Roʹta or Rota Men

A political club formed in 1651 by Harrington, author of Ocēana. Its objects were to introduce rotation in office, and voting by ballot. It met at the Turk’s Head, in New Palace Yard, Westminster, where the members drew up a popular form of commonwealth, which will be found in Harrington’s Oceʹana. It was called Rota because a third part of the members were roted out by ballot every year, and were not eligible for re-election for three years.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.