Romanæ historiæ anthologia An English exposition of the Romane antiquities, wherein many Romane and English offices are paralleld and divers obscure phrases explained. By Thomas Godwyn Master of Arts: for the vse of Abingdon Schoole.

CHAP. 12.

De Duumviris, Decemviris, & Quindecimviris sa∣cris faciundis: itèm de Sibyllis.

THis priesthood had his first institution from Tarqui∣nius Superbus, whose office was as well to expound, as to keepe the oracles of those ten prophetesses so famous through out the world, called Sibyllae. Concerning whōk 1.1 Munster hath these words: In times past there came a strange woman to Tarquinius the king offering 9. books full of the Sibylline oracles to be fold: But Tarquinius thin∣king the bookes to deere, refused to buy them. The womā departing burned three of these bookes, and came the se∣cond time vnto Tarquinius, demaunding as much for those sixe bookes, as formerly shee had done for the 9. Tarquini∣us then began to deride her, whereat the woman departed, and burned three more, returning againe vnto Tarquinius, and asking as much for the three left, as shee asked at first for all nine. Then began Tarquinius more seriously to be∣thinke himselfe thereof, and sent for his Augurs asking counsell and advise of them. And they vnderstoode by cer∣taine signes observed, that the king had refused some spe∣ciall goodnesse sent from the Gods: and for the books that remained they advised that the woman shoulde haue what shee asked: As soone as the womā had delivered her books shee presently vanished, and was never seene againe, onlie warning them to keepe the bookes as safe as possibly they could. For the safe keeping of these, Tarquinius chose two of the noble men, or patricij, calling them Duumviri, ap∣pointing them as wel by study to expound, as with care to keepe those oracles. In processe of time the people obtai∣ned,

that tenne should be appointed to this office,l 1.2 fiue of them being chosen out of the commons, & fiue out of the nobles: and then were they called the Decem-viri. After∣ward by L. Sylla, as it is thought fiue more were added, so that they were then called the Quindecim-viri: nay the number was encreased by Sylla vnto forty,m 1.3 as Servius thinketh, but stil called by the name of Quindecim-viri. Of these women that had the spirit of prophecie ten were ve∣ry famous: the first was called Persica, the second Libyca, the third Delphica, the fourth Cumaea, the fifth Erythraea, the sixt Samia, the seaventh Cumana, the eighth Hellespon∣tia, the ninth Phrygia, the tenth Tiburtina. They a•• prophe∣cied of the incarnation of Christ. The place where these bookes were kept was within the Capitol vnder ground in a chest of stone, where they remained safe vntill the bur∣ning of the Capitoll, at which time they also were burned. Notwithstāding many of the prophecies haue bin known, partly by tradition, and partly being takē out of other co∣pies in other countries. One of the prophecies concerning our Saviour Christ was vttered by Sibylla Delphica in man∣ner as followeth:n 1.4 Nascetur propheta abs{que} matris coitu ex vtero eius, that is, There shalbe a prophet borne without any copulation of the mother, even out of her wombe. It was spoken at Delphos. All their prophecies, were of that certainety, that when we would averre any thing to be vn∣doubtedly true,* 1.5 we vse to say it is Sibyllae folium, as true as Sibyllaes oracles. The Cumaea Sibylla did write her oracles at the mouth, or entraunce of her caue in leaues of trees, which the fiercenesse of the winde did often times so scat∣ter, that they could hardly be brought in order againe: in∣somuch that when we would shew the great difficulty of bringing things it order, we may vseo 1.6 Politian his words, Laboriosius est, quàm Sibylla folia colligere, it is easier to ga∣ther together Sibyllaes leaues. This name Sibylla is not a proper nam••, but an appellatiue common to all women endowed with the spirit of prophecie, taking their deno∣mination

frōp 1.7 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is in the Aeolick dialect the same that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .i. God, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .i. counsell, because they did o∣pen and declare the counsell & determination of God vn∣to the people. It appertained also ynto these Quindecim∣viri aboue-mentioned to see, that sacrifice and divine ser∣vice, that supplications, and processions, expiations, and all ceremoniall rites were duly performed.

Notes

• k 1.1

  Munster in sua cosmog. lib. 2.
• l 1.2

  Fenestel. de sacerd. c. 13.
• m 1.3

  Serv. Aenei. lib. 6.
• n 1.4

  Munster. in sua Cosmog. lib. 2.
• * 1.5

  Credite me vo∣bis folium reci∣tare Sibyllae.
• o 1.6

  Epist. lib. 1. epist. 1.
• p 1.7

  Serv. Aen••i. lib. 6.