[778] Schol. Bob. 330; cf. Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. I. p. xix. This passage proves that a quaestor could call a contio in his own right; and the same holds probable for the aediles.
[779] It is necessary to include them in the general statement of Messala, in Gell. xiii. 16 (17). 1, that the lower magistrates had the right; cf. the note above.
[780] Fest. ep. 38: “Contio significat conventum, non tamen alium, quam eum, qui a magistratu vel a sacerdote publico per praeconem convocatur.” The sacerdos is the rex sacrorum as well as the supreme pontiff. It was necessary for the latter to hold judicial contiones; p. 259, 327. For the former, see Varro, L. L. vi. 28; Macrob. Sat. i. 15. 9-12; Serv. in Aen. viii. 654. Strictly the contiones of the rex sacrorum were calata comitia curiata; p. 155.
[781] Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. i. 193. For a contio of the Xviri leg. scrib. see Livy iii. 34. 1. On the duumviri for presiding at the election of consuls in 43, see Dio Cass. xlvi. 45. 3. In the opinion of the Romans the tribunus celerum, an officer under the kings, possessed the right; Livy i. 59. 7; Dion. Hal. iv. 71. 6; 75. 1; Serv. in Aen. viii. 646; Pomponius, in Dig. i. 2. 2. 3: “Exactis regibus lege tribunicia.” These authors suppose that L. Junius Brutus held an assembly in the capacity of tribunus celerum, whereas Cicero, Rep. ii. 25. 46, speaks of him as a private citizen.
[782] Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. i. 193. But the promagistrate had a right to attend and to address a contio called for him outside the walls by a competent person; cf. Vell. i. 10. 4; p. 426 below.
[783] Varro, L. L. vi. 90.
[784] Livy xliii. 16. 5.
[785] Varro, L. L. vi. 93.
[786] For the quaestor, see Com. Anq. in Varro, L. L. vi. 91 f. For the curule aediles, Cic. Verr. i. 12. 36; v. 67. 173; Livy x. 23. 11; 31. 9; 47. 4; xxxv. 10. 11; 41. 9; Val. Max. vi. 1. 7; viii. 1. damn. 7; Pliny, N. H. xviii. 6. 42. For the plebeian aediles, Livy x. 23. 13; xxv. 2. 9; xxxiii. 42. 10; Gell. x. 6. 3; p. 290, 325 below; Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. i. 196, n. 2 f.
[787] Messala, De Auspiciis, in Gell. xiii. 16 (15). 1.