, we may perhaps say that the greater part
of what we are about to hear concerning the rights and endowments of
the Cornicularius in the Praefect's office might be truly asserted of
the Princeps at the time when the 'Notitia' was compiled, before the
two offices had been amalgamated.

[Sidenote: Cornicularius.]

(2) The _Cornicularius_. As to this officer we have a good many
details in the pages of Joannes Lydus. The antiquarian and
etymological part of his information must generally be received with
caution; but as to the actual privileges of the office in the days of
Justinian we may very safely speak after him, since it was an office
which he himself held, and whose curtailed gains and privileges caused
him bitter disappointment.

'The foremost in rank,' says he[124], 'of the Emperor's assistants
(Adjutores) is even to this day called _Cornicularius_, that is to say
_horned_ ([Greek: keraites]), or _fighting in the front rank_. For the
place of the monarch or the Caesar was in the middle of the army,
where he alone might direct the stress of battle. This being the
Emperor's place, according to Frontinus, on the left wing was posted
the Praefect or Master of the Horse, and on the right the Praetors or
Legati, the latter being the officers left in charge of the army when
their year of office was drawing to a close, to hold the command till
the new Consul should come out to take it from them.

[Footnote 124: De Mag. iii. 3, 4.]

'Of the whole Legion then, amounting to 6,000 men, exclusive of
cavalry and auxiliaries, as I before said, the _Cornicularius_ took
the foremost place; and for that reason he still presides over the
whole [civil] service, now that the Praefect, for reasons before
stated, no longer goes forth to battle.

'Since, then, all the rest of the staff are called assistants
(_Adjutores_), the Praefect gives an intimation under his own hand to
him who is entering the service in what department ([Greek:
katalogos]) he is ordered to take up his station[125]. And the
following are the names of all the departments of the service. First
the _Cornicularius_, resplendent in all the dignity of a so-called
Count ([Greek: komes]; comes; companion), but having not yet laid
aside his belt of office, nor received the honour of admission to the
palace, or what they call brevet-rank (_codicilli vacantes_), which
honour at the end of his term of service is given to him, and to none
of the other chiefs of departmen