or FORCALES, a college of priests instituted at Rome by Numa, consisting of 20 persons, selected out of the best families. Their business was to be arbitrators of all matters relating to war and peace, and to be the guardians of the public faith. It is probable that they were ranked among the officers of religion, to procure them the more deference and authority, and to render their persons more sacred among the people. If the commonwealth had received any injury from a foreign state, they immediately dispatched these officers to demand satisfaction, who, if they could not procure it, were to attest the gods against that people and country, and to denounce war: otherwise they confirmed the alliance, or contracted a new one, which they ratified by sacrificing a hog.