Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/58

 action put the people into an uproar, they as­sembled, and went in a tumultuous manner to the Emperor Justin, (glad with all their hearts, that they had an opportunity, in which the ab­sence of Justinian, permitted them to complain of the violences which they had suffered, and what miseries he had brought upon others.) This address of the people prevailed with the Emperor to send Orders to the Governor of the City called Theodotus Cucurbitinus, to inquire into the business, and bring the offenders to punishment. He observed his orders very punctu­ally, for having made inquisition, and taken some of the offenders, he caused them to be punished according to the severity of the Law; some saved their lives by hiding themselves in Dens and by places, and were reserved to perish afterwards with the Empire it self. Justinian recovering miraculously of his distemper, con­spired against Theodotus, and accused him of Magick; but failing in that design, by violence and tortures he constrained one of his friends to bring in a false accusation against him. The business coming before the Senate, and no body daring to oppose the vnjust designs of Justinian, it had like to have gone ill with him; for every body was fearful to speak his judgment, and they thought it sufficient to condole the mis­fortune of Theodotus whom Justinian had sworn to destroy. But Proclus the Questor, judged him innocent by his authority, and maintained that he was not worthy of death; so that all Justinian could obtain, was his banishment out of