“Thirty families choose every year a magistrate, who was anciently
called the Syphogrant, but is now called the Philarch; and over every
ten Syphogrants, with the families subject to them, there is another
magistrate, who was anciently called the Tranibore, but of late the
Archphilarch. All the Syphogrants, who are in number two hundred,
choose the Prince out of a list of four who are named by the people of
the four divisions of the city; but they take an oath, before they
proceed to an election, that they will choose him whom they think most
fit for the office: they give him their voices secretly, so that it is
not known for whom every one gives his suffrage. The Prince is for
life, unless he is removed upon suspicion of some design to enslave the
people. The Tranibors are new chosen every year, but yet they are, for
the most part, continued; all their other magistrates are only annual.
The Tranibors meet every third day, and oftener if necessary, and
consult with the Prince either concerning the affairs of the State in
general, or such private differences as may arise sometimes among the
people, though that falls out but seldom. There are always two
Syphogrants called into the council chamber, and these are changed
every day. It is a fundamental rule of their government, that no
conclusion can be made in anything that relates to the public till it
has been first debated three several days in their council. It is death
for any to meet and consult concerning the State, unless it be either
in their ordinary council, or in the assembly of the whole body of the
people.
“These things have been so provided among them that the Prince and the
Tranibors may not conspire together to change the government and
enslave the people; and therefore when anything of great importance is
set on foot, it is sent to the Syphogrants, who, after they have
communicated it to the families that belong to their divisions, and
have considered it among themselves, make report to the senate; and,
upon great occasions, the matter is referred to the council of the
whole island. One rule observed in their council is, never to debate a
thing on the same day in which it is first proposed; for that is always
referred to the next meeting, that so men may not rashly and in the
heat of discourse engage themselves too soon, which might bias them so
much that, instead of consulting the good of the public, they might
rather study to support their first opinions, and by a perverse and
preposterous sort of shame hazard their country rather than endanger
their own reputation, or venture the being suspected to have wanted
foresight in the expedients that they at first proposed; and therefore,
to prevent this, they take care that they may rather be deliberate than
sudden in their motions.