I have little in this order to observe and prove but that the strategus
is the same honor both in name and thing that was borne, among others,
by Philopemen and Aratus in the Commonwealth of the Achaeans; the like
having been in use also with the AEtolians. The orator, called otherwise
the speaker, is, with small alteration, the same that had been of former
use in this nation. These two, if you will, may be compared to the
consuls in Rome, or the suffetes in Carthage, for their magistracy is
scarce different.
The censors derive their power of removing a senator from those of
Rome, the government of the ballot from those of Venice, and that of
animadversion upon the ambitious, or canvass for magistracy, from both.
The signory, with the whole right and use of that magistracy to be
hereafter more fully explained, is almost purely Venetian.
The second part of the tropic is directed by--
The sixteenth order” Whereby the constitution of the councils being
four; that is to say, the Council of State, the Council of War, the
Council of Religion, and the Council of Trade, is rendered conformable
in their revolutions to that of the Senate. As: First, by the annual
election of five knights out of the first region of the Senate into the
Council of State, consisting of fifteen knights, five in every region.
Secondly, by the annual election of three knights out of the third
region of the Council of State, to be proposed by the provosts, and
elected by that council, into the Council of War, consisting of nine
knights, three in every region, not excluded by this election from
remaining members also of the Council of State. The four tribunes of
the people have right of session and suffrage in the Council of War.
Thirdly, by the annual election of four knights out of the third
region of the Senate into the Council of Religion, consisting of
twelve knights, four in every region; of this council the censors are
presidents. Fourthly, by the annual election of four knights out of
the third region of the Senate into the Council of Trade, consisting of
twelve knights, four in every region. And each region, in every one of
these councils thus constituted, shall weekly and interchangeably elect
one provost whose magistracy shall continue for one week; nor shall he
be re-elected into the same till every knight of that region in the same
council has once borne the same magistracy. And the provosts being one
in every region, three in every council, and twelve in all, beside their
other capacities, shall assemble and be a council, or rather an Academy
apart, to certain ends and purposes to be hereafter further explained
with those of the rest of the councils.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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