A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

CONSUL,

a Soveraign Roman Magi∣strate, that was created upon this occasion. Lucretia, Collatinus his wife, having been ravish∣ed in a country house by the son of Tarquinius Superbus in the absence of her husband, came to Rome, and cast herself at the feet of Spurius Lucretius her father, and entreated him to call his friends, before whom she plainly related how she had been abused by the son of Tarqui∣nius: and withal told them,

'Tis for you to revenge your honour, for mine shall be wash'd preseutly with my own blood, which I will shed pure to the Gods.

After she had spoken these words, she thrust a Dagger into her breast, and expired in the presence of the whole assembly. This tragick death exaspera∣ted the people, and encouraged them to at∣tempt the recovery of their liberty, and to shake off the Royal Authority. Wherefore they esta∣blish'd a kind of Government mixt of Aristo∣cracy and Democracy: the people chose every year two Magistrates, whom they call'd Con∣suls, because they took care of their Country, and gave counsel to their Country-men. They enter'd upon this publick office the thirteenth day of December. Their garments were enrich'd with Purple, like those of the Kings: and were attended like them with Lictors or Serje∣ants, who carried bundles of Rods or Axes; they owned no Superiours but the Gods and the Laws; but when the time of their Magi∣stracy was expired, they were liable to be im∣peached before the people, and to give an ac∣count of their administration. The Senate was the Councel of Consuls, and judg'd of all sorts of affairs, but without prejudice to the right of appealing to the people.

The first Authors of the Roman Liberty, viz. Lucius Junius Brutus, and Lucius Tarquinius Collati∣nus, were created Consuls in the year of the creation of the world 3545, Julian Period 4205, before the birth of our Saviour 509, and from the foundation of Rome 244. Tarquinius Colla∣tinus was put out of his Office before the year of his Consulship was expired, Brutus forc'd him to leave it off, because he was of the Tarquinian Family, and Publius Valerius was chosen in his room to fulfil his time.

The Consuls were chosen every year in the Field of Mars, by the Roman people assembled by hundreds. In the first times of the Com∣monwealth, no man could pretend to this dig∣nity, but such as were of the Patrician Family, viz. Noblemen; but afterwards the people obtained that one of the Consuls should be ta∣ken out from among them, and Sextius was the first Consul chosen out of the people, notwith∣standing the opposition of the Nobility, as it is related by Livy. Comitia Consulum adversâ no∣bilitate habita, quibus L. Sextius de plebe primus Consul factus est, in the year 388. Plinius Junii tells us, that Licmins Stolo who had been Tribune with Sextius, was the first Consul taken out of the people; but all other Authors are of a contra∣ry opinion.

This Magistrate wore a Gown edged with purple; he had the priviledge of sitting upon the Sella Curulis, or a chair of State made of Ivory, carrying in his hand a Royal Staff of Ivory, called Scipio Eberneus, with an Eagle at

the top of it, as a Badge of his dignity and power. Twelve Mace-bearers went before him for a months time, (for the Consuls had agreed among themselves, that the Twelve Mace-bearers should go only before one of them, lest they should fright the people) which time being expired, there should be then but a Sergeant walking before him, and the Mace-bearers should follow him, car∣rying neither bundles of Rods nor Axes, as Suetonius relates, Antiquum retulit morem, ut quo mense fasces non haberent, Accensus ante cum iret, lictores pone sequerentur. Which was only practi∣ced when the Consuls were both at Rome: for in the Provinces each of them kept the badges of his Power.

A Consul was commonly chosen, at Forty three Years of Age, which was called Tompus legitimum; but this was not always observed, for Valerius Corvinus was but three and twenty Years old when he was chosen; Scipio Afri∣canus was chosen at four and twenty, as also Marius, Pompey and Augustus, all before they were forty three Years old.

Besides, it was requisite he should have exer∣cised other Offices, as that of Quaestor, Aedilis, and Pretor, which was no better observed than the first required condition, for Pompey had ne∣ver had been a Quaestor nor Pretor, when he ob∣tained the Consulship.

Their Authority and Power was of a very great extent, so long as the Commonwealth subsided; as it appears by these words of the Law of the twelve Tables, REGIO IMPERIO DUO SUNTO: IIQUE PRAEEUNDO, JUDIC AN∣DO, CONSULENDO, PRAETORES, JUDICES, CONSULES APPELLANTOR: MILITIAE SUM∣MUM JUS HABENTO: NIMINI PARENTO. This gives them a Royal Power, as Tully calls it in the third Book of the Laws; viz. a supream Authority above all the other Magistrates; fa∣stigium dignitatum, says Livy, and the same Au∣thor calls also their Power Immoderata & Infini∣ta potestas, an infinite and unlimited Power.

But this authority was much lessened under the Emperors, who took upon themselves the whole Soveraign Power, leaving only to the Consuls the badges of their dignity, and the power of calling the Senate, and administring justice to private men.

In the last times of the Commonwealth, and under the Emperors, they entered upon their Magistracy the first day of January, be∣ginning with it the year, which was called af∣ter their name. The Senate in a Body, and the people, came very early to their Houses to wa•••••••• them, then accompanied them to the Capitol. Spartianus calls that ceremony Offici∣um novorum Consulum, & Auspiciis interesse, be∣cause being arrived at the Capitol, they took the Augure, and each of them sacrificed an Ox to Jupiter, Consulibus, quo die Magistratus iniere, immolantibus singulis Jovi bovem, ut solet. The Sacrifice being over, they came down to the Senate with the same attendance, where, in the time of the Emperors, they gave thanks to the Emperor, and took the Oath of Allegi∣ance; and few days after thanked the people from the place appointed for publick Speeches. This ceremony ended with a largess of Money or Provisions, which they bestowed upon the people, and sent some presents to their Friends, which were called Nunera Consularia, and Sportulas Consulares, says Cassiodorus. Afterwards the Emperors Zeno and Leo, forbad these li∣beralities, and instead of it, ordered they should pay a certain summ for the repairing of the Aqueducts. They used also to entertain the people with Shews, Fights of Gladiators, Wild Beasts, and other Spectacles, of which the Ro∣mans were fond almost to folly.

After they had drawn Lots about the Pro∣vinces where they should govern, or that the Senate and the people had appointed them without drawing Lots, (which was sometimes practiced) they went to the Capitol to make their vows and prayers, nuncupabat vota, for the prosperity of the Armies of the Common-wealth, then went out by the Gate through which they were to repair to their respective Provinces, having put on their Armour, and attended by their Mace-bearers, and other Officers likewise with their Armoury on. At their going away, the Commonwealth fur∣nished them with all things necessary for their Journey, Houshold-goods, Furnitures, Cooks, &c. Augustus paid them a Summ of Money, to furnish themselves with all these things. They were not allowed to leave their Province, nor the command of the Armies, without an express order from the Senate, neither be∣fore their Successors were arrived there. At their return they made a Speech to the peo∣ple, which ended by a protestation that they had done nothing, neither against the Laws nor the good of the Commonwealth in all the time of their administration. Itaque abiturus Consulatu, jurasti te nibil contra leges fecisse, says the younger Pliny to Emperor Trajan.