in the Roman-catholic countries, signifies signifies a society for the improvement of devotion.

Of these there are several sorts; as, 1. The fraternity of the rosary, founded by St Dominic: it is divided into two branches, called the common rosary, and the perpetual rosary; the former of whom are obliged to confess and communicate every first Sunday in the month, and the latter to repeat the rosary continually. See Rosary.

2. The fraternity of the scapular, whom the blest Virgin, according to the sabbatin bull of pope John XXII. has promised to deliver out of hell the first Sunday after their death. See Scapulary.

3. The fraternity of St Francis's girdle, are cloathed with a sack of a grey colour, which they tie with a cord; and, in processions, walk bare-footed, carrying in their hands a wooden cross.

4. That of St Austin's leathern girdle, comprehends a great many devotees.

Italy, Spain, and Portugal, are the countries where one sees the greatest number of these fraternities, some of which assume the name of arch-fraternities. Pope Clement VII. instituted the arch-fraternity of charity, which distributes bread every Sunday among the poor, and gives portions to forty poor girls on the feast of St Jerome their patron. The fraternity of death, buries such dead as are abandoned by their relations, and causes masses to be celebrated for them.

FRATRICELLI, little brothers, in church history, a sect of heretics who appeared in Italy about the year 1298, and afterwards spread all over Europe. They wore the habit of the Franciscan order, and pretended that ecclesiastics ought to have no possessions of their own.

FRATRIAGE, the partition among brothers or coheirs, coming to the same inheritance or succession.