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. 11.

De frumentarijs legibus.

Sempronia lex.

T. Sempronius Gracchus being tribune of the commōs provided,* 1.1 that a certaine quantity of corne shoulde monthly be givē vnto the poorer sort at a low price,

Semisse & triente, that is, about sixe pence farthing a bush∣ell. Herevpon was there a place appointed in Rome for the keeping of this cōmon corne, togither with certaine laws hanged vp there called leges frumentariae. This place was calledc 1.2 Horrea Sempronia.

Semisse & triente.] It appeareth by the next law, that Se∣missis in this place, must signifie the same as semiaeris doth there. Wherby we may note, that semissis doth not alwaies signifie the halfe part of the Romane coine called As, but sometime it signifieth a greater coine ••alewing almost our sixe pence.

Clodia lex.

P. Clodius Tribunus Pleb. ordained that that corn which heretofore was sold to the poore senis aeris & trientibus in singulos modios, that is, for sixe pence farthing a bushell, should hereafter be given gratis, and the charge and over∣sight of this dole was committed to Sext. Claudius.* 1.3

Terentia Cassia.

M. Terentius and C. Cassius being Consuls preferred a law,* 1.4 Ʋti alterae decumae à provincijs coemerentur, pretio in singulos modios HS trium constituto. Item vt civitatibus ae∣qualiter imperaretur, pretio in singulos modios HS quatuor constituto.

For the better vnderstanding of this law, wee must note d 1.5 a threefold tithe paid by the Provinces. The first was the tenth part of the graine, growing in the Province to bee paid in gratis, and that was properly called Decumae, or fru∣mentum decumanum, and those that tooke this tithe to rent were called thence Decumani. A second sort of tithes was a certaine quantitie of corne taken vp for the L. President or chiefe governour of the province to keepe his house, & that was called Frumentum aestimatum .i. corne gathered vp by way of taxation: for so this word aestimo comming from aes doth signifie.e 1.6 Est autem aestimare ab aere dictum, id quod vulgo dicunt appreciare & taxare. The third sort of tithes, was when the Senate finding scarcitie of corne in

Rome, did inioyne the Provinces to sell them a quantitie of corne at a price set downe by the Senatours themselues, and this corne sould vpon iniunction, if it was paid but once in the yeare, it was tearmed Frumentum emptum: but if in the same yeare a second sale was inioyned them, then they called that second pay Fr••mentum imperatum. In the first clause of this law by [alterae decumae] is meant frumentū emptum; in the second clause, by these words [civitatibus aequaliter imperaretur] is vnderstood Frumentum imperatū.

Lex Hieronica.

Hiero king of Sicily obteined a law,* 1.7 wherein was set downe the quantitie of corne that the Aratores or country farmers should pay vnto the Publicani .i. those which re∣ceaued the tithes, together with the time of payment & the price agreed vpon.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cic. pro Sext.
• c 1.2

  Rosin. an∣tiq. lib. 8. c. 1••
• * 1.3

  Cic. pro Sext. in Pisone.
• * 1.4

  Cic. Verrio. 5. & 7.
• d 1.5

  Sig. de iure Prov. l. 1. c. 1.
• e 1.6

  Fr. Sylv. in or. pro Clu∣entio.
• * 1.7

  Cic. Ve••rin. 4▪