A judge of senatorial rank was commissioned to inquire into the conduct and death of the king of the Lazi.

He ascended a stately tribunal, encompassed by the ministers of justice and punishment: in the presence of both nations, this extraordinary cause was pleaded, according to the forms of civil jurisprudence, and some satisfaction was granted to an injured people, by the sentence and execution of the meaner criminals.

[88] [Footnote 86: The punishment of flaying alive could not be introduced into Persia by Sapor, (Brisson, de Regn.Pers.l.ii.p.

578,) nor could it be copied from the foolish tale of Marsyas, the Phrygian piper, most foolishly quoted as a precedent by Agathias, (l.iv.p.132, 133.)] [Footnote 8611: According to Agathias, the death of Gubazos preceded the defeat of Nacoragan.

The trial took place after the battle .-- M.] [Footnote 87: In the palace of Constantinople there were thirty silentiaries, who were styled hastati, ante fores cubiculi, an honorable title which conferred the rank, without imposing the duties, of a senator, (Cod.Theodos.l.vi.tit.