was a privilege frequently obtained of the state, by senators of Rome, for going into any province or country, upon their own private business, in the quality of legati or envoys from the senate, that the dignity of this nominal office might secure them a good reception, and have an influence on the management of their concerns. The cities and towns through which they passed were obliged to defray their expenses.—This was called libera legatio, because they might lay aside the office as soon as they pleased, and were not encumbered with any actual trust.