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 286 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xl arose to the enormous sum of fourscore thousand pounds ; the wisest senators declined an useless honour, which involved the certain ruin of their families ; and to this reluctance I should impute the frequent chasms in the last age of the consular Fasti. The predecessors of Justinian had assisted from the public treasures the dignity of the less opulent candidates ; the avarice of that prince preferred the cheaper and more convenient method of advice and regulation. 157 Seven processions or spectacles were the number to which his edict confined the horse and chariot races, the athletic sports, the music and pantomimes of the theatre, and the hunting of wild beasts ; and small pieces of silver were discreetly substituted to the gold medals, which had always excited tumult and drunkenness, when they were scattered with a profuse hand among the populace. Notwithstanding these precautions and his own example, the succession of consuls finally ceased in the thirteenth year of Justinian, whose despotic temper might be gratified by the silent extinction of a title which ad- monished the Romans of their ancient freedom. 158 Yet the annual consulship still lived in the minds of the people ; they fondly expected its speedy restoration ; they applauded the gracious condescension of successive princes, by whom it was assumed in the first year of their reign ; and three centuries elapsed, after the death of Justinian, before that obsolete dignity, which had been suppressed by custom, could be abolished by law. 159 The imperfect mode of distinguishing each year by the name of a magistrate was usefully supplied by the date of a permanent sera : the creation of the world, according to the septuagint version, was adopted by the Greeks ; 1C0 and the Latins, since 157 See the regulations of Justinian (Novell, cv.), dated at Constantinople, July 5, and addressed to Strategius, treasurer of the empire. [Nov. 81, ed. Zach.] 158 Procopius, in Anecdot. c. 26. Aleman. p. 106. In the xviiith year after the consulship of Basilius, according to the reckoning of Marcellinus, Victor, Marius, &c. the secret history was composed [but see Appendix 1], and, in the eyes of Procopius, the consulship was finally abolished. 159 By Leo the philosopher (Novell, xciv. a.d. 886-911). [Zacharia von Lingenthal, Jus Grseco-Romanum, iii. p. 191.] See Pagi (Dissertat. Hypatica, p. 325-362), and Ducange (Gloss. Grac. p. 1635, 1636). Even the title was vilified ; consulates codioilli. . . vilescunt, says the emperor himself. 180 According to Julius Africanus, &c. the world was created the first of Sep- tember, 5508 years, three months, and twenty-five days before the birth of Christ (see Pezron, Antiquite" des Terns def^ndue, p. 20-28) ; and this £era has been used by the Greeks, the Oriental Christians, and even by the Russians, till the reign of Peter I. The period, however arbitrary, is clear and convenient. Of the 7296