Book of the Magistrates of the Athenians

For the memory of letters, the Areopagitic Senate has been held famous and celebrated for its equity and its severity. And just as it was in great honor, so the number was not very great, although it was uncertain. And the uncertain number proceeded because from the Nine Thesmothetes legislators/law-givers, of whom we shall speak in their place, many were accustomed to desire the place of the deceased magistrate of that year, having first rendered the account to the Logistae auditors of accounts of all their past life. Those who had to go to the Logistae, who were in Magistracy for public account, told the name to a commander and commanded that with these words they proclaim: "Who wishes to accuse such a one of the wicked acts committed, who has finished such a magistracy?" By the proclamation, every accuser being able to prove was admitted. This in the Logistae was better. That account then, so severe, few followed, so that being good, which helped from innocence, they increased that order. And whoever was noted for avarice, or for some other error, never came to be accepted into that inviolable company. And so that no one could use fraud, one examined the conscience of others in sight of all the People and the Senate. Every year, therefore, taking many from the Thesmothetes, it left the number uncertain and showed the worse things in this living of ours to be above the better. Ordered such an institution by Solon, the severity of the Ephetae ancient Athenian judges is ordered. They were ordered before Solon, the Ephetae, that is, Prefects who sentenced capital causes and theft (which was before them the office of the King). With the name then of these, Solon constituted the Senate of great authority in the Republic, which not only rendered reason for capital causes