or AFAMIA, the modern name of one of the ancient Apameas. See APAMEA.

FAMILIARS of the INQUISITION, persons who assist in apprehending such as are accused, and carrying them to prison. They are assistants to the inquisitor, and called familiars, because they belong to his family. In some provinces of Italy they are called crofs-bearers, and in others the scholars of St Peter the martyr; and they wore a crofs before them on the outside garment. They are properly bailiffs of the inquisition; and the vile office is esteemed so honourable, that noblemen in the kingdom of Portugal have been ambitious of belonging to it. Nor is this surprising, when it is considered that Innocent III. granted very large indulgences and privileges to these familiars; and that the same plenary indulgence is granted by the pope to every single exercise of this office, as was granted by the Lateran council to those who succoured the Holy Land. When several persons are to be taken up at the same time, these familiars are commanded FAMILY denotes the persons that live together in one house, under the direction of one head or chief manager. It also signifies the kindred or lineage of a person; and is used by old writers for a hide or portion of land sufficient to maintain one family. See Hide.