Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/99

 Theodora was grown to that authority in the Empire, that alone she created all the Prelates, and Magistrates, and having absolute power in her hands, she managed it so well, there was not in all the Offices of the Empire, one good Man, whose Conscience would not suffer him to obey her in her pernitious designs. She or­dered it so, that all marriages were of her making; not a Man had the choice of his own Wife, but every one married, not (as the very Barbarians do) her he liked best, but her the Empress was pleased to command. Many times on the wedding night, she would go her self in person, tear out the Bride out of Bed, and turn away the poor Bridegroom, and meerly upon pretence it was done without her knowledge. This was her practice with several people, par­ticularly with Leontius the Referendary, and Saturnin who had married the Widow of Her­mogenes, who died not long after she was mar­ried.

Saturnin had a young Neice, free, of an honorable Family, and at age for a Husband, and this Lady, Cirillus her Father gave Saturnin in marriage after the death of Hermogenes his Widow. The wedding cloaths were bought, and all things prepared, when on a sudden Theo­dora caused Saturnin to be seised and clapped into irons, and afterwards in spight of his tears, his complaints, and intercessions, she forced him to many Chrisomale, a Dancer, and one of the commonest Courtisans in Town; for Theodora had no greater favorites then Chrisomale and Indare,