Pretor

a magistrate among the ancient Romans, not unlike our lord chief justices, or lord chan eel lor, or both in one; as being vested with the power of distributing justice among the citizens. At first there was only one pretor; but afterwards, another being created, the first or chief one had the title of praetor urban us, or the city pretor: the other was called peregrin us, as being judge in all matters relating to foreign ers. But, besides these, there were afterwards ereated many provincial pretors; who were not only judges, but also a isted the consuls in the government of the provinces, and even were invested with the govsrnment of provinces | themselves.