He debased the office of Quaestor, which almost all the preceding Emperors had held in especial regard, so that it was only filled by men of wisdom and experience, who above all were learned in the law and free from all suspicion of corruptibility, for it was felt that it would unavoidably be disastrous to the State if it were to be filled by men without experience or who were the slaves of avarice.  This Emperor first bestowed it upon Tribonianus, whose character and misdeeds I have sufficiently described elsewhere.  After his death, Justinian seized part of his estate, although he had left a son and several relatives who survived him.  He then appointed Junilus (a Libyan by birth), a man who had not so much as a hearsay knowledge of law, for he had not even studied it in the public schools.  Although he had a knowledge of Latin, he had never had any tuition in Greek, and was unable to speak the language.  Frequently, when he attempted to say a few words in Greek, he was laughed at by his own servants.  He was so mad after filthy lucre, that he had not the least scruple in publicly selling letters of office signed by the Emperor, and was never ashamed to stretch out his hand to those who had to do with him for a stater of gold.  For no less than seven years the State dured the shame and ridicule brought upon it by this officer.

On the death of Junilus, Justinian elevated to this office Constantine, who was not unacquainted with law, but was very young and had never yet taken part in a trial; besides which, he was the most abandoned thief and braggart in the world.  Justinian entertained the highest regard for him and showed him very great favour, condescending to make him the chief instrument of his extortion and sole arbiter in legal decisions.  By this means Constantine in a short time amassed great wealth, but his insolence was outrageous, and his pride led him to treat everyone with contempt.  Even those who were desirous of making him considerable presents were obliged to intrust them to those who seemed to be most in his confidence, for no one was permitted to approach or converse with him, except when he was hurrying to or returning from the Emperor.  Even then he did not slacken his pace, but walked on hastily, for fear that those who approached him might waste his time without paying for it.  Such was the manner in which Justinian dealt with the Quaestorship.

CHAPTER XXI

The Praefect of the supreme tribunals, besides the public tax, annually paid to the Emperor more than thirty centenars of gold.  This sum was called the “aerial tribute,” doubtless because it was no regular or usual one, but seemed to have fallen as it were by chance from Heaven, whereas it ought rather to have been called “the impost of his wickedness,” for it served as a pretext to those functionaries, who were invested with high power, to plunder their subjects incessantly without fear of punishment.  They pretended that they had