CHAPTER XVII

MASSACRE AT THESSALONICA

THESSALONICA is a large and populous city: it is situated in the province of Macedonia, and is the metropolis of Thessaly, Achaia, and of several other provinces which are under the administration of the governor of Illyria. A sedition arose in this city, and some of the magistrates were stoned and dragged through the streets. When the emperor was informed of this occurrence, his anger rose to the highest pitch: and, instead of curbing it by the suggestions of reason, he gratified his vindictive desire of vengeance by unsheathing the sword most unjustly and tyrannically against all; slaying alike the innocent and the guilty. It is said that seven thousand persons were put to death without any of the forms of law, and without even having judicial sentence passed upon them; but that, like the ears of corn in the time of harvest, they were all alike cut down.