Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/60

 and the liberty he took to do what he pleased, made himself formidable to every body. Then it was he took a resolution of marrying Theodora, and there being an old Law in force, prohibiting the Senators marrying with the Courtisans, he prevailed with the Emperor to repeal that by a new one, and then he married Theodora, giving by his example, authority to any who desired it, to marry with the first Courtisan they fancied.

The next thing he affected, was to be arbi­trary and tyrannical, disguising his own vio­lencies with the pretence of promoting the affairs of the Emperor, who, at that time, was not capable of them himself. He caused him­self to be saluted Emperor of the Romans, in conjunction with his Uncle; but whether just­ly, or not, is a question; for he constrained the Senate and the People by his menaces to give their consent. Justinian and Theodora began to govern two days before Easter. In which, it is not allowed to salute any body, or pay any other ceremonious respect. Not many days after, Justin died, having Reigned nine years com­pleat, and left the Empire to Justinian and Theo­dora, whose extraction being as I have said, and her education and conduct, being as I have described, she arrived at the Empire without difficulty, after Justinian had condescended to marry her, when it was in his power to have chosen for himself out of the whole Roman Ter­ritory, a person of the highest quality, the best education, eminent for modesty, illustrious for beauty