Ducange (Gloss. Latinitatis mediæ et Infimi Ætatis, DECARCHONES, tom. ii. p. 726) gives me a quotation from Blondus (Decad. ii. l. ii.):
Duo consules ex nobilitate quotannis fiebant, qui ad vetustum consulum exemplar sumæ rerum præessent.
And in Sigonius (de Regno Italiae, l. v. Opp. tom. ii. p. 400) I read of the consuls and tribunes of the 10th century. Both Blondus, and even Sigonius, too freely copied the classic method of supplying from reason or fancy the deficiency of records.