After the Emperor and Empress had destroyed John of Cappadocia, they were desirous of appointing someone else to his office, and agreed to search for a man even more vicious than he.

They looked around to find this instrument of tyranny, and examined the dispositions of all, in order that they might the more speedily be able to ruin their subjects.

They temporarily conferred the office upon Theodotus, who, though certainly not an honourable man, was not sufficiently wicked to satisfy them.

They continued their search in all directions, and at last by accident found a banker named Peter, a Syrian by birth, surnamed Barsyames.

He had long sat at the copper money-changer's counter, and had amassed large sums by his disgraceful malpractices.
He was exceedingly cunning at thieving obols, ever deceiving his customers by the quickness of his fingers.