as be­fore: They waited not till night as they had formerly done, but committed their cruelties at noon day, in the midst of the Town, and in the presence of the most considerable Persons; and they needed not to abscond, for they were so far from fearing correction, That they esteem­ed it a great honor and reputation to them, when they could kill a poor unarmed man, which they met by accident in their way, at a single blow. During these disorders, no man was secure of his life, every man was in danger every moment; no time, no place could pro­tect them, for the factions cut the throats of whom they pleased in the most sacred of their Temples, and during the most solemn of their Ceremonies. No man could trust either his Kinred or Friends, for commonly they murder­ed most of them who trusted them too easily. No accusation nor process was made out against any man, and a million of persons were de­stroyed without any opposition, and no body went about to succor or relieve them. The Laws lost all their authority, Contracts were void, and unprofitable, and all things were decided with violence and confusion. In short, the Roman Empire degenerated into a kind of mu­tuable tyranny, subject every day to change and innovation. The great Men were cowed, and dejected like so many slaves, and all for the fear of one Man. The Judges determined not of their Causes according to Law, but as the Rh