Romanæ historiæ anthologia An English exposition of the Romane antiquities, wherein many Romane and English offices are paralleld and divers obscure phrases explained. By Thomas Godwyn Master of Arts: for the vse of Abingdon Schoole.

CHAP. 4.

De Consulibus.

AFter the expulsion of Tarquinius Sup. the last Roman King, all the citizens in Rome assembled, and con∣cluded that the government of their city, which be∣fore was in the hand of one alone governour, called their King, should now bee divided betweene two:c 1.1 whom at first (before there was any such subordinate office as a Prae∣torship) the Romanes called Praetores, quod praeirent populo. Not long after they were called Iudices à iudicando. In pro∣cesse of time they were known by no other name then Cō∣sules à consulendo populo.d 1.2 No citizen, was ordinarily cre∣ated Consull before the forty third yeare of his age. Neither might any be chosen without speciall dispensation either of their absence out of Rome,e 1.3 or in time of their triumph

which was the reason that Iulius Caesar was glad to for∣goe his triumph at that time, when hee was Consul with Bibulus. The signes or tokens of this Consular dignitie were the twelue Lictors carying their bundles of rodds & axesf 1.4 the first month before one Consul, & the second be∣fore the other; as formerly they had done before their Kings.g 1.5 The reason why each Consul had not twelue Li∣ctors alwaies, was because the tyranny of the Consuls might then seeme to be doubled and to exceed the tyranny of the Kings: another token was a certaine chaire of estate called Sella ••burnea .i. an yvory chaire, so called from the matter whereof it was made, andh 1.6 because this chaire was com∣monly caried about in a certaine coach or chariot, where∣in the Consul did ride, hence from Currus which signifyeth a chariot, it is also called Sella curulis: wherei 1.7 note that this word Curulis is sometimes vsed substantiuely, & then it signifieth some chiefe magistracy or office amongst the Romanes. The gowne, by which they were distinguished from other magistrats or private men, was a certaine pur∣ple gowne, which from the great embroadred workes was called Trabea, and hee that did weare it was thence called Trabeatus, according to that, Trabeati cura Quirini. It will be worthy our observation to note, that the Romanes did date their deeds and charters in old time by naming the yeare wherein their citie was first founded; as to say Ab∣vrbe condita the twentieth, thirtieth, or fortieth yeare, &c. But in processe of time their manner of dating was by sub∣scribing the names of their present Consuls: as to say, such a thing was determined L. Valerio, M. Horatio Consulibus, such and such being Consuls. Whence Suetonius speaking of Iul. Caesar, saith, he was appointed to be Flamen Dialis, sequentibus consulibus .i. the next yeare following. Those alone who had borne the office of a Consul, not every one that was capeable thereof were said to be Ʋiri consulares. k 1.8 At the first those who were created Consuls remained in their office the space of an whole yeare, being designati ad

consulatum vpon the twentie fourth of October.l 1.9 At con∣sulatum non inierant ante Calendas Ian .i. the first of Ianua∣ry. The reason of this chasme, or interim betweene their de∣signation vnto their office, and their entry into it, was (as we may probably coniect) that the competitors might haue some time to enquire de Ambitu .i. whether there was no vndirect and vnlawful meanes vsed in their canvassing. In processe of time either by voluntary resignation or de∣position or death many Consuls haue beene chosen in the same yeare, and they were calledm 1.10 Non ordinarij, & suffecti Consules. At such times all their deedes were dated by the names of the two first Consuls which began the yeare: whence those two first, and likewise all those that conti∣nued in their office the whole yeare were calledn 1.11 Consu∣les Honorarij, and Consules Ordinarij.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Rosin. ant. Rom. l. 7. c. 9.
• d 1.2

  Cic. orat. Philid. 5.
• e 1.3

  Suet. Iul. Caes. cap. 18.
• f 1.4

  Alex. Gen. dier. lib. 3. c. 3.
• g 1.5

  Fenest. de magist. Rom.
• h 1.6

  A. Gell l. 3. cap. 18.
• i 1.7

  Stadius i•• Flor. l. 1. c. 5.
• k 1.8

  I. Tislinus in orat. Cic. pro Coelio.
• l 1.9

  P. Ramus in orat. Ca••il. 1.
• m 1.10

  Fr. Sylvius in Cic. Orat. pro Muren.
• n 1.11

  Rosin. ant. Rom. l. 7. c. 9.