CAP. I.
The creation of Iustinus the seconde Emperour of that name, and of his life.
IVstinianus therefore when he had set the wholl worlde on tumultes and sedition and* 1.1 in his later dayes receaued that whiche was due for suche leude practises, departed into endlesse tormente appointed for him by the iust iudgement of God. Instinus thē, his sisters sonne, Presidēt of the pallace was inuested & clad in the Emperiall robe, when as none (his owne friends only excepted) knewe either of Iustinianus death, or of Iustinus that he was proclaimed Emperour, vntil that both he him selfe & others also celebrated in Circus the wonted solemnity of the Empire. After the finishinge of the spectacles when as none rose to take armour, or to rebell against him, he returned into y• pallace. And first of all he gaue out a commaundement that all the Bishops and Priests which were gathered together at Constanti∣nople out of all contreys shoulde depart euery man to his owne home, there to serue God in holy∣nes and not to alter or practise any nouelty as toutching the faith. That act of his is worthy of cō∣mendation,* 1.2 but as for his life and trade of liuinge, he swomme in sensualitye, he wallowed in filthy pleasure, and was so greedy of other mens goods that he sold euery thing for leud gaine and set be∣nesices them selues (without any feare of God) to open sale. Moreouer being entangled with two contrary vices foolehardines and faint courage, first he commaunded Iustinus his kinsman to come vnto him, a man of great honor and estimation both for his prowesse in martiall affayres, and for other rare ornaments of his person, who then made his abode about the riuer Danubius for to wt∣stand the people Abari, least they cut ouer that water and inuaded the Romayne dominiōs. These Abari be people of Scythia called Hamaxobij inhabiting y• regions beyond Caucasus. who being* 1.3 driuen out of their cuntrey by the Turckes their neighbours & diuersly grieued by thē came first to Bosphorus, thence forsaking the banks of Pontus Euxinus (where there dwelled many Barbarian nations, yet the cities & holds were kept of y• Romaynes, where againe there came both souldiers y• were discharged of the warres & rid of attendance & also such inhabitāts as the Emperours had sent thither) they went straight on their voyage & vanquished all y• Barbarians afore thē vntill they came vnto the shore of Danubius, whence they sent Embassadors vnto Iustinian y• Emperour. Frō thence it was that Iustinus was called home as it was tolde him for to participate the benefite of the couenauntes drauen betwene him and the Emperour Iustinus. For when as both of them see∣med to be of equall fame and the Empire like to fall vnto eyther of them, after great reasoning & long disputation had about the Emperiall scepter they couenanted betwene them selues that whe∣ther* 1.4 soeuer of them were crowned Emperour, shoulde make the other the second person in honor, yet in suche sorte, thoughe he were second in respect of the Emperour, that he shoulde be firste in respect of all others.