Imperatorem me factum, P. C. electionis vestrae
arbitrio, et fortissimi exercitus ordinatione agnoscite
(Novell. Majorian. tit. iii. p. 34, ad Calcem Cod.
Theodos.). Sidonius proclaims the unanimous voice of the empire:-
__Postquam ordine vobis
Ordo omnis regnurn dederat; plebs, curia, miles,
Et collega simul.__
[Carm. v.] 386.
This language is ancient and constitutional; and we may observe that the clergy were not yet considered as a distinct order of the state.