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as if they had been their most implacable Enemies. And this course did Justinian and Theodora take to dispoil of their goods and estates, the greatest Persons in Constantinople, and all the rest of the Cities; and for the Senators, they were treated as I shall tell.
There was one of them called Zeno, Senator at Constantinople, and Grandchild to Anthemius (who had formerly had that Empire,) this Zeno they chose on purpose to make him Governor of Egypt. This Governor, without the least jealousie in the World, caused the richest of his Goods to be put on Board that Vessel which was intended for his own transportation, and deferred his departure for some days, to put a Board a prodigious quantity of Silver, Jewels, Plate inriched with Emeralds, and other pretious Stones of a very considerable value. The Emperor having notice of all, corrupted some of Zeno’s principal Servants, and by their means having caused all this vast wealth to be conveyed privately out of the Ship, he made them set it on sire in the Hold, and pretend to their Master that it hapned by accident, and had consumed all his great treasure which he intended for Egypt: Not long after Zeno died, and the Emperor seised upon the remainder of his estate, producing a fraudulent Will which all the World knew to be forged. By the same artifice he got possession of the estates of Tatian, and Demasthenes, and Hilaras, the three principal Men in the Senat. There were many others likewise, whose Heirs he made himself, not by
