(110)
he allowed sallaries for their pains, and received all the rest of the profits to himself; and they (like Farmers) having received what they were to expect from their Master; with insupportable boldness, squeezed, and extorted whatever they could to satisfie him, and indeed, brought him in most prodigious sums.
These Mercenary Magistrates and Governors were to be seen passing from one Province to another, plaguing and tormenting the poor people, under the fair pretence of their dignity. Justinian had always a great care to put the worst men in his Empire, into the best places, and his design commonly succeeded. When he first advanced his wicked agents to the principal Dignities, and their power had discovered their ill inclinations, it was much admired, that the heart of man could be capable of such malice: But after a considerable interval, those who succeeded, having infinitely out-done them, the people were at as great a loss to comprehend how it should be possible for them to exceed their Predecessors, who had passed among them for such abominable Creatures; and yet compared with the present Officers, were very honest men. But the third succession, and those who came after them, exceeded the second, as much as the second had done the first, and did in a manner vindicate their Predecessors by the transcendency of their crimes, and the extream industry which they expressed in the conduct of their execrable actions, insomuch, as they restored them who were before them, to some
