a law term amongst the Romans, signifying the instrument in which were put down the punishments which the law provided against such offences as any person was accused of by a magistrate before the people. These punishments were first proclaimed vivæ voce by the accuser, and this was called Inquisitio: The same, being immediately after expressed in writing, took the name of Rogatio, in respect of the people, who were to be consulted or asked about it, and was called Irrogatio in respect of the criminal, as it imposed the mulct or punishment assigned him by the accuser.