Chapter 35

[1208]See Momms.Staatsr.i. p. 195; ii. p. 618.[1209]See p. 161.[1210]p. 169.[1211]p. 211.[1212]p. 161.[1213]Anquisitio(a variant of thequaestioof the magistrate when he investigates on his own authority) perhaps means an “inquiry on both sides,” i.e. through accusation and defence (LangeRöm. Alt.ii. p. 470; cf. Festus p. 22 “anquirere est circum quaerere”).[1214]Liv. ii. 52 (the tribunes) “cum capitis anquisissent, duo milia aeris damnato multam edixerunt”; xxvi. 3 (a pecuniary penalty having been proposed during the first two days) “tertio ... tanta ira accensa est ut capite anquirendum contio subclamaret.”[1215]Cic.pro Dom.17, 45 “cum tam moderata judicia populi sint a majoribus constituta ... ne inprodicta die quis accusetur, ut ter ante magistratus accuset intermissa die quam multam irroget aut judicet, quarta sit accusatio trinum nundinum prodicta die, quo die judicium sit futurum.” Cf. App.B.C.i. 74.[1216]Cic. l.c. “si qua res illum diem aut auspiciis aut excusatione sustulit, tota causa judiciumque sublatum sit.”[1217]Dio Cass. xxxvii. 27.[1218]Cic.pro Domo82, 86 “at vero ... Kaeso ille Quinctius (cf. Liv. iii. 13) et M. Furius Camillus et M. Servilius Ahala (cf. Liv. iv. 16, 21) ... populi incitati vim iracundiamque subierunt; damnatique comitiis centuriatis cum in exilium profugissent, rursus ab eodem populo placato sunt in suam pristinam dignitatem restituti.”[1219]Cic.Brut.34, 128;post Red. in Sen.15, 38.[1220]App.B.C.i 31.[1221]Cic.pro Planc.28, 69;post Red. in Sen.15, 38.[1222]Cic.ad Att.iv. 1, 4.[1223]Auct. ad Herenn.ii. 28, 45.[1224]Caes.B.C.iii. 1 “praetoribus tribunisque plebis rogationes ad populum ferentibus ... in integrum restituit.” Cf. Suet.Caes.41; Dio Cass, xliii. 27.[1225]“de alea condemnatum” (Cic.Phil.ii. 23, 56), that is, probably, under thelex Cornelia de falsis(ReinCriminalrechtp. 833).[1226]See p. 248.[1227]Plut.Mar.43; cf. Vell. ii. 21; App.B.C.i. 70.[1228]App.B.C.iii. 95.[1229]Vell. ii. 58; cf. Cic.Phil.i. 1, 1.[1230]Dio Cass. xlix. 43.[1231]pp. 166, 179.[1232]p. 239.[1233]When Varro says (L.L.vi. 30) “magistratus vitio creatus nihilo secius magistratus” he is reflecting the practical procedure—hardly the constitutional theory, unless thedictumimplies that repeal is impossible because unnecessary, and that there is no authority for determining the nullity of the election.[1234]Cicero says, with respect to the law exiling him, that there was some point in its being held invalid as aprivilegium, “sed multo est melius abrogari” (ad Att.iii. 15, 5).[1235]Laelius Felix ap. Gell. xv. 27, 5 “Cum ex generibus hominum suffragium feratur, ‘curiata’ comitia esse, cum ex censu et aetate ‘centuriata,’ cum ex regionibus et locis, ‘tributa.’”[1236]How easily onecomitiacould melt into another is shown by the words of Cicero [ad Fam.vii. 30 (44B.C.)] “Ille autem (Caesar), qui comitiis tributis esset auspicatus, centuriata habuit.”[1237]See Appendix on thecomitia tributa.[1238]p. 49.[1239]Messala ap. Gell. xiii. 15, 4 “Minoribus creatis magistratibus tributis comitiis magistratus, sed justus curiata datur lege.”[1240]Dio Cass. xxxix. 19.[1241]ib. xli. 43.[1242]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 12, 30 “consuli, si legem curiatam non habet, attingere rem militarem non licet.”[1243]Sulla’s law had said that the magistrate should retainimperiumuntil he re-entered the city, apparently without mentioning thelex curiata. App. Claudius, consul for 54B.C., who had been prevented by the tribunician veto from getting hislex curiatapassed, presumed on this silence and said “legem curiatam consuli ferri opus esse, necesse non esse; se, quoniam ex senatus consulto provinciam haberet, lege Cornelia imperium habiturum quoad in urbem introisset” (Cic.ad Fam.i. 9, 25).[1244]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 12, 31.[1245]p. 26.[1246]Gell. xv. 27, 1 “‘calata’ comitia esse, quae pro conlegio pontificum habentur aut regis aut flaminum inaugurandorum causa. Eorum autem alia esse ‘curiata,’ alia ‘centuriata’ ... Isdem comitiis, quae ‘calata’ appellari diximus, et sacrorum detestatio et testamenta fieri solebant.” It is not known what particular acts were reserved for the “comitia calata” assembledcenturiatim; Mommsen thinks the inauguration of the Flamen Martialis outside the city (Staatsr.iii. p. 307).[1247]p. 107.[1248]pp. 107, 246.[1249]p. 244.[1250]Liv. i. 43 “Nec mirari oportet hunc ordinem, qui nunc est post expletas quinque et triginta tribus duplicate earum numero centuriis juniorum seniorumque, ad institutam ab Servio Tullio summam non convenire.” Cf. Dionys. iv. 21. The description of Cicero (de Rep.ii. 22, 39 and 40) probably refers to the Servian arrangement, although Mommsen (Staatsr.iii. p. 275) holds that it refers to the reformedcomitia. The description given in the text is in essentials that of Pantagathus (died 1567)ap. Ursinum inLiv. i. 43. For the different systems that have been adopted see WillemsLe Droit Publicp. 97. Mommsen (l.c.) admits the 70 votes for the 70 centuries of the first class, but thinks that the 280 centuries of the other classes were so combined as to form but 100 votes; the total votes being 70 + 100 + 5 + 18 = 193, as before.[1251]p. 73.[1252]Cic.Phil.ii. 33, 82 “Ecce Dolabellae comitiorum dies: sortitio praerogativae: quiescit. Renuntiatur, tacet. Prima classis vocatur: renuntiatur. Deinde, ita ut assolet, suffragia; tum secunda classis.”[1253]Liv. xliii. 16 “cum ex duodecim centuriis equitum octo censorem condemnassent, multaeque aliae primae classis.” It would seem as though thesex suffragia(p. 73) voted with or after the first class. Drakenborch would readoctodecimforduodecim, but this would seem to give too small a number of condemnatory votes amongst theequites.[1254]Cic.pro Planc.20, 49.[1255]Hence such expressions asAniensis juniorum,Veturia juniorum,Galeria juniorum(Liv. xxiv. 7; xxvi. 22; xxvii. 6).[1256]App.B.C.i. 59.[1257]See Appendix on thecomitia tributa.[1258]p. 107.[1259]Liv. xxv. 4 (212B.C.) “Tribuni plebem rogaverunt plebesque ita scivit, ‘Si M. Postumius ante K. Maias non prodisset citatusque eo die non respondisset neque excusatus esset, videri eum in exilio esse, bonaque ejus venire, ipsi aqua et igni placere interdici”; ib. xxvi. 3 (211B.C.) “Cn. Fulvius exulatum Tarquinios abiit. Id ei justum exilium esse scivit plebs.”[1260]When Plutarch says (C. Gracch.4) that C. Gracchus gave the right of trying such cases τῷ δήμῳ, this word may include the Plebs. Gracchus at least seems to have banished the ex-consul Popilius by means of aplebiscitum(Cic.pro Domo31, 82 “ubi enim tuleras ut mihi aqua et igni interdiceretur? quod Gracchus de P. Popilio ... tulit”).[1261]App.B.C.i. 59.[1262]This conclusion has been drawn from the words of Cicero (in Verr.Act i. 13, 38) “judiciis ad senatorium ordinem translatis sublataque populi Romani in unum quemque vestrum potestate.”[1263]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 7, 18 “Quod populus per religionem sacerdotia mandare non poterat, ut minor pars populi vocaretur.”[1264]For this presidency by the youngest pontifex (the one, i.e., who stood the least chance of election) see Liv. xxv. 5 (212B.C.). From Cic.ad Brut.i. 5, 4 it follows that the consuls had something to do with arranging the elections, but not that they were ever the presidents.[1265]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 7, 18; Vell. ii. 12, 3.[1266]Dio Cass. xxxvii. 37.[1267]Macrob.Sat.i. 16, 29 “Julius Caesar XVI auspiciorum libro negat nundinis contionem advocari posse, id est cum populo agi ideoque nundinis Romanorum haberi comitia non posse.”[1268]VarroL.L.v. 155 “comitium ab eo quod coibant eo comitiis curiatis et litium causa.”[1269]Liv. vi. 20; Plin.H.N.xvi. 10, 37.[1270]Liv. vii. 16.[1271]The change to the Forum is perhaps post-Gracchan; see Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 385. Cf. the prescription of thelex Quinctia de aquaeductibus(p. 242).[1272]Gell. xiii. 15, 1 “In edicto consulum, quo edicunt quis dies comitiis centuriatis futurus sit.” “Comitia edicere” (Liv. xxiii. 31) and “comitia indicere” (Liv. iv. 6) are employed as descriptive of this act.[1273]Festus p. 224 “promulgari leges dicuntur cum primum in vulgus eduntur, quasi provulgari.”[1274]Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 370.[1275]Schol. Bob. to Cic.pro Sest.64, 135 (p. 310) “(lex) Licinia et Junia ... illud cavebat ne clam aerario legem ferri liceret.” For registration in theaerariumat the time of promulgation cf. Cic.de Leg.iii. 4, 11. Clodius’ law exiling Cicero in 58B.C.was amended (Cic.ad Att.iii. 2 “praesertim nondum rogatione correcta”), but whether before or after promulgation is not clear.[1276]Dionysius, Plutarch, and Priscian explaintrinum nundinumas the third market-day, an interval oftrinarum nundinarum, i.e. seventeen days; but Mommsen has made out a good case for its being threenundina, i.e. intervals of eight days (Staatsr.iii. p. 375).[1277]p. 164.[1278]p. 38.[1279]VarroL.L.vi. 91 “comitiatum praeco populum vocet ad te, et eum de muris vocet praeco.”[1280]The herald is not mentioned in connexion with theconcilium plebis. Thecomitia curiatawere summoned by alictor curiatius. See Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 386.[1281]Gell. xv. 27; Dio Cass. xxxvii. 27.[1282]VarroL.L.vi. 92; Plut.C. Gracch.3.[1283]“Sollemne carmen precationis” (Liv. xxxix. 15).[1284]Cic.de Leg.iii. 4, 11 “qui agent ... rem populum docento”; Quintil.Inst. Or.ii. 4, 33 “Romanis pro contione suadere ac dissuadere moris fuit.”[1285]Except perhaps at thecomitia centuriata(Momms. iii. p. 395), but this body had almost ceased to be a legislative assembly.[1286]p. 247.[1287]Originallylicium, latersaeptaorovile.[1288]Liv. ii. 56; cf. Asc.in Cornel.p. 70 “discedere, quod verbum ... significat ... [ut] in suam quisque tribum discedat, in qua est suffragium laturus.”[1289]Hence the expressionferre punctum(Cic.pro Planc.22, 53).[1290]Liv. v. 13; iii. 21.[1291]Cic.de Leg.iii. cc. 15, 16.[1292]Hence the discovery of a fraud at an election through tablets being μιᾷ χειρὶ γεγραμμέναις (Plut.Cat. Min.46).[1293]Cic.cum Sen. Gr. eg.11, 28;in Pis.15, 36.[1294]Plin.H.N.xxxiii. 2, 31; Cic.cum Sen. Gr. eg.7, 17.[1295]p. 253.[1296]The first curia or tribe is theprincipium. See the prescription of thelex Quinctia(p. 242). Even after the ballot was introduced the name of the first voter in a division was specified (primus scivit, l.c.).[1297]Tribusorcenturias non explereis said of such candidates (Liv. iii. 64; xxxvii. 47). Cf. Liv. xxii. 35.[1298]Cic.in Pis.15, 36 “hoc certe video quod indicant tabulae publicae vos rogatores, vos diribitores, vos custodes fuisse tabularum.” It is the list of votes as certified by the guardians and tellers rather than the separate voting tablets that Cicero here speaks of. But the tablets themselves were kept for a time inloculi(VarroR.R.iii. 5, 18).[1299]Cic.de Leg.iii. 20, 46 “Legum custodiam nullam habemus. Itaque eae leges sunt quas apparisores nostri volunt; a librariis petimus.”[1300]See the evidences collected by Mommsen (Staatsr.iii. pp. 418-419). It is from this practice thatfigereandrefigereare used of the publication and annulling of laws.[1301]p. 219.[1302]Cic.pro Sest.65, 137 “senatum reipublicae custodem, praesidem, propugnatorem collocaverunt (majores); hujus ordinis auctoritate uti magistratus et quasi ministros gravissimi consilii esse voluerunt.”[1303]Festus p. 142 “mulleos genus calceorum aiunt esse, quibus reges Albanorum primi, deinde patricii sunt usi.”[1304]Hence the distinction between the patrician and plebeian form of shoe (MommsenStaatsr.iii. p. 891). In the time of Cato the elder this footgear was only worn by the plebeian senator “qui magistratum curulem cepisset” (Festus l.c.).[1305]For an investiture of boys with thelatus clavusearlier than the rule of Augustus, see Suet.Aug.94.[1306]Tac.Ann.xi. 22 “post lege Sullae viginti (quaestores) creati supplendo senatui.”[1307]Gell. iv. 10, 8 “Erat ... jus senatori ut sententiam rogatus diceret ante quicquid vellet aliae rei et quoad vellet.” For this practice ofegredi relationemsee Tac.Ann.ii. 33.[1308]“Delenda est Carthago” (Florus ii. 15); cf. App.Lib.69.[1309]An attempt to violate this order was made in 56B.C., “cum Lupus tribunus pl.... intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consules. Ejus orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est; erat enim et iniqua et nova” (Cic.ad Fam.i. 2, 2).[1310]The consul Marcellus thus dismissed the Senate in 50B.C.on its favouring the proposal that both Pompeius and Caesar should lay down their commands (App.B.C.ii. 30).[1311]Gell. iv. 10, 8.[1312]ib. l.c.; Suet.Caes.20.[1313]Gell. xiv. 7, 9 (from theCommentariusof Varro) “singulos autem debere consuli gradatim incipique a consulari gradu. Ex quo gradu semper quidem antea primum rogari solitum qui princeps in senatum lectus esset; tum autem, cum haec scriberet, novum morem institutum refert per ambitionem gratiamque ut is primus rogaretur quem rogare vellet qui haberet senatum, dum is tamen ex gradu consulari esset.” For thisnovus moscf. Cic.ad Att.i. 13, 2 (61B.C.) “Primum igitur scito primum me non esse rogatum sententiam praepositumque esse nobis pacificatorem Allobrogum” (C. Calpurnius Piso, a relative of the presiding consul).[1314]Sall.Cat.50 (in the debate on the Catilinarian conspirators) “D. Junius Silanus primus sententiam rogatus quod eo tempore consul designatus erat.”[1315]Festus p. 210 “(Pedarius senator) ita appellator quia tacitus transeundo ad eum, cujus sententiam probat, quid sentiat indicat.” Cf. Gell. iii. 18. The explanation cited by Festus is true only so far as it expresses a usual circumstance of debate. The namepedariusis probably derived from the absence of the curule chair (Gavius Bassus ap. Gell. l.c.).[1316]Vell. ii. 35 “Hic tribunus plebis designatus ... paene inter ultimos interrogatus sententiam”; Cic.ad Att.xii. 21, 1 “Cur ergo in sententiam Catonis? Quia verbis luculentioribus et pluribus rem eandem (i.e. the opinion already expressed byconsulares) comprehenderat.”[1317]See p. 270 n. 2.[1318]In a rough estimate of the house (61B.C.) Cicero mentions 15 on one side of a question, “quite 400” on the other (ad Att.i. 14, 5). On Curio’s proposal in 50B.C.that both Pompeius and Caesar should lay down their commands, 22 dissented, 370 approved (App.B.C.ii. 30). In the latter case there seems to have been no formal division (see p. 268 n. 2); and in both the small numbers may be the result of exact computation, the large either of a guess or of a deduction drawn from an already counted quorum.[1319]“Verbo adsentiri” (Sall.Cat.52); cf. Cic.ad Fam.v. 2, 9 “sedens iis adsensi.”[1320]“In alienam sententiam pedibus ire” (Gell. iii. 18, 1).[1321]The invitation to divide on thesententiawas couched in the form “Qui hoc censetis, illuc transite: qui alia omnia, in hanc partem” (Festus p. 261). Hence the colloquial phrase “ire in alia omnia” for negativing a proposal at the Senate (Cic.ad Fam.i. 2, 1).[1322]Cic.ad Att.i. 14, 3 “totum hunc locum, quem ego ... soleo pingere, de flamma, de ferro—nosti illas ληκύθους.”[1323]p. 179.[1324]Cic.ad Fam.viii. 8, 5 ff. In § 6 we find the formula “Si quis huic s. c. intercesserit, senatui placere auctoritatem perscribi.”[1325]ib. l.c. § 6 “Pr. Kal. Octobres in aede Apollinis scrib. adfuerunt L. Domitius Cn. f. Fab. Ahenobarbus,” etc.[1326]p. 148.[1327]Plut.Ti. Gracch.10; App.B.C.i. 12.[1328]Polyb. xxx. 4. For the motive of the veto see Liv. xlv. 21 “M. Juventius Thalna ... praetor novo maloque exemplo rem ingressus erat, quod, ante non consulto senatu, non consulibus certioribus factis, de sua unius sententia rogationem ferret vellent juberentne Rhodiis bellum indici, cum antea semper prius senatus de bello consultus esset, deinde ex auctoritate patrum ad populum latum.”[1329]Suet.Caes.16 (Caesar supported Metellus in carrying) “turbulentissimas leges adversus collegarum intercessionem ... donec ambo administratione reipublicae decreto patrum submoverentur.”[1330]In this case the prohibition was effected through the coercive power of the consul springing from hismajus imperium(Dio Cass. xlii. 23).[1331]Tac.Ann.ii. 30 “vetere senatus consulto quaestio in caput domini prohibebatur.”[1332]Cic.ad Att.v. 21, 13 (50B.C.) “cum senatus consultum modo factum sit ... in creditorum causa, ut centesimae perpetuo faenore ducerentur.”[1333]Ascon.in Cornel.p. 58.[1334]M. Brutus had gained from the Senate the validation of a bond (syngrapha), by which an exorbitant rate of interest was demanded from the government of Salamis in Cyprus. Bonds of this kind, through which obligations were incurred by provincials at Rome, had been rendered illegal by alex Gabiniaof 67B.C.(Cic.ad Att.v. 21, 12).[1335]Cic.pro Domo16, 41 “judicavit senatus M. Drusi legibus, quae contra legem Caeciliam et Didiam latae essent, populum non teneri.” The account that the Livian laws were shelved ascontra auspicia(Ascon.in Cornel.p. 68 “Philippus cos.... obtinuit a senatu, ut leges ejus omnes uno s. c. tollerentur. Decretum est enim contra auspicia esse latas neque eis teneri populum”) may contain one of the grounds of their abrogation.[1336]Cic.ad Att.iii. 15, 5 “Quod te cum Culleone scribis de privilegio locutum, est aliquid, sed multo est melius abrogari.”[1337]p. 204.[1338]Liv. xxv. 4; Sall.Cat.50; Ascon.in Milon.p. 44. The Senate in this way sometimes interprets a criminal law and extends its incidence. See Cic.de Har. Resp.8, 15 “decrevit senatus eos qui id fecissent (i.e. who had disturbed the rebuilding of Cicero’s house) lege de vi, quae est in eos qui universam rem publicam oppugnassent (i.e. vi publica) teneri.”[1339]Cic.ad Att.i. 13, 3 “Credo enim te audisse, cum apud Caesarem pro populo fieret, venisse eo muliebri vestitu virum ... mentionem a Q. Cornificio in senatu factam ... postea rem ex senatus consulto ad pontifices relatam, idque ab iis nefas esse decretum; deinde ex senatus consulto consules rogationem promulgasse.”[1340]Liv. viii. 18.[1341]ib. xl. 43 (180B.C.) “A. C. Maenio praetore (cui, provincia Sardinia cum evenisset, additum erat ut quaereret de veneficiis longius ab urbe decem millibus passuum) literae adlataese jam tria millia hominum damnasse.”[1342]Liv. xxxix. 41 (184B.C.); cf. ix. 26 (314B.C.) and the instance cited in the next note. In such instances ofquaestionesextended to Italy, it is not clear whethersociias well asciveswere executed summarily by Roman magistrates.[1343]ib. xxxix. 18. On this point see ZumptCriminalrecht der Römeri. 2 p. 212.[1344]C.I.L.i. n. 196 (a letter from the consuls to some unknown magistrates of theager Teuranusin Brutii) l. 24 “eorum (i.e. the Senate) sententia ita fuit ‘sei ques esent, quei avorsum ead fecisent, quam suprad scriptum est, eeis rem caputalem faciendam censuere.’”[1345]The consul was armed against C. Gracchus, the consuls in 63; the consuls, praetors, and tribunes in 100B.C.; the interrex, proconsul, and all other magistrates withimperiumin 77B.C.

[1208]See Momms.Staatsr.i. p. 195; ii. p. 618.

[1209]See p. 161.

[1210]p. 169.

[1211]p. 211.

[1212]p. 161.

[1213]Anquisitio(a variant of thequaestioof the magistrate when he investigates on his own authority) perhaps means an “inquiry on both sides,” i.e. through accusation and defence (LangeRöm. Alt.ii. p. 470; cf. Festus p. 22 “anquirere est circum quaerere”).

[1214]Liv. ii. 52 (the tribunes) “cum capitis anquisissent, duo milia aeris damnato multam edixerunt”; xxvi. 3 (a pecuniary penalty having been proposed during the first two days) “tertio ... tanta ira accensa est ut capite anquirendum contio subclamaret.”

[1215]Cic.pro Dom.17, 45 “cum tam moderata judicia populi sint a majoribus constituta ... ne inprodicta die quis accusetur, ut ter ante magistratus accuset intermissa die quam multam irroget aut judicet, quarta sit accusatio trinum nundinum prodicta die, quo die judicium sit futurum.” Cf. App.B.C.i. 74.

[1216]Cic. l.c. “si qua res illum diem aut auspiciis aut excusatione sustulit, tota causa judiciumque sublatum sit.”

[1217]Dio Cass. xxxvii. 27.

[1218]Cic.pro Domo82, 86 “at vero ... Kaeso ille Quinctius (cf. Liv. iii. 13) et M. Furius Camillus et M. Servilius Ahala (cf. Liv. iv. 16, 21) ... populi incitati vim iracundiamque subierunt; damnatique comitiis centuriatis cum in exilium profugissent, rursus ab eodem populo placato sunt in suam pristinam dignitatem restituti.”

[1219]Cic.Brut.34, 128;post Red. in Sen.15, 38.

[1220]App.B.C.i 31.

[1221]Cic.pro Planc.28, 69;post Red. in Sen.15, 38.

[1222]Cic.ad Att.iv. 1, 4.

[1223]Auct. ad Herenn.ii. 28, 45.

[1224]Caes.B.C.iii. 1 “praetoribus tribunisque plebis rogationes ad populum ferentibus ... in integrum restituit.” Cf. Suet.Caes.41; Dio Cass, xliii. 27.

[1225]“de alea condemnatum” (Cic.Phil.ii. 23, 56), that is, probably, under thelex Cornelia de falsis(ReinCriminalrechtp. 833).

[1226]See p. 248.

[1227]Plut.Mar.43; cf. Vell. ii. 21; App.B.C.i. 70.

[1228]App.B.C.iii. 95.

[1229]Vell. ii. 58; cf. Cic.Phil.i. 1, 1.

[1230]Dio Cass. xlix. 43.

[1231]pp. 166, 179.

[1232]p. 239.

[1233]When Varro says (L.L.vi. 30) “magistratus vitio creatus nihilo secius magistratus” he is reflecting the practical procedure—hardly the constitutional theory, unless thedictumimplies that repeal is impossible because unnecessary, and that there is no authority for determining the nullity of the election.

[1234]Cicero says, with respect to the law exiling him, that there was some point in its being held invalid as aprivilegium, “sed multo est melius abrogari” (ad Att.iii. 15, 5).

[1235]Laelius Felix ap. Gell. xv. 27, 5 “Cum ex generibus hominum suffragium feratur, ‘curiata’ comitia esse, cum ex censu et aetate ‘centuriata,’ cum ex regionibus et locis, ‘tributa.’”

[1236]How easily onecomitiacould melt into another is shown by the words of Cicero [ad Fam.vii. 30 (44B.C.)] “Ille autem (Caesar), qui comitiis tributis esset auspicatus, centuriata habuit.”

[1237]See Appendix on thecomitia tributa.

[1238]p. 49.

[1239]Messala ap. Gell. xiii. 15, 4 “Minoribus creatis magistratibus tributis comitiis magistratus, sed justus curiata datur lege.”

[1240]Dio Cass. xxxix. 19.

[1241]ib. xli. 43.

[1242]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 12, 30 “consuli, si legem curiatam non habet, attingere rem militarem non licet.”

[1243]Sulla’s law had said that the magistrate should retainimperiumuntil he re-entered the city, apparently without mentioning thelex curiata. App. Claudius, consul for 54B.C., who had been prevented by the tribunician veto from getting hislex curiatapassed, presumed on this silence and said “legem curiatam consuli ferri opus esse, necesse non esse; se, quoniam ex senatus consulto provinciam haberet, lege Cornelia imperium habiturum quoad in urbem introisset” (Cic.ad Fam.i. 9, 25).

[1244]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 12, 31.

[1245]p. 26.

[1246]Gell. xv. 27, 1 “‘calata’ comitia esse, quae pro conlegio pontificum habentur aut regis aut flaminum inaugurandorum causa. Eorum autem alia esse ‘curiata,’ alia ‘centuriata’ ... Isdem comitiis, quae ‘calata’ appellari diximus, et sacrorum detestatio et testamenta fieri solebant.” It is not known what particular acts were reserved for the “comitia calata” assembledcenturiatim; Mommsen thinks the inauguration of the Flamen Martialis outside the city (Staatsr.iii. p. 307).

[1247]p. 107.

[1248]pp. 107, 246.

[1249]p. 244.

[1250]Liv. i. 43 “Nec mirari oportet hunc ordinem, qui nunc est post expletas quinque et triginta tribus duplicate earum numero centuriis juniorum seniorumque, ad institutam ab Servio Tullio summam non convenire.” Cf. Dionys. iv. 21. The description of Cicero (de Rep.ii. 22, 39 and 40) probably refers to the Servian arrangement, although Mommsen (Staatsr.iii. p. 275) holds that it refers to the reformedcomitia. The description given in the text is in essentials that of Pantagathus (died 1567)ap. Ursinum inLiv. i. 43. For the different systems that have been adopted see WillemsLe Droit Publicp. 97. Mommsen (l.c.) admits the 70 votes for the 70 centuries of the first class, but thinks that the 280 centuries of the other classes were so combined as to form but 100 votes; the total votes being 70 + 100 + 5 + 18 = 193, as before.

[1251]p. 73.

[1252]Cic.Phil.ii. 33, 82 “Ecce Dolabellae comitiorum dies: sortitio praerogativae: quiescit. Renuntiatur, tacet. Prima classis vocatur: renuntiatur. Deinde, ita ut assolet, suffragia; tum secunda classis.”

[1253]Liv. xliii. 16 “cum ex duodecim centuriis equitum octo censorem condemnassent, multaeque aliae primae classis.” It would seem as though thesex suffragia(p. 73) voted with or after the first class. Drakenborch would readoctodecimforduodecim, but this would seem to give too small a number of condemnatory votes amongst theequites.

[1254]Cic.pro Planc.20, 49.

[1255]Hence such expressions asAniensis juniorum,Veturia juniorum,Galeria juniorum(Liv. xxiv. 7; xxvi. 22; xxvii. 6).

[1256]App.B.C.i. 59.

[1257]See Appendix on thecomitia tributa.

[1258]p. 107.

[1259]Liv. xxv. 4 (212B.C.) “Tribuni plebem rogaverunt plebesque ita scivit, ‘Si M. Postumius ante K. Maias non prodisset citatusque eo die non respondisset neque excusatus esset, videri eum in exilio esse, bonaque ejus venire, ipsi aqua et igni placere interdici”; ib. xxvi. 3 (211B.C.) “Cn. Fulvius exulatum Tarquinios abiit. Id ei justum exilium esse scivit plebs.”

[1260]When Plutarch says (C. Gracch.4) that C. Gracchus gave the right of trying such cases τῷ δήμῳ, this word may include the Plebs. Gracchus at least seems to have banished the ex-consul Popilius by means of aplebiscitum(Cic.pro Domo31, 82 “ubi enim tuleras ut mihi aqua et igni interdiceretur? quod Gracchus de P. Popilio ... tulit”).

[1261]App.B.C.i. 59.

[1262]This conclusion has been drawn from the words of Cicero (in Verr.Act i. 13, 38) “judiciis ad senatorium ordinem translatis sublataque populi Romani in unum quemque vestrum potestate.”

[1263]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 7, 18 “Quod populus per religionem sacerdotia mandare non poterat, ut minor pars populi vocaretur.”

[1264]For this presidency by the youngest pontifex (the one, i.e., who stood the least chance of election) see Liv. xxv. 5 (212B.C.). From Cic.ad Brut.i. 5, 4 it follows that the consuls had something to do with arranging the elections, but not that they were ever the presidents.

[1265]Cic.de Leg. Agr.ii. 7, 18; Vell. ii. 12, 3.

[1266]Dio Cass. xxxvii. 37.

[1267]Macrob.Sat.i. 16, 29 “Julius Caesar XVI auspiciorum libro negat nundinis contionem advocari posse, id est cum populo agi ideoque nundinis Romanorum haberi comitia non posse.”

[1268]VarroL.L.v. 155 “comitium ab eo quod coibant eo comitiis curiatis et litium causa.”

[1269]Liv. vi. 20; Plin.H.N.xvi. 10, 37.

[1270]Liv. vii. 16.

[1271]The change to the Forum is perhaps post-Gracchan; see Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 385. Cf. the prescription of thelex Quinctia de aquaeductibus(p. 242).

[1272]Gell. xiii. 15, 1 “In edicto consulum, quo edicunt quis dies comitiis centuriatis futurus sit.” “Comitia edicere” (Liv. xxiii. 31) and “comitia indicere” (Liv. iv. 6) are employed as descriptive of this act.

[1273]Festus p. 224 “promulgari leges dicuntur cum primum in vulgus eduntur, quasi provulgari.”

[1274]Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 370.

[1275]Schol. Bob. to Cic.pro Sest.64, 135 (p. 310) “(lex) Licinia et Junia ... illud cavebat ne clam aerario legem ferri liceret.” For registration in theaerariumat the time of promulgation cf. Cic.de Leg.iii. 4, 11. Clodius’ law exiling Cicero in 58B.C.was amended (Cic.ad Att.iii. 2 “praesertim nondum rogatione correcta”), but whether before or after promulgation is not clear.

[1276]Dionysius, Plutarch, and Priscian explaintrinum nundinumas the third market-day, an interval oftrinarum nundinarum, i.e. seventeen days; but Mommsen has made out a good case for its being threenundina, i.e. intervals of eight days (Staatsr.iii. p. 375).

[1277]p. 164.

[1278]p. 38.

[1279]VarroL.L.vi. 91 “comitiatum praeco populum vocet ad te, et eum de muris vocet praeco.”

[1280]The herald is not mentioned in connexion with theconcilium plebis. Thecomitia curiatawere summoned by alictor curiatius. See Momms.Staatsr.iii. p. 386.

[1281]Gell. xv. 27; Dio Cass. xxxvii. 27.

[1282]VarroL.L.vi. 92; Plut.C. Gracch.3.

[1283]“Sollemne carmen precationis” (Liv. xxxix. 15).

[1284]Cic.de Leg.iii. 4, 11 “qui agent ... rem populum docento”; Quintil.Inst. Or.ii. 4, 33 “Romanis pro contione suadere ac dissuadere moris fuit.”

[1285]Except perhaps at thecomitia centuriata(Momms. iii. p. 395), but this body had almost ceased to be a legislative assembly.

[1286]p. 247.

[1287]Originallylicium, latersaeptaorovile.

[1288]Liv. ii. 56; cf. Asc.in Cornel.p. 70 “discedere, quod verbum ... significat ... [ut] in suam quisque tribum discedat, in qua est suffragium laturus.”

[1289]Hence the expressionferre punctum(Cic.pro Planc.22, 53).

[1290]Liv. v. 13; iii. 21.

[1291]Cic.de Leg.iii. cc. 15, 16.

[1292]Hence the discovery of a fraud at an election through tablets being μιᾷ χειρὶ γεγραμμέναις (Plut.Cat. Min.46).

[1293]Cic.cum Sen. Gr. eg.11, 28;in Pis.15, 36.

[1294]Plin.H.N.xxxiii. 2, 31; Cic.cum Sen. Gr. eg.7, 17.

[1295]p. 253.

[1296]The first curia or tribe is theprincipium. See the prescription of thelex Quinctia(p. 242). Even after the ballot was introduced the name of the first voter in a division was specified (primus scivit, l.c.).

[1297]Tribusorcenturias non explereis said of such candidates (Liv. iii. 64; xxxvii. 47). Cf. Liv. xxii. 35.

[1298]Cic.in Pis.15, 36 “hoc certe video quod indicant tabulae publicae vos rogatores, vos diribitores, vos custodes fuisse tabularum.” It is the list of votes as certified by the guardians and tellers rather than the separate voting tablets that Cicero here speaks of. But the tablets themselves were kept for a time inloculi(VarroR.R.iii. 5, 18).

[1299]Cic.de Leg.iii. 20, 46 “Legum custodiam nullam habemus. Itaque eae leges sunt quas apparisores nostri volunt; a librariis petimus.”

[1300]See the evidences collected by Mommsen (Staatsr.iii. pp. 418-419). It is from this practice thatfigereandrefigereare used of the publication and annulling of laws.

[1301]p. 219.

[1302]Cic.pro Sest.65, 137 “senatum reipublicae custodem, praesidem, propugnatorem collocaverunt (majores); hujus ordinis auctoritate uti magistratus et quasi ministros gravissimi consilii esse voluerunt.”

[1303]Festus p. 142 “mulleos genus calceorum aiunt esse, quibus reges Albanorum primi, deinde patricii sunt usi.”

[1304]Hence the distinction between the patrician and plebeian form of shoe (MommsenStaatsr.iii. p. 891). In the time of Cato the elder this footgear was only worn by the plebeian senator “qui magistratum curulem cepisset” (Festus l.c.).

[1305]For an investiture of boys with thelatus clavusearlier than the rule of Augustus, see Suet.Aug.94.

[1306]Tac.Ann.xi. 22 “post lege Sullae viginti (quaestores) creati supplendo senatui.”

[1307]Gell. iv. 10, 8 “Erat ... jus senatori ut sententiam rogatus diceret ante quicquid vellet aliae rei et quoad vellet.” For this practice ofegredi relationemsee Tac.Ann.ii. 33.

[1308]“Delenda est Carthago” (Florus ii. 15); cf. App.Lib.69.

[1309]An attempt to violate this order was made in 56B.C., “cum Lupus tribunus pl.... intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consules. Ejus orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est; erat enim et iniqua et nova” (Cic.ad Fam.i. 2, 2).

[1310]The consul Marcellus thus dismissed the Senate in 50B.C.on its favouring the proposal that both Pompeius and Caesar should lay down their commands (App.B.C.ii. 30).

[1311]Gell. iv. 10, 8.

[1312]ib. l.c.; Suet.Caes.20.

[1313]Gell. xiv. 7, 9 (from theCommentariusof Varro) “singulos autem debere consuli gradatim incipique a consulari gradu. Ex quo gradu semper quidem antea primum rogari solitum qui princeps in senatum lectus esset; tum autem, cum haec scriberet, novum morem institutum refert per ambitionem gratiamque ut is primus rogaretur quem rogare vellet qui haberet senatum, dum is tamen ex gradu consulari esset.” For thisnovus moscf. Cic.ad Att.i. 13, 2 (61B.C.) “Primum igitur scito primum me non esse rogatum sententiam praepositumque esse nobis pacificatorem Allobrogum” (C. Calpurnius Piso, a relative of the presiding consul).

[1314]Sall.Cat.50 (in the debate on the Catilinarian conspirators) “D. Junius Silanus primus sententiam rogatus quod eo tempore consul designatus erat.”

[1315]Festus p. 210 “(Pedarius senator) ita appellator quia tacitus transeundo ad eum, cujus sententiam probat, quid sentiat indicat.” Cf. Gell. iii. 18. The explanation cited by Festus is true only so far as it expresses a usual circumstance of debate. The namepedariusis probably derived from the absence of the curule chair (Gavius Bassus ap. Gell. l.c.).

[1316]Vell. ii. 35 “Hic tribunus plebis designatus ... paene inter ultimos interrogatus sententiam”; Cic.ad Att.xii. 21, 1 “Cur ergo in sententiam Catonis? Quia verbis luculentioribus et pluribus rem eandem (i.e. the opinion already expressed byconsulares) comprehenderat.”

[1317]See p. 270 n. 2.

[1318]In a rough estimate of the house (61B.C.) Cicero mentions 15 on one side of a question, “quite 400” on the other (ad Att.i. 14, 5). On Curio’s proposal in 50B.C.that both Pompeius and Caesar should lay down their commands, 22 dissented, 370 approved (App.B.C.ii. 30). In the latter case there seems to have been no formal division (see p. 268 n. 2); and in both the small numbers may be the result of exact computation, the large either of a guess or of a deduction drawn from an already counted quorum.

[1319]“Verbo adsentiri” (Sall.Cat.52); cf. Cic.ad Fam.v. 2, 9 “sedens iis adsensi.”

[1320]“In alienam sententiam pedibus ire” (Gell. iii. 18, 1).

[1321]The invitation to divide on thesententiawas couched in the form “Qui hoc censetis, illuc transite: qui alia omnia, in hanc partem” (Festus p. 261). Hence the colloquial phrase “ire in alia omnia” for negativing a proposal at the Senate (Cic.ad Fam.i. 2, 1).

[1322]Cic.ad Att.i. 14, 3 “totum hunc locum, quem ego ... soleo pingere, de flamma, de ferro—nosti illas ληκύθους.”

[1323]p. 179.

[1324]Cic.ad Fam.viii. 8, 5 ff. In § 6 we find the formula “Si quis huic s. c. intercesserit, senatui placere auctoritatem perscribi.”

[1325]ib. l.c. § 6 “Pr. Kal. Octobres in aede Apollinis scrib. adfuerunt L. Domitius Cn. f. Fab. Ahenobarbus,” etc.

[1326]p. 148.

[1327]Plut.Ti. Gracch.10; App.B.C.i. 12.

[1328]Polyb. xxx. 4. For the motive of the veto see Liv. xlv. 21 “M. Juventius Thalna ... praetor novo maloque exemplo rem ingressus erat, quod, ante non consulto senatu, non consulibus certioribus factis, de sua unius sententia rogationem ferret vellent juberentne Rhodiis bellum indici, cum antea semper prius senatus de bello consultus esset, deinde ex auctoritate patrum ad populum latum.”

[1329]Suet.Caes.16 (Caesar supported Metellus in carrying) “turbulentissimas leges adversus collegarum intercessionem ... donec ambo administratione reipublicae decreto patrum submoverentur.”

[1330]In this case the prohibition was effected through the coercive power of the consul springing from hismajus imperium(Dio Cass. xlii. 23).

[1331]Tac.Ann.ii. 30 “vetere senatus consulto quaestio in caput domini prohibebatur.”

[1332]Cic.ad Att.v. 21, 13 (50B.C.) “cum senatus consultum modo factum sit ... in creditorum causa, ut centesimae perpetuo faenore ducerentur.”

[1333]Ascon.in Cornel.p. 58.

[1334]M. Brutus had gained from the Senate the validation of a bond (syngrapha), by which an exorbitant rate of interest was demanded from the government of Salamis in Cyprus. Bonds of this kind, through which obligations were incurred by provincials at Rome, had been rendered illegal by alex Gabiniaof 67B.C.(Cic.ad Att.v. 21, 12).

[1335]Cic.pro Domo16, 41 “judicavit senatus M. Drusi legibus, quae contra legem Caeciliam et Didiam latae essent, populum non teneri.” The account that the Livian laws were shelved ascontra auspicia(Ascon.in Cornel.p. 68 “Philippus cos.... obtinuit a senatu, ut leges ejus omnes uno s. c. tollerentur. Decretum est enim contra auspicia esse latas neque eis teneri populum”) may contain one of the grounds of their abrogation.

[1336]Cic.ad Att.iii. 15, 5 “Quod te cum Culleone scribis de privilegio locutum, est aliquid, sed multo est melius abrogari.”

[1337]p. 204.

[1338]Liv. xxv. 4; Sall.Cat.50; Ascon.in Milon.p. 44. The Senate in this way sometimes interprets a criminal law and extends its incidence. See Cic.de Har. Resp.8, 15 “decrevit senatus eos qui id fecissent (i.e. who had disturbed the rebuilding of Cicero’s house) lege de vi, quae est in eos qui universam rem publicam oppugnassent (i.e. vi publica) teneri.”

[1339]Cic.ad Att.i. 13, 3 “Credo enim te audisse, cum apud Caesarem pro populo fieret, venisse eo muliebri vestitu virum ... mentionem a Q. Cornificio in senatu factam ... postea rem ex senatus consulto ad pontifices relatam, idque ab iis nefas esse decretum; deinde ex senatus consulto consules rogationem promulgasse.”

[1340]Liv. viii. 18.

[1341]ib. xl. 43 (180B.C.) “A. C. Maenio praetore (cui, provincia Sardinia cum evenisset, additum erat ut quaereret de veneficiis longius ab urbe decem millibus passuum) literae adlataese jam tria millia hominum damnasse.”

[1342]Liv. xxxix. 41 (184B.C.); cf. ix. 26 (314B.C.) and the instance cited in the next note. In such instances ofquaestionesextended to Italy, it is not clear whethersociias well asciveswere executed summarily by Roman magistrates.

[1343]ib. xxxix. 18. On this point see ZumptCriminalrecht der Römeri. 2 p. 212.

[1344]C.I.L.i. n. 196 (a letter from the consuls to some unknown magistrates of theager Teuranusin Brutii) l. 24 “eorum (i.e. the Senate) sententia ita fuit ‘sei ques esent, quei avorsum ead fecisent, quam suprad scriptum est, eeis rem caputalem faciendam censuere.’”

[1345]The consul was armed against C. Gracchus, the consuls in 63; the consuls, praetors, and tribunes in 100B.C.; the interrex, proconsul, and all other magistrates withimperiumin 77B.C.

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