her earliest years, had associated with sorcerers and magicians, since
her character and pursuits inclined her towards them. She had great
faith in their arts, and placed the greatest confidence in them. It is
even said that she did not render Justinian susceptible to her
influence so much by her flatteries as by the irresistible power of
evil spirits; for Justinian was not sufficiently kindly, or just, or
persistent in well-doing to be superior to such secret influence, but
was manifestly dominated by a thirst for blood and riches, and fell an
easy prey to those who deceived and flattered him. In undertakings
which needed the greatest attention, he changed his plans without any
reason and showed himself as light as the dust swept before the wind.
Thus none of his kinsmen or friends had the least confidence in his
stability, but, in the execution of his purpose, his opinion
perpetually changed with the greatest rapidity. Being, as I have said,
an easy object of attack for the sorcerers, he in like manner readily
fell a victim to Theodora, who, for this reason, entertained the
highest affection for Peter as one devoted to the study of these arts.

The Emperor only succeeded with great difficulty in depriving him of
his office, and, at the pressing entreaty of Theodora, soon afterwards
appointed him chief of the treasury, and deprived John of these
functions, although he had only been invested with them a few months
previously. This John was a native of Palestine, a good and gentle
man, who did not even know how to find out the means of increasing his
private fortune, and had never done injury to a single individual. The
more decided the affection of the people for him, the less he met with
the approval of Justinian and his partner, who, as soon as they found
amongst their agents, contrary to expectation, a good and honourable
man, were quite dumbfounded, showed their indignation, and endeavoured
by every possible means to get rid of him with the least delay. Thus