Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/70

 them upon the testimony of one Wit­ness, who for the most part was some Child, or some Servant which had been suborned against their Master; and when he had got one of those, he desired no farther evidence. Thost who were convict of this crime, were exposed to all the mockery in the World, having their Privities cut off in a most cruel and ignominious manner. At first they acted not with the same extremity against them all, the heat of their fury extend­ed it self more particularly against those who were of the faction of the Prasinians, extraordi­narily rich, or in the displeasure of the Emperor. He could not endure Astrologers, but appoint­ed the Magistrates (deputed for the punishment of Felons) to ride up and down upon their Camels thorow the City of Constantinople, and cause them to be beaten upon their shoulders with Rods, and exposing them publickly as a spectacle of contempt, though they were antient; and in other things, very honest men, to be re­proached with nothing, but that having such knowledge in the Stars, they should remain in that Town.

The Tyranny of these Actions, caused great numbers of all sort of people to forsake their own Countreys, and betake themselves, not on­ly into the Countreys of the Barbarians, but into such Nations as were at greatest distance from the Dominion of Rome. In every Province, and in every Town, great numbers were to be seen from several Countreys, which had been harrased by their Friends, with as much cruelty, as