CHAPTER XXIX.
I will, however, mention two instances of his falsehood and hypocrisy.
After having deprived Liberius (of whom I have spoken above) of his office, he put in his place John, an Egyptian by birth, surnamed Laxarion.

When Pelagius, who was a particular friend of Liberius, heard of this, he inquired of Justinian whether what he had heard was true.

The Emperor immediately denied it, and protested that he had done nothing of the kind.

He then gave Pelagius a letter in which Liberius was ordered to hold fast to his government and by no means to give it up, and added that he had no present intention of removing Liberius.

At that time there resided in Byzantium an uncle of John named Eudaemon, a man of consular rank and great wealth, who had the management of the imperial estates.