Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/65

 bringing in others in their places, not that they were better for the publick, or of any necessity themselves, but only out of a desire to innovate, or that by giving them his name, at least they might appear new. He could never satisfie his insatiable desire, either of Money or Blood: But when he had despoild one of what ever could be got, he removed to another, and treated him at the same rate; and when he had done all, ruined his good Subjects, and dis­honored himself: How was all this immense treasure employed? either in ridiculous presents to the Barbarians; or in impertinent and un­necessary building: Though he had soiled and polluted himself before, with the murders of several innocent persons, he laid new designs against more, with intention to destroy them; and seeing the Roman Empire was in good in­telligence with all Nations, by an unexampled fury he set the Barbarians together by the ears, and ingaged them in an expensive, and pernici­ous War; and having sent for the principal of the Huns (without the least occasion in the World, he gave them vast sums of Money out of his sottish liberality, to gain (as he pretend­ed) their amity, and confirm it, as had been formerly done in the Reign of Justin. The Huns having got what they could, began to solicite the Heads of the other barbarous Nations, to fall upon the Empire, that they might sell Peace likewise to him that was so ready to buy it. They needed not much perswasion, but taking the hint, they pillaged several Towns belonging to