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. 4.

De Fratribus arualibus.

THis college or company of Roman Priests may be englished the Arvall fraternity: the number of them being twelue, eleven of them naturall brothers, sons to Acca Laurentia Romulus his foster mother;o 1.1 for which respect Romulus yeelded himselfe hir adopted sonne, insti∣tuting this order in the honour of the Gods, that they be∣ing therwith appeased might the willinger cause the earth to fructifie, and added himselfe to the former eleven as the twelfth priest or brother to helpe in the performance of this publike sacrifice. Moreover beside the performance of this sacrifice, these twelue were appointed arbitrators, or iudges to decide controversies concerning land-markes, and bounds of the field, frō whence they tooke their name

fratres Arvales. Their sacerdotal ornaments was a garland of wheat bound vp with a white riband, this being, asp 1.2 Pli∣ny writeth, the first crowne, or garland amongst the Ro∣manes.

Notes

• o 1.1

  Fenest. de Sacerd. c. 3.
• p 1.2

  Plin lib. 17 cap 2.