This man was a prefect of the armies in the reign of Justinian.[1] Removing him from his office, [Justinian] put [in his place] Peter called Barsyames, who formerly sat at the table of [exchange of] bronze [coins] and obtained shameful profits from this business, skillfully contriving the theft of the obols and always confusing his customers by the swiftness of his fingers. For he was able to steal[2] without fear from those who fell in with him, and when caught to swear, covering up the fault of his hands with the boldness of his tongue. When he was chosen among the generals[3] of the Pretorian Guard he had reached such an extreme of wickedness that he was particularly pleasing to the emperor[4] and could accomplish most easily the difficulties of his unjust plans, by depriving those on active military duty of all their pay[5] [...] and making the offices purchasable even more than before.