or QUASTOR, in Roman antiquity, an officer who had the management of the public treasure.

The questorship was the first office any person could bear in the commonwealth, and gave a right to sit in the senate.

At first there were only two; but afterwards two others were created, to take care of the payment of the armies abroad, of selling the plunder, booty, &c. for which purpose they generally accompanied the consuls in their expeditions; on which account they were called, erigent, as the first and principal two were called urbanis.

The number of questors was afterwards greatly increased. They had the keeping of the decrees of the senate; and hence came the two officers of questor principis, or aquilis, sometimes called candidatus principis, whose office resembled in most respects that of our secretaries of state; and the questor palatinus, answering in a great measure to our lord-chancellor.