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. 18.

De Virginibus Vestalibus.

NEre vnto Castors temple stood the religious house, or Nūnery dedicated to the goddesse Vesta: where at the first were fowre, after 6. Virgins, or votaries elected, whose office was chiefly to keepe the sacred fire: the extinction whereof proved ominous, and did portende some evill event shortly to happen: And therefore for their negligence herein, as for all other small faults, they being had into a darke corner, stripped naked; and a curtaine drawne halfe way over them, the chiefe Pontifie scour∣ged them: neither was it lawful to kindle the fire once put out, with any other fire, but from the sun beams; for which purpose they had certaine instruments namedc 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which were formed in the māner of a pyramis, but hollow; so that the beames being collected within the circumfe∣rence, & meeting in the vertex did easily kindle any com∣bustible matter put vnto it; but chiefly if the matter was of blacke colour: because, as philosophy teacheth, a darke co∣lour doth cōgregate, or collect the beames, wheras white∣nesse doth disperse them. A second part of their office was to worke reconciliation betweene parties offended, as ap∣peareth

byd 1.2 Suetonius: where wee may read that by their intercession Sylla was reconciled to Caesar. They were cho∣sen into this place betweene the sixth, and the eleaventh yeare of their age: and they, were to remaine in this Nun∣nery 30. yeares space, 10. yeares to learne their ceremonies and mysteries, 10. yeares to exercise them, & 10. yeares to instruct others: within which space if they had suffered their bodies to be defiled, they were to vndergo that feare full punishment* 1.3 afore mentioned. But these 30. yeares be∣ing expired, marriage was lawfull for them, so that they laid aside their scepters, their fillets, and other their sacer∣dotall ornaments. Notwithstanding those which did mar∣ry in the end dyed fearefull deaths: wherevpon they chose rather to abstaine commonly. The Romanes had them in great honor, so that they never walked abroad, but with an yron scepter in their hands, and whatsoever malefactor met thē (if the Nun would take her oath it was by chāce) he escaped punishment. They were named Vestals frō their goddesse Vesta, which word (ase 1.4 Munster writeth) is deri∣ved from the Hebrew radix signifying fire. The eldest was called Maxima Vestalis virgo .i. the Lady prioresse, or chiefe governesse.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Plutarch. in Numa.
• d 1.2

  Suet in Iu∣lio.
• * 1.3

  Vid. s••p. p. 11.
• e 1.4

  Munst. in sua co••••og. lib. 2. c▪ 9.