©ruiOisiin CliE feitnt faitl of i^ritain BY
Dudley Wright
LONDON
ED.
J.
BURROW
Central House,
43,
45
CO., 47
AND Cheltenham
1924
LTD.
Kingsway
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The Massacre of the Druids Stonehenge, J.
from
Frontispiece
Water Colour Drawing
by
M. W. Turner, R.A.
24
The Druids, or The Conversion of the Britons to Christianity
Stonehenge,
48
from
Water Colour Drawing
by
Constable (Victoria and Albert Museum)
72
Druidical Festival at Stonehenge
Druid
96 120
..
..
Aerial View of Stonehenge
..
..
..
144
..
Hill Ranges Converging on Stonehenge
148
Diagrammatic Plan of Stonehenge
184
N.B.
The
Illustrations facing pp.
24,
the Fine Art Coll Collec ecti tion on of Augustin
The design
120 and Frontispiece are from
Rischgitz.
ending on p. 58 shows the comparative sizes of The outer circle is that of Avebury, the intermediate
for the chapter
Druidical Stone Circles. that of
96,
..
Brogar,
and the centre Stennis and Stonehenge p.
p.
10
are
on p. 172 is given the Maiden 183 the chambered structure at Callernish.
represented the three circles referred to on p. 48
Stone at Caldron, and on
on
CONTENTS Chapter
I.
PAGE
The Origin of Druidism Britain, Gaul, Erin, Persia, Phoenicia, etc.
Chapter
II.
The Creed of Druidism
22
Monotheism, Polytheism, Anthropomorphism. Druidic learning.
Ancient
Ancient
alphabet.
The Tree
trees,
seats
Affinity
claimed between Druidism and Freemasonry.
Circle.
Chapter
in
modern
Human
France.
The
of the Deluge.
Reappearance
Meteors, Falling Stars. doctrine
Hymn
Druidical
of
Knowledge.
of
Reference to Cesar's account of Druidism. Coligny Calendar.
The
of the Celtic
and
Druidism
the
Sacrifices.
The Initiatory Ceremonies and Priesthood
III.
The Tonsure, The Tolmen. The Noviciate. The Book of the OUamhs. Astronomy and Ancient Learning. Druidical breast plates. The Jadh Morain.
Bards and Vates
Chapter IV.
.
.
.
.
59
75
The Bard, his duties and rewards. The Bardic Memoria Technica. Druidical Triads.
Chapter V.
Druidism and Magic
92
The Tuatha-di-Danann. Patrick.
Chapter VI.
Spells.
St.
Serpents and Serpents' Eggs.
Druidesses.
Druidical Temples and Remains
..
Templars, Freemasonry.
Sword bearer. Knights The prayer of the Chief
Bard.
and
Druidical
Schools.
and Monuments
The
The
Druidical Circles
and Phoenician Art.
Chapter VII.
Charms and
Isle of
at
Stonehenge
Stones.
History of Stonehenge.
Circles
Avebury, Dartmoor, Guernsey,
The Logan
Man,
Stone.
Druidical Festivals and Customs Beacons and Smoke Signals. Festivals. fire
Sacrifices.
Baal
Bonfires
Winter fire.
Ancient
fires.
solstice festivals
Mistletoe
and
iii
Teut
149
Passing through the
Summer
solstice
observed to-day.
its
May Day
Hills.
significance.
St.
and
John's
Cutting
the
Mistletoe.
Chapter VIII.
The Affinity of Druidism with Other Religions
173
Pythagoreanism, Druidism, Brahmanism, Judaism,
Grove worship. Christianity.
IX.
Bibliography
Index
..
..
..
..185 190
The Druids now, while arms are heard no more, Old mysteries and horrid rites restore tribe
And
who
singular religion love,
haunt the lonely coverts of the grove
To these, and these of all mankind alone. The gods are sure revealed, or sure unknown. aright. If dying mortals' doom
No No
ghosts descend to hell in dreadful nigh
parting souls
Nor
to grisly
Pluto go.
seek the dreary silent shades below
But forth they
And
fly
immortal in their kind,
other bodies in
Thus
life
And,
like
new worlds
for ever runs line,
its
they find.
endless
race.
death but divides the space
stop which can but for
moment
point between the future
and
last,
Thrice happy they beneath the northern skies.
Who
that worst fate, the fear of death despise.
Hence they no
cares for this frail being feel.
But rush undaunted on Provoke approaching
To spare
that life
the pointed steel
fate,
and
bravely scorn
which must so soon
return.
Rowe's Lucan.
CHAPTER
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM It is
problematical whether the question, asked so frequently both
the past and the present, as to what period in the history of the
world witnessed the foundation of Druidism, will ever be answered with
Some
definiteness.
writers have maintained that
Egyptian
it
was
development
Freemasonry, originated in the sublime teachings of Ptah, which, by some, are believed Faber, to have been brought out of Egypt by Moses. Pagan
or
offshoot
of
the
religion
and,
along
with
Idolatry, expressed the opinion that the Druidical
Bards were probably
members
the Craft will be
the founders
Freemasonry
many
certainly
and
between Druidic and Masonic ceremonial and practices, but the extent, if any, to which the one has been drawn from, or is dependent upon, the other, must be more matter of speculation. or less able
to
trace
analogies
Philology does not render of
much
similarities
assistance in determining the origin
Druidism, the possible derivation of the various Druidical terms being
very conflicting, although few modern scholars probably
now maintain
dogmatically the opinion, regarded seriously at one time, that the word
Druid is derived from the Greek word drus, meaning an oak," on which was founded, in part at any rate, the theory that the Druids had their original habitat among the oaks of Mamre, to which reference is made in the book of Genesis. Another derivation frequently given is that derwydd means the body of an oak," that word being formed from two other words, dertv, oak," and ydd, substantive terminal In like manner Ovydd (Ovate) was said to mean *' sapling unformed or plant," from ov, raw," and ydd and bardd signified branching, being derived from bar, or branch the top." Pezron gives the derivation of the Celtic deru, oak," and hud, enchantment," and says that the name was given because the priests, sages, diviners, and magicians of the ancient Gauls practised their divination and enchantments in woods and especially under oaks. Dryades, the Greek word, he contends, is derived from the Celtic. The Celtic meaning of the word Druid is circle to enclose within and the used in the sense of prophet one admitted into the mysteries of or
DRUIDISM riva io as from the Hebrew Other writers give th contemplators." Vallancey ascribes dcrussim, or drussim, which means
the inner circle."
Hebrew
origin to the term, but traces
an expounder that
it is
an old
or Celtic
it
Another explanatio give is an interpreter." word, druis, formed from trotvis, or truwis, meaning
doctor of the faith."
Trowis,
in
German, means
was an ancient British name first
priests
in
word drush, meaning
to the
Britain
were called
Triiti.
for
The
celebrated
revealer of
and the philologist
and Thurneysen derives Druid from dru, prefix meaning thorough Druid know," so that, from this etymological reading, vid, meaning was man of great knowledge. The earliest mention of the name of The Druid is found in Diogenes Laertius's Lives of the Philosophers. an the Arabic deri, good and holy man Persian duru means Druids were called absolver or remitter In and in Spain Turduli or Turdutan. The Oriental dervishes are thought by some to derive their name from the same source as the Druids. Delta Evans, who has devoted considerable time attention, and Ducergli,
skill to
the study
subject, says that, according to the best informa-
would appear beyond doubt that the word above," and gwydd, meaning derzvydd is derived from dar, meaning knowledge." understanding," learning," or Cynwal, an eminent Welsh poet of th sixteent century, employs well-known the term in this foregoing meaning and thus apostrophises Bard Dywed zveithian dad ieithydd Dy feddwl ym, do foddatvl wydd. Declare thou then, thou father of languages, Thy mind, if of well-cultured knowledge. tion from Celtic scholars,
it
Diogenes said that the Gaulish philosophers were known both as Venerable Deities." Druids and as Semnothei, the latter word meaning
Day was known
and the month of November as Mi Saman, but the derivation of these words is from Samh, rest repose from labour." The name Saman was one or meaning of the titles of Buddha, who was regarded by the ancient Irish as the His festival, says Faber, lord of death and the judge of departed spirits. when sacrifices in Pagan Idolatry, occurred in the month of The of black sheep were offered to him for the souls of the deceased. All Souls appears to have superseded the festival of Saman. sect of philosophers, women as Among the Gymnosophists there was well as men, who, says Clement of Alexandria, made truth their study and claimed ability to read into the future and to predict forthcoming All Hallows
events.
The female
in Ireland as
adds, always preserved thei
virginity.
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM venerable," and it embodied an idea of antiquity means and veneration and was applied only to persons worthy of respect for it is probably the root of the their morals, merits, prudence, and age
The word
words
really
Senatus,"
The Saxons the
word
dry, the
was formed.
man was
descended the modern term
The antiquity It
was when
it
came
first
bedrida,
to fascin te
from which has
system
is
not in doubt or question.
Druidism
into historical view, could not have been of recent
According to Caesar, who had no direct dealings
or intercourse with the Druids
and with whom,
called
or
highly-efiicient organization such as
origin or foundation. for his information
to bewitch
bedridden."
of the Druidical
indisputable that
is
in
verb bcdrian,
disordered
Senior," etc.
and sorcery or magic was known any dialects cognate to the British.
sorcerer dry
called
words not to be found
as dry-craeft,
From
Senex,"
Senatores,"
and who had to depend upon other people
Divitiacus, the arch-Druid of his time, in particular,
he conversed through an interpreter
in all probability,
the Gauls boasted that they were descended from Dis as their father, this being
Druidical tradition.
Dis, or Dives, according to mythology,
Neptune being the two others. They are have had Saturn for their father and Minerva for their mother. Dives is the same word as the Hebrew Japheth, and this is probably the foundation of the tradition that Japheth was the progenitor of the Celts, who are claimed by some writers to have been the earliest inhabitants of Western Europe. Dr. Stukeley, referring to the temple planted by Abraham when he settled for time at Beersheba (Genesis xxi, that famous oak-grove of Beersheba, plante by 33), speaks of it as the illustrious parent and first Druid, Abraham, and from whom our celebrated British Druids came, who were of the same patriarchal reformed religion, and brought of sacred groves to Britain." There are, however, some subjects on which Dr. Stukeley must not be regarded too seriously. The positive statement is nevertheless made by other writers that Druidic colleges were in existence in the days of Hermio, German prince, who is supposed to have flourished about the same time as Abraham. was one
of three brothers,
Pococke,
in
Jupiter and
Indu Vanes, or them.
the Druids were
India in Greece,
of the
hence the symbol of the crescent
Their chief settlement was in the Hi-Budh-des, or the land of
the Hya-Bud'has, and their last refuge in Britain from the oppression of the
Romans, the descendants
properly be Mooni.
word is with more or less of tion and mortification." of this
own
was Mona, which should According to Wilson's Sanskrit Lexicon, the meaning holy sage," pious and learned person, endowed divine nature or having attained it by rigid abstracof their
If this
stock,
interpretation
is
correct,
it
explains the
DRUIDISM amazing mechanical skill displayed in the construction of the massive stone circles found throughout the country and it harmonises with the industrious and enterprising characteristics of the Buddhists throughout the world, for they were the same people that drained the valley of Cashmir, and, in
all
probability, the plains of Thessaly.
Fergusson supposes the existence of two distinct races in the island of Britain the original inhabitants, who were of Turanian origin and the
more
by the other
uncivilised, being driven
fastnesses of the
Welsh
hills
long previous to the
race, the Celtic, into the
Roman
invasion.
Among
he thinks that the re ig on of Druidism, consisting of tree and Bertrand and Reinach both serpent worship, may have been practised. maintain the pre-Celtic origin of Druidism, but Camille Julian inchnes orme
the
to the opinion that
it
was
Possibly one reason
of Gallic origin.
why some
writers have assigned
Gallic origin
Druidism,
to the primitive inhabitants of Britain, as well
is
the
very insecure deduction. adoption of Gallic names by British tribes, There is greater reason for the assumption of an Asiatic origin, having regard to the similarity of the Persian and Druidical forms of government
and
of military chariots,
religion,
of the leaders of the people in
and the similarity
each of these countries.
in the
names
Pliny, however,
maintains that Druidism was taught to the Persians by the Britons and not by the Persians to the Britons. fuller reference will
be
made
later),
According to the Triads (to which however, the original colonists who
migrated to Britain were conducted thither by
leader
named Huysgwyn
came by long and devious sea-voyage from the summer country (Asia) and inhabited Dyffro-banu corruption of Dyffryn-albanu, the name given to the presumably country situated between the Euxine and Caspian glens of Albania, (Persian, Hushang),
and the
settlers
first
original inhabitants of Britain were Another triad states city called Gaf-fis, or the lower mountain emigrants from Schrader, Reallexikon, says that stretching between these seas. of the Celtic Druids are quite different from othe priesthood Europe and that where the first beginnings of their origin started will never be known. dialect of The Celtic language, according to some authorities, is
Seas.
the Phoenician language,
Hebrew. the
There
Hebrew and
is
the
certainl
Phoenician bein close
and
its
many
details
between
Irish languages.
Vallancey, whose invaluable Britain
resemblance in
near relative of the
researches into
inhabitants have placed
debt of gratitude, says
all
the early
history of
students under an eternal
Druids were in existence at the time
that they flourished in the east and were imported was peopled by that great body of Persian Scythians, known to the Greeks under the Britain
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM name most
of Phoenicians, that
of the original inhabitants into
islands (as
who,
they invaded the Britannic islands, driving
Welsh antiquarians
Gaul, retaining possession of the the
also
in their turn, expelled the
Cymmeri
arrived,
Phcenico-Persico-Scythi to Ireland and
Tyre are said constantly to Britain between b.c. 1200 and b.c. 500,
The Phoenician inhabitants
Scotland.
of
have visited the western parts of inha habi bita tant nt in tin considerable trade with th in and to have carried on Druidical faith had and other articles. Borlase is of opinion Davies, in its origin in Britain, whence it was transmitted to Gaul. his Celtic Researches, says
The monuments we
must be appropriated, exclusively, to the aborigines of the midland and western divisions. fast st es es as have, in all ages They are found in such corners and fa and countries, been the last retreat of the conquered, and the last in Mona, they In that are occupied by the victorious. were used and venerated, until the aborigines were completely the central countries, and in subjugated by the Roman the west, they perpetually occur, from Cornwall to Cumberland whereas, comparatively, few traces of them are discovered in the eastern part of the island, which, therefore, appear to have been occupied by those people
call
who
Druidical
did not construct buildings of this
and who obtained possession before the aborigines deeply impressed their character on the soil." In Britain, the Druidical order is said to have numbered thirty-one nature,
seats of education, each being
Cyfiath, or City, the capital of
According to some writers there were three Arch-Druids official
being pecuHar to that country.
tribe.
in Britain, this
Their seats are
have
Caer Erroc, or York
and Caer Leon, Morgan, in British Cymry, gives the or Caerleon (Monmouthshire). Caer Caint, Canterbury following hst of Druidical seats in Britain Caer SaUwg, Caer Municip, St. Alban's Caer Wyn, Winchester Caer Llear, Caer Leil, CarHsle Caer Odor, Bristol Old Sarum Caer Glou, Caer Lleyn, Lincoln Leicester Caer Urnach, Wroxeter Caer Caer Grawnt, Cambridge Caer Meini, Manchester Gloucester been at Caer Troia, or London
Ceol, Colchester
Caer Don, Doncaster Caer Ceri,
marthen Silchester
Caer Peris, Porchester Dwy, Chester Caer Cei, Chichester Caer Guorie, Warwick
Caerleon ar
Cirencester
Caer Dur,
Caer Ceiont, Carnarvon Caer
Baddon,
Bath
Dorchester
Caer Merddyn, Car-
Caer Segont, Caer Wyse, Exeter The Caer Gorangon, Worcester.
students at these colleges are said to have numbered at times 60,000.
Mr. Akerman, in Numismatic Journal circles
do appear on ancient British
Togodumnus," says Beale
Poste,
coins.
(I. p.
217), says that Druidical
The
coins of
Adminius and
are noticeable from the occurrence
of various
symbols upon them, as bucrania, skulls
of
dots, cases of sacrificial knives, double circles, serpents,
oxen
circles
and loos loos
The upholding of the nation nationali ality ty of the Britons and of th Dr Drui uidi dica ca is
of
hors horses es religion
supposed to be implied in these emblems.
Whatever the origin of the inhabitants of Britain or of Druidism, few who have given any attention to the latter subject will venture to contest the statement of Theodore Watts-Dunton that, compared with Druidism th that at my myst ster erio ious us poetic religion, which, more than any other religion, ex all other religions have expr pres es es th very voice of nature sort of commonplace and modern ring, even those which preceded it by centuries. Although the Druids are mentioned by Greek writers, the Greeks lay no claim to be the founders of the religion, and it is scarcely although there that it could have been derived from Judaism owing to the meagre intercourse of the are supporters of that theory Jews
of those times
The Druids
with other nations.
are mentioned
by name by the following pre-Christian
Aristotle, Sotion, Posidonius, Julius Caesar, Cicero,
writers
Diodorus of
hris hr is ia era Timageneus and by the following writers of th Strabo, Pomponius Mela, Lucian, Pliny, Tacitus, Suetonius, Dion Chrysostom, Clement of Alexandria, and St. last-named reproducing more ancient Greek historian, Polyhistor. Omitting the opinion of Aristotle and Sotion, who knew of the Druids only by hearsay, there are some twelve writers contemporary with the Druids in the heyday of their existence and in thei thei decl declin ine. e. however, be admitted that nothing precise is known with It reference to the origin of Druidism that some, at any rate, of the statements made with regard even to its religious tenets are deductive anything ng approa approachi ching ng certitude, the only, and that even where there is anythi There is, however, source of information is invariably outside Britain. no conflict in the testimony regarding the rites and ceremonies of the Druids among the numerous authorities and it is difficult to explain the many points of resemblance between the rites and institutions of the Druids of Britain and Gaul, the Magi of Persia, the Chaldeans of Babylon, priest st of Egypt, except upon the hypothethe Brahmans of India, and the prie sis that the rites and ceremonies of these various religions were derived common source, which would be date anterior to the time when from elegant mythologies." the Greeks and Romans produced those Britain appears to have been regarded as the principal home of Druidism, and, by some, is claimed to have held the faith in greater Drui uids ds ap appe pear ar to have been purity than any ot othe he co coun untr try. y. The Gallic Dr Sicily,
in the
habit of journejing to Britain for the purpose of stud)ing the
religion,
ri
although Professor Rhys thinks they n, in consequence of
Druidism
in
to Ireland
than
Gaul having become corrupted
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM heathen forms of worship, by the admission
by reason
of its contiguity to
of strange
gods into the calendar, and by the adoration of images.
states
his
in
Commentaries
Druidical
the Isle of Britain, whence
doctrine
Cassar
was evolved
was taken to Gaul, and, he Those who wish to study it deeply usually go to the island and adds time." The GalUc Druids met annually in solemn stay there for assembly or convocation in the territory of the Carnutes (Chartres and this country being chosen as it was considered to be the centre Orleans) (inventa)
in
it
of Gaul.
O'Curry, in his Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, says It must occur to everyone who has read of Zoroaster, or of the Magi of Persia, and of the sorcerers of Egypt mentioned in the
Exodus, that Druids and Druidism did not originate in Britain any more than in Gaul or Erin. It is indeed probable that, notwithstanding PUny's high opinion of the power seventh chapter
of
European Druidical system was but the offspring of the eastern augury, somewhat less complete, perhaps, when transplanted to new soil than in its ancient home." Druids were the Gaulish magi, and, Pliny was of opinion the name magi in the east was most august according to Porphyry, and venerable they alone were skilled in divine matters and were the ministers of the Deity." believed them to be Pythagoreans, of the British Druids, the
akin to the Essenes, whilst another writer holds to the opinion that they
were the descendants of the lost Atlanteans. tains that
but that still
in
Druidism was not an isolated
its
parallel
is
districts
institution,
to be looked for in th
Tartary and Thibet.
immediate descendants
Alexandre Bertrand main-
of
without analogy,
lama la mase seri ries es which survive
Maurice contends tribe of
were the
Brahmans from the high northern
bordering on the vast range of the Caucasus.
Polyhistor,
in
book on Symbols, declares that Pythagoras visited both the Brahmans and the Celts. There are also other writers who affirm Druids were initiated into their beliefs and practices by Zamolais, sometime If, however, we are to believe St. Clement of slave of Pythagoras. Alexandria, the Druids took nothing from Pythagoras their reputation drew Pythagoras to Gaul in order that he might be instructed in their mysteries and Theology. This St. Clement is said to have learned from Polyhistor. In fact, Pythagoras did not come into the world until the forty-seventh Olympiad, four generations after Numa, while the philosophy of the Druids existed before the time of Homer. Dr. Churchward, in Signs and Symbols of Primordial Man, holds that
his
th
anci an ci nt Druids
were undoubtedly descendants of the ancient Egyptian priests, who came over and landed in Ireland and the west of England, and
DRUIDISM who brought with them practised
them
here.
their
The
rehgious
Tuatha-de-Danann
descendants of Dia-tene-ion, the to Ireland, were of the
doctrines
fire
and taught and the
princes
god, or the sun
^who
came
same race and spoke the same language
the Fir-Bolgs, or the Formarians, possessed ships,
knew
or as
the art of
had
compass or magnetic needle, worked in metals, large army thoroughly organised, body of surgeons, and had Drui uids ds br brou ough gh all their These Dr Bardic or Druid class of priests. learning with them, believed and practised the eschatology of the That their temples are solar doctrines, and came from Egypt. older than those found in Uxmah, in Yucatan, in Mexico (which are stated to be 11,500 years old), those amongst the Incas in South America, and some of the Zimbabwe in South Africa, is clearly proved by their want of knowledge of building an arch, although we navigation,
find in the oldest remains
among
the
Zimbabwe
lintels at
Umnuk-
wana, and no doubt there are others in South African ruins, but successive immigrants have obliterated most of the original, which
was the old Egyptian, as can be proved by other facts." have further proofs of this inte te es esti ting ng It would certainly be in Concerning the arrival of the Tuatha-de-Danann arresting statement. they journeyed Keating, in his History of Ireland, They to Erin after seven months' sojourn in the north of Scotland. in Ireland,
shou ould ld Irelan and, d, but, but, in order that they sh landed on the north coast of Irel be seen by any of the Fir Bolg, they, by means of the magical powers
with which nearly
all
their
reac ache he they re
ancient writers invest them, raised
SUab SU abhh-an an-i -iar arai ainn nn (Slieve-an-ierin), the
County Leitrim. Once landed, departure impossible by burning their boats.
iron
mountains
According
in
to
the
mist around
traditional
history
of
they
Ireland,
the
made
their
Tuatha-de-
Danann were the descendants of the followers of Faidh, the third son prince named Nemedius, when the Fomorians, an African tribe, of made themselves masters of Ireland and enslaved its inhabitants. The Fomorians appear to have been civilised sufficiently to be able to teach the Tuatha-de-Danann to build with stone and lime, but, according to Pomponius Mela, the latter emigrated to Achaia, country of Greece It is said that while there bordering on Boetia, near the city of Thebes. they acquired that extraordinary skill in necromancy and enchantment which enabled them to work miracles and even to raise the dead. Rather than fall into the hands of the Assyrians, whose sorcerers and Druids were more powerful than their own, they migrated to Denmark and Norway. After sojourn in those countries, they journeyed to Scotland, where they remained for seven years before removing to Ireland. After the settlement of the Tuatha-de-Danann, the Milesians
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM landing in Ireland, but were for some time prevented attempted to effect bv the Tuatha-de-Danann, who, by the power of their enchantments cloud over the whole island and diabolical arts, cast such With much difficulty they effected Milesians were confounded.
They proceeded
landing
mountain Banba, the queen, who was
at Inohei Seeine, in the west of Munster.
to
SHabh Mis, where they were accompanied by her Druids and soothsayers. Banba they met, with all her princely train, and on the fruitful plain On Sliabh Mis Of Sliabh Eibhline, Fodhla next they spied. With priests and learned Druids for her guide, And all her charming court of ladies by her side Then virtuous Eire appeared in pomp and state, called
In Visneach's pleasant
fields,
who was
majestically great.
retinue of accompanied by Eire, another princess, is said to have given her ladies and Druids. name to the country. These three ladies were married to the three sons of Cearmada, who ruled alternately over the whole of the kingdom Three Irish kings alternately reigned,
Fodhla was
And
princess,
also
for their consorts chose three princesses,
Fodhla, Banba, and Eire." In the battles which ensued between the Tuatha-de-Danann and the Milesians, Scota, Milesius's widow, as well as
Two
are said to have been slain on both sides. their lives in this encounter rites
many
of the
learned Druids,
Druids who lost
were named Uar and Eithir, whose funeral
were celebrated with great solemnity.
On
Sliabh Mis our warlike squadrons stood,
and prodigal of blood Victorious arms our stout Gadelians bore, Ruin behind, and terror march'd before thousand of th' enchanted host are slain. They try their charms and magic vain. For with their mangled limbs they cover all the Three hundred only of our troops are kill'd, Eager
Who
of fight,
bravely turned the fortune of the
plain.
field.
The learned Uar rush'd among the rest. But, with repeated blows and wounds oppress'd,
He
fell,
Eithir,
and by priest,
his side expiring lay
and gasp'd
his soul
away.
The
victors then the funeral rites prepare.
Due
to their dead
The pedigree following words
of Milesius
companions is
of the
war."
given in the old Irish Chronicles in the
DRUIDISM
lo
Milesius, son of Bille, son of Breogan, son of Bratha, son of
Deaghatha, son
of
son of Nyagath, son of
Earchada, son
Nannaille, son of Feithricglas, son of
Heber Glunfionn, son
of
Heber
Scotson of Sree, son of Easree, son of Gadelas, son of Niul, son of Feniusa Farsa, son of Baath, son of Magog, son of Japhet, son of
Noah, son
of
Lamech."
been suggested that Ireland obtained her ancient name of from the fact of the country having become the the sacred island chosen depository of the Phoenician worship in that part of the world. It has
more certain when dealing with Druidism than in the case of Britain or Gaul, inasmuch as the sole source of information relating to the Irish Druids is derived from Irish
With
reference to Ireland, the ground
documents and
is
whereas the greater part of the information concerning British and Gallic Druidism is derived from Latin and Greek Irish writers, Parthalonus According to some of writers.
made
writers,
advent into Erin about three hundred years after the date He came from Middle Greece, and brought assigned to the Deluge. Fios, Eolus, and Fochmar, names which mean with him three Druids Three hundred and Inquiry." Knowledge," and Intelligence," thirty
his
years
Nemid and
later
there
his sons,
who
came
ot er
entered into
of
conflict
they found established on the island.
From
immigrants, led by
with the Druidical forces that time there
some
They were
record or chronicle of the acts of the Druids in Ireland.
men
is
and extraordinary powers They were credited with the power to raise were attributed to them. The following translation of an storms and atmospheric disturbances. incantation used by them is taken from the Book of the Invasions of the O^Clerys in the Royal Irish Academy frequently as
of science,"
pray that they reach the land of Erinn, those who are
upon the great, productive vast sea. That they may be distributed upon her plains, her mountains upon her forests that shed showers of nuts and and her valleys upon her lakes upon her rivers and her cataracts all other fruits and her great waters upon her spring-abounding hills. That we may hold our fairs and equestrian sports upon her riding
territories.
That there may be the territory of
many
That the sons
king for us in Tara and that
it
may
be
kings.
of Milesius
may
be manifestly seen upon her
territories.
That noble Erinn may be the home the sons of Milesius.
of the ships
and boats
of
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM Erinn, which is
now
is
in darkness,
ii
for her that this oration
pronounced.
may
Let the learned wives of Breas and Buagne pray that we reach the noble
woman, Great Erinn.
Let Erinn pray and
let
Ir
and Eber implore that we may
reach Erinn."
have ceased immediately upon the utterance incantation and the survivors were enabled to land any
The tempest of this
is
said to
trouble or difficulty.
Druids first set foot in Ireland an Irish tradition seven hundred years before the time of St. Patrick, or about B.C. 270. Druids settled at Certainly, it would appear from the evidence Connor is said to have date much earlier than they did in Britain. been the name of the King of Ireland who was reigning at the time of
There
is
and superok place, he consulted Bachrach, an eminent normal eclipse which Druid of Leinster, for the purpose of ascertaining the meaning of the barbarous that The Druid replied that wonderful event. divine and innocent day been committed b)' the Jews, who had killed The king immediately drew his sword, went to an adjacent person. grove, and, distracted almost to madness, hacked and cut away at the trees, protesting that if he were in the country of the Jews where this holy person had been executed, he would be avenged upon the murderers and chop them to pieces as he had done the trees. It is related that this most holy Druid, Bachrach, prophesied to the people of Leinster that person should be born in wonderful manner and be barbarously murdered own nation, notwithstanding his design of by the great council coming into the world for the happiness and salvation of the whole earth, and to redeem its inhabitants from the delusions and tyranny of infernal demons which had the power to torture them with insupportable pains in future state. In this connection also it must be remembered legend to the effect that the Cup of the Holy Graal was that there is Druidic vase used in the most sacred rites. The Druids of Britain are said to have been mysteriously warned of the Passion of Jesus, as result of which they sent the vase to Jerusalem, where it was used at the Last Supper. After the Crucifixion, it was entrusted to the care of Joseph of Arimathea, who conveyed it back to Britain, with which country he traded for tin, and whither, according to another legend the Crucifixion.
among Cornish
Surprised, the legend runs, at the dreadful
tin-workers, St. Joseph brought Jesus himself as
boy.
In A.D. 449 we find St. Patrick revising the Celtic laws, the work of the Druids, at the command of the King, whose confidence he had gained, in concert with three provincial kings, three Ollamhs or Druidical doctors,
and three bishops, these
last
having replaced the Druids.
The
DRUIDISM
12
revolution had been rapid, sinc
would seem that Ireland name. It is remarkable
it
had
on well-prepared
Christian even before
soil.
It
bore that
it
promptitude with which King
also to note the
few years after his conversion, peopled the monasteries
Loegair, only
with faithful followers of the Christian in Ireland,
fallen
faith,
and
this
was done, not only
but in Scotland and in England as well.
These monasteries
and abbeys, sa}-s Bertrand, would seem almost spontaneously to have time when Gaul possessed none. In a.d. 500, risen from the earth at shortly after the death of St. Patrick, St. Findia (who died a.d. 582) founded an Abbey under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Armagh. very flourishing monastery in the In A.D. 520, there was in existence large part of England, In the same century, while Scottish isle of lona. Ireland and Scotland was still pagan, were founded powerful abbej-s at Bangor and in County Down. An event is narrated in ancient Irish history to the effect that Lughaid, son of the Loegair mentioned above, obstinate adherence to perished by hghtning superstition.
The Druidical in Britain.
into
faith survived in Ireland to
much
period
later
than
Druidical college of Derry was converted
Toland
About the year
Culdee monastery.
a.d. 561,
Columba and twelve
companions left Ireland to build the monastery of IcolmkiU. So far as Wales is concerned, Druidism ceased to be practised, at least openly, by the end of the first century a.d., but long after the advent of St. Patrick, Two of the daughters the chief monarchs of Ireland adhered to Druidism. of King Laogorius, in whose reign St. Patrick expounded the tenets of the Christian faith, were educated by the Druids and maintained their Laogorius and all dispute against the Christian religion. ground in the
provincial kings
liberty of preaching
Ireland,
of
however, granted to every
and professing the Christian
religion
if
man
free
they wished
to do so.
Ledwich
tells
Columba founded two the oaken grove in the town of Derry,
us that in the sixth century
one in
celebrated monasteries,
Doire-magh, in the field of oaks in the King's County. Churches were also founded at Doire-macaidecain in Meath, Doire-melle in Leitrim, and those at Kildoire and Kilderry were constructed in at
groves of oaks. for trees for
The
Christians continued the Druidic notion of reverence
and consecrated
these consecrated
act
trees
incurred severe penalty.
and so great was the veneration
trees to saints
Some
of
cutting or injuring
archers who,
in
the
twelfth
them
century,
destroyed some timber in the churchyard of Finglas, near Dublin, were said to
have died
of
an unusual pestilence.
groves was as firmly believed in as St.
Fachnan very early founded
see
Similarly,
At Roscarbury, seminary. At Lismore
that of shrines.
and
literary
the holinessi^of
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM is
Druidic cave and there was also
and near the time.
celebrated school and cathedral,
was the residence
latter
13
of
an anchoret from the remotest
Felibien, in his Recucil historiq, speaking of the caves under the
church of Chartres, says that the grottos which are under this church are claimed to have been there in the time of the Druids. Over these caves, where probably the grand assembly of the Gaulish
Druids was held,
Ty of
Christian church
St. Iltut's cell,
was
Llantwit,
at
in
In Brecknockshire
which Camden says was
paganism and originally stood in
structure
erected.
stone
Glamorganshire,
and British in the
time
Another sacred
circle.
stood
originally
within
In Ireland, not far from the church of Templebrien,
Druidic grove.
is
is
by is an artificial cave which was the retreat of the Druid servin th pagan temple. It was an established custom in the reign of Cormac, King of Ireland, A.D. 213-253, that every monarch of the kingdom should be attended by ten officers, one of whom was always Druid, whose function it was to regulate the concerns of religion and worship, to offer sacrifices, to divine and foretell events for and advantage of the king and his dominions. The following is taken from poem of great antiquity Ten royal officers, for use and state, Attend the court, and on the monarch wait, nobleman, whose virtuous actions grace central pyramidal pillar.
stone circle with
new
His blood,
Close
glories to his race.
judge, to fix the meaning of the laws.
To save To
the poor, and right the injur'd cause.
grave physician, by his artful care,
and weakened health repair. poet to applaud, and boldly blame. And justly to give infamy or fame For without him the freshest laurels fade. ease the sick,
And
vice to dark oblivion
The next attendant was Prophetic fury
roll'd
Full of his god, he
is
betray'd.
faithful priest,
within his breast
tells
the distant
doom
Of kings unborn and nations yet to come Daily he worships at the holy shrine, And pacifies his god with rites divine.
With constant
And
care the sacrifice renews.
anxiously the panting entrails views.
To touch
And both
the harp, the sweet musician bends,
hands upon the strings extends The sweetest sound flows from each warbling Soft as
his
of the breathing spring,
string,
DRUIDISM
14
Music has pow'r th
And
passions to control,
tunes the harsh disorders of the soul.
The antiquary by his skill reveals The race of kings, and all their offspring tells. The spreading branches of the royal Une, Traced out by him in lasting records shine. Three
officers in
lower order stand,
And, when he drives
Rowland
gives
in state, attend the king's
as his opinion that,
it
when
command."
the Druids were expelled
and Certainly, when Druidism was inhibited in Gaul, and the Scottish Isles. the active persecution of the Druids began, they appear to have retired About a.d. 76, practise and to teach their religion. to Caledonia, Dothan, who is described as the eleventh king of Scotland, is said to at by the have left his three sons in the Isle of Man, there to Druids, as also was Corbed, son of Corbed, first king of Scotland, at from Anglesey, they sought refuge
much
earlier date.
in Ireland, the north of Scotland,
Survey of the Isle of Man, is of of Man, rather than Anglesey, was the principal
Sacheverell,
opinion that the Isle
from the fact that it was called Sedes Druidarum and The original inhabitants of the Isle of Man," he Insula Druidarum. were undoubtedly the same with the rest of Britain, and their says, could almost sort of aristocracy under the Druids. first government theocracy, their notions of divinity were so lively venture to call it their form of government so admirably adapted to the and perfect in short, such an excellent mixture of prince and good of mankind priest, that religion and the state had but one united interest." According to Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland, the seat of the Druids,
Druids were in power in Scotland in the latter part of the third century.
He
writes Cratylinth, king
of
coming to the throne in the works to purge the kingdom of its
Scotland,
year 277, made it one of his first heathenish superstition, and to expel the Druids, held in those days in great reputation.
They
sort of people
ruled their affairs
president who kept his by residence in the Isle of Man, which was then under the dominion of the Scots, they did once every year in that place meet to take counsel together for the ordering of affairs, and carried things so politely discretion that Cratylinth found it difficult enough to and expel them, because of the favour they ha amon st the people." Huddleston says that it is established by the most unquestionable
very politely
for
being governed
authorities that the Celts were the original inhabitants of Europe, that
the Celtic language was
that the Celts had
dialect of the
among them from
language of Asia, and the most remote
antiquity an
THE ORIGIN Order
of Literati, called Druids, to
15
whom
the Greeks and
Romans
ascribed
degree of philosophical celebrity, inferior to none of the ages of antiquity. Celts were With this view Pinkerton agrees, so far as admitting
Europe and their language the original one. The presence of Irish words in the French language is accounted for by the Irish Druids, who travelled between the two countries and who were the instructors of the youth of each country.
the
aborigines
of
According to another authority
The Druids
of the first
that once there
century b.c. affirm
was the population anterior to the Celtic conquests, that which was known in Ireland as the Firsecond group, named Druids, Bolg, Fir-Domann, and Galloir. in other words, from the came thither from the most distant isles Land of the Dead, the Isles of the Blest, or the All-Powerful of Greek This was the population that first crossed the Rhine mythology.
was
and
native population in Gaul
settled
down
in
it
western borders
the
in
pre-historic
times,
and to the time of Hecatus of When Timageus obtained this information from the Druids Miletus. of the first century, B.C., the Celts of this first immigration had lost all recollection of their arrival in Gaul and had no other belief than the Druidical doctrine of the mythic origin of the Cult." anterior to the fifth century b.c,
King Finnan, who succeeded to the throne of Man in b.c. 134, is said to have first established the Druids in the Isle of Man. well known to We learn from Origen that the Druids were the Roman philosophers, but that they were held up by them as examples of wisdom and models for imitation on account of pre-eminent merit of religion of and Clement of Alexandria called Druidism some kind that of the primitive Persians.
philosophers,"
By some
the Druids were
known
to groves of oaks or sacred trees.
as
Saronides,
Saronides
is
name given
also
an ancient Greek appella-
tion for the oak
When Rhea By
mother's throes Jove deep laon's streams the tall Saronides rose." for
felt
Callim, Jov. 22.
She to the
Her
sons,
stiff
and
Saronid's branch applied in
noose her neck
Jp
tied."
Rhoi. ap Parthen,
11.
The word is derived from the root sar, meaning originally mark of high honour. rock," but it came afterwards to be adopted as groves or Sarah." In course of It is the root of the name Saron," because they were sacred hills with woods of oak were named to the Deitv.
Davis
in his Celtic Researches, insists that
Saronides
DRUIDISM British word,
is
compounded from
stars,"
ser,
according to his contention, the
discriminates or points out,"
Saronides were Seronyddion, or astronomers. the to
name
Diogenes Laertius gives
Semnotheist to the Druid ascetic and
of
have been
solitary rehgious
one who
and honydd,
who,
Semnotheus seems gave himself up to
secret cell,
in
the contemplation of heavenly things.
Triads and other ancient poems, there
language of
Roman
appears to be ground for the inference that during the there was
Druidical seminary in the
isle of
occupation
Britain, or in an adjacent
and probably beyond the Hmits of the Empire, where the doctrine and discipUne were cultivated without interference the island,
Druids persisted in the
sacrifices of
human
beings
that certain devotees
from the southern provinces repaired their solemn festivals that upon the departure of the Romans they repaired to Mona and Wales and that this northern seminary was not entirely suppressed until the It is intimated in some works end of the sixth century. Britons regarded this northern establishment with great respect and that thev
made frequent
pilgrimages there, particularly at the time of the solemn
festivals.
Druidism, under that particular name, does not appear to have been
known
outside Gaul, Britain, and Ireland, although similar teaching and
practices are to be found in countries outside those boundaries, but the
name appears
have belonged exclusively to those parts. The reUgion, however, appears to have been established among the Germans, Danes, Swedes, Norsemen, Muscovites, Russians, Pomeranians, Laplanders, Scythians,
to
Goths,
Thracians,
Lithuanians,
Hungarians,
Poles,
and
Samogethians, with, of course, local variations. Although, in
Britain,
the
Romans
issued
stringent
suppression of the Druidical groves and altars, there
is
laws
for
no proof
the
of the
had taken root too deeply not to spring up again after the Romans had taken their departure from the The suppression of Druidism was essential to the Roman conquest island. of Britain Augustus Cssa recognised that the two were incompatible. Druidism would be source of danger unless it could be assimilated to Roman ideas and practices, and so he prohibited Roman citizens from seeking initiation into the Druidical mysteries, step also forbidden by step further and made the Druids went mined effort to destroy it. Suetonius states that Claudius Csesar entirely eradication of Druidism at that time.
abolished
the
dreadfully
atrocious
It
religion
of
Gauls, which Augustus had merely prohibited
the to
Druids among the the
Roman
citizens.
which occurred during the struggles of ViteUius and Vespasian, when the capital was burnt, the Druids sang with vain superstition that the Gauls Tacitus sa)'s that
However, on the rebellion
of the Gaulish tribes,
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM
17
had anciently taken Rome, but, since the seat of Jove had remained given Now the gods intact, her empire had also remained." fatal conflagration and portended to the nations of their wrath by According to north of the Alps the supremacy over human affairs. Strabo, the Gauls held to the opinion that as the
produces
increases
fruits
its
when Claudius decided
in
number
of
greater abundance.
Druids In
Druidism it concentrated form because it seemed to contain within itself in surviving national feeling of the Gaulish tribes which, in view of real danger to the peace of annexation of Britain, might appear
probability
to
exterminate
all
was the
the the
Western provinces. Druidism and to abolish it were in vain. It is certain that the Druids were in existence at the time of St. Eloi, who died towards the end of the seventh century, and even Eloi Eligius was Bishop of Noyon and patron saint for some time after. quoted from the writings of this Long passages of goldsmiths. saint showing that Paganism still triumphed over Christianity in many his parts of France in his day, and there is no reason to statements mysterious rites, with which the Druids had always It may even be honoured their divinities, were then still practised. assumed that Druidism alone retarded the free passage of Christianity
The imperial measures taken
to arrest
to all parts of France. (xxx., 4, 13) says that Tiberius Ceesar
Pliny, in his Natural
caused the Druids to disappear, yet he admits in another passage that they were still in existence and superintended the religious ceremonies in the all
time of Vespasian.
that
porary
was accomplished suppression
particularly, the
In
many
iv their
retain
own
of
in the reign of Tiberius Caesar
the
of
practice
parts
His language leads to the assumption that
of
outward
human
Britain,
many
princes,
Druids
Druidism,
of
or,
sacrifices.
moreover, the
Romans
permitted the
laws and customs and to be governed by
aU probability, they woiold continue the According to ancient and sacred mystical rites.
and
performance of their
observances
was the tem-
still
here, in
acted as arbiters in
privat
matters,
though, presumably, they had not the power to deal with murder indict-
Thus, on the introduction of the
law by the Romans, the principle of secular justice between man and man, priestly domination among the Britons passed away. ments, as formerly they had.
civil
Cormac, who, about the middle of the third century, ascended the the Druids by throne of Ireland, attempted to reform the divesting it of the polytheism into which it had degenerated, but, in In one of consequence of his efforts, his subjects rebelled against him.
DRUIDISM the battles which ensued he lost an eye, which compelled him, in accordresign the crown. ance with the law then prevailing in Irel nd Celtic and Gaulish Druids are mentioned in the third century as
being connected with events in the lives of Aurelian and Diocletian. They are mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus and Ausenius and in the fourth
century
by Procopius.
Druids in the Christian era in
Gibbon epitomises the history the following words
the
of
Under the specious pretext of abolishing human sacrifices, the Emperors Tiberius and Claudius suppresse the dangerous power but the priests themselves, their gods, and their of the Druids altars,
subsisted in peaceftd obscurity
till
the final destruction of
Paganism." merciless Eighteen years after Aulus Plautlus first landed, there was massacre of the Druidical priests and their very devoted adherents in the Isle of
may
Anglesey, and, although the religion
been, and, in
all
regularly organized was system of religious beHef, culture, and ritual, Druidism perished then by the edge of the sword wielded by the Romans. The foundation of the great Roman schools, such as that at Autun, deprived the Druids of many of their pupils. In Ireland, Druidism did not, however, disappear until about a.d. 560, after the abandonment of Tara, the capital of the In a.d. 452, the Council of Aries decreed that supreme king of Ireland. in any diocese, any infidel lighted torches or worshipped trees, if, probability,
was
practised, yet
so far as
it
fountains, or stones, he should be guilty of sacrilege."
In a.d. 658, the
monuments, Welsh historians and, later, the capitularies also condemned the religion. national council held by King assert that Christianity was accepted in Lucius, A.D. 155, when the Arch-Druids of Europe, Lud and Leon, became archbishops and the chief Druids of twenty-eight cities became The two thousand Brothers of Dom Pitra, in St. Leger, says bishops. night, divided into seven choirs of three hundred Sletty, who sing Council of Nantes ordered th
voices, reply across the
legend,
children
of
the
destructio
of all Druidical
the sons of St. Martin, being, according to
converted
Alexander, writing on
Druid
Fiek."
that while the
The Rev. W.
Roman
L.
armies were
college of them in the harrying the Druids at Anglesey, there was Scottish islands, situate 56° 59' N. designated Innis-nan-Druidneach, or
the
isle of
the Druids," and that the priesthood prevailed over
other islands until a.d.
563-4,
when Colum
all
Columba arrived with that number till after ages. or
who were continued in The Druids remained after human sacrifices were abolished, for after speaking of the abolition of human sacrifices, goes on to twelve companions
They of
stiU
wisdom."
have
their elegant speech
the
and the Druids as
Aurelius Victor (De Casiribus,
iv,
2)
Mela,
say
their teachers
refers to
Druidism
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM
19
as an extinct superstition, but one of celebrity in his day.
Druidismis
have found an asylum in Armorica some ages after it had been proscribed and suppressed in the rest of Gaul. An attempt was made after its extirpation in Britain to revive
warlike
named Dearg, but
remnant,
it,
particularly
by one
attempt was
the
among
and Ireland.
of Britain
determined
On
the Continental
it
this point
may
When
as
the original
be possible to discover
Druidism
home of the the home of
those
Celt has been his
religion."
the question of the Druids, the
and the greater becomes
enlarges,
it
among
prevailed
Bertrand writes
The more deeply we study more
it
one.
futile
T. Taylor, in the Celtic Christianity of Cornwall, prevailed
of the
arrive at the firm conviction that behind the
its
We
importance.
community
of Gaulish
which Cassar, Diodorus, and Strabo have popularhidden an old social institution, which, from the
or Celtic priests, of ised the
name,
is
highest antiquity,
made
and Scotland,
Ireland,
its civilising
in
Wales,
influence
felt,
outside of Gaul,
Scandinavia, Germany,
among
Upper Danube, the Getes, and more The Pythagorean brotherhoods and constitute, we believe, one of the unrecog-
the Aestiens, the Celts of the particularly in Thrace.
the institutions of
Numa
nized aspects of these ancient cenobitic communities, of which our
and abbeys became the successors, new spirit animating these old bodies. The dominating idea of these monastic and conventual institutions is not, in point of fact, an idea emanating from, but is long anterior to, the gospel. If we wish to look for precedent removed the Christian origin, it must convents,
monasteries,
among the Essenes or in Egypt. It does not originate with papal Rome. We believe that its origin will be found in Chaldea be searched for
which the western monks, as well as the Irish and Druids, founded their model. Montalembert recognizes
or Media, on
Scottish
that cenobitism
Like
long anterior to
however,
Mithraism,
eventually was swept from
not be overlooked, Christianity,
Christianity
that
off
Druidism
and the
as
distinctive
of the
Druids held practices
and
many
must Druidism by
supplanting of of
the
institution
But the
the face of the earth.
when speaking the
Christian era."
tenets
customs of the
fact
inculcated
Christians.
in
The
doctrine of the immortality of the soul, the belief in miracles, the doctrine of reincarnation,
all,
in those days, articles of the Christian faith,
already been imparted to the Britons by their
own
priests.
had
They were
no strangers to the rite of baptism, which every Christian neophyte had to undergo. Unhappily, Druidism has left behind no literature, no art existing monuments, claimed to be Druidical, afford no clue to the social habits of the people and prove nothing beyond the fact that the also
DRUIDISM
20 people of the period
when
that religion held
sway had no
taste for the
aesthetic arts.
This alleged succession of and similarity of Christianity to Druidism has been commented several writers, and W. Arch, in Written J.
Records of the Cymri, says
When
Druid instructor was persuaded
of Christianity, he civilized
had fewer prejudices
heathen of
of the genera
trut
surmount than any other the ancient world, and would willingly, while to
avowing his new faith, submit, not only to be baptized, but also to receive from his new superiors commission resume his functions as an authorized teacher and instructor in the doctrines new faith."
Similar testimony
Neither the
is
borne by Hughes,
Roman
who
writes
power, nor the superiority of the Christian religion, would easily overcome the attachment of the people to the
But if it be true, have Christian clergy were selected from among the
superstitions of their ancestors.
afhrmed, Bards, then
many
we may
easily conceive
that their former notions, in
would give strong tincture to their new religion." Smiddy gives an interesting account, dapt from Himerius, of renowned Druid philosopher. He writes visit paid to Greece by About six hundred years before the birth of Christ, Druid from one of the western islands visited Greece, and the description given of his person and dress by some of the Greek writers is very interesting. The name of this Druid traveller was word which signifies the father the master of knowledge.' or This title was something like that of Rabbi among the Jews, and even in sound it resembles it somewhat. This priest of the sun, as he is called, went to Greece for the purpose of study and observation and also to renew, by his personal presence and his gifts, the old friendship which, it appears, had existed for ages between the Greeks and the Celts. By the Greeks, he was called Hyperborean, that northener,' term which they applied to the Celtic nations is bordering on the Euxine, and also to the colonies or peoples springing from them and inhabiting northern latitudes. The Greek writer, Strabo, says that Abaris was much admired by even the learned men of Greece, for his politeness, justice, and integrity. He came to Athens,' says Himerius, another Greek writer, not clad in skins, like Scythian, bow in his hand, and quiver hanging on his shoulder, and plaid wrapped round his body, gilded belt encircling his loins, and trousers reaching from his waist down to the soles of his feet. He was easy in his address, agreeable in his conversation, active in th despatch and secret in the management respects,
THE ORIGIN OF DRUIDISM
quick in judging of present occurrences, and ready
of great affairs
to
take his
part
in
any sudden emergency
inguarding against futurity friendship
21
trusting very
provident
without
dihgent in quest of wisdom
little
to fortune
fond of
yet having the entire
confidence of others, and trusted with everything for his prudence.
He
spoke Greek with so much fluency that you would have thought that he had been bred or brought up in the Lyceum, and had conversed
all his life
Such
is
with the academy of Athens.'
the singularly flattering character which the Greek
writers give of this Druid traveller from the
Hyperborean
island.
had frequent interviews with Pythagoras, and extent of his knowledge. whom he astonished by Now, to which of these northern Celtic, or Hyperborean, islands did The place of his abode is thus described by Greek Abaris belong writers, whose imperfect knowledge of geography, however, rendered It is it impossible for them to be very accurate in all particulars. the place where Latona was born, lying far north of Celtica and as temperate air and big as Sicily, the inhabitants of which enjoy very fruitful soil. They ador Apollo and the sun, preferably to all other deities, paying him the highest honours, and singing his praises so continually that they all seem to be priests appropriated to his service, and their town itself dedicated to his worship. There was fine grove and circular temple consecrated to him, in which votaries say hymns, celebrating his actions, and set to choirs whilst others, playing on the harp, which most of the music inhabitants understood, answered to their voices and formed They had delightful symphony. peculiar dialect of their own and singular regard for the Greeks, particularly the Athenian and Hellean, with whom they had, from ancient times, cultivated friendship, confirmed by mutual visits, which, however, as they had been intermitted for some time, Abaris was sent by the Hyperand, in return, several of the Greeks, passing to boreans to renew
They
also state that he
their island, left there several sacred presents to their deities, with
Greek characters." In France, the opening of schools at Marseilles, Lyons, and Autun accomplished the demise of Druidism in that ount y. The Druidical communities there ceased to be, and many of the members migrated to England, Scotland, and Ireland, where they lingered until the final inscriptions
in
eclipse of the religion.
CHAPTER
II
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM The
sacred oaks,
shades among the Druids strayed, To cut the hallowed mistletoe, and held High converse wit their gods."
These awfu
Sir
Humphrey Davy.
which appears to have been as inspirin as that of any ancient or modern system of religion or theology, and the fact that sectarianism was unknown to them, all beHevers of cohesive the faith professing the same creed without any variation, had
The Druids
creed
and unifying effect upon the variou nation among whom it prevailed. Although seemingly polytheistic in character, Druidism recognized and inculcated th behef in the unity of the Supreme Being, to whom alone the prayers of the people, through the priests, were addressed.
The Ruler
of the Universe, in the discharge of his office,
subordinate
divinities,
who were supposed
messengers than as possessed of
to
inherent
was
assisted
act rather as
by
angels or
authority of their own.
he affirms opposed to the idea of Druidism being polytheistic that they beHeved in one God only, which fact he considers was instrumental in leading the people to Christianity, although it may be regarded as undoubted that the simple tenets of early Druidism became debased Origen
is
by the admission
of the polytheism of the East.
No
text, says Bertrand,
authorises us to suppose that the Druids introduced to the Celts foreign divinities or
new
rites to
any
the countries where they were estabHshed
and it may even legitimately be affirmed to the contrary. Druids had the primitive intuition and the Bouche says uniform and just doctrine and that far from seeking good sense to teach Eternal they devoted themselves to shewing Him in to Although they taught the His manifestation through His works. great veneration adoration of spiritual and invisible divinities, they had for the elements and for aU the different parts of the invisible world, for or settled,
fire,
water, the wind, the earth, trees, rocks, etc.
They
did not, however,
regard the elements in the fight of divinities, unUke, according to several authorities, the ancient Persians. for the
The
real foundation, says Pelloutier,
worship which the Celts rendered to the different parts of the
THE CREED
23
was the opinion, which they held, that each element, each corporeal body, was the seat or temple of subordinate divinity, who resided there and directed its operations and made it, so to speak, the instrument of its liberality towards mankind. It was really to this Intelligence, and not to the visible object, that the religious veneration was rendered. They held that whatever was effected by laws of nature was the work of God, and not simply the result of mechanism. For instance, they held that the motions of the leaves of tree, the direction and colour of flame, the fall of thunderbolt, were the work of an intelligent Being instructions given by God to the human race, wise man should give attent on and from which he should to which profit. The same law was applied to the actions of the lower animals which were not ascribed to instinct the flight song of birds, the ateria
orld
barking of
dog, the neighing of
running of
hare.
horse, the hissing of
In like manner they said that
serpent, all
that
and the
man
did
without any intervening mself, but ought to
mechanically, or involuntarily, reflection,
could not be attributed
work of divinity. Thus they found movements of the eyelid, in the motions They did not adore several gods equal in one sovereign God, with large number of multiplied the number of those divinities as the
presages from the involuntary of the pulse,
or in sneezing.
power and dignity, subordinate divinities.
They
by the creation of topical or local gods, giving sanctuaries the name of the god adored. man, for example, who went to say his prayers in forest dedicated to the god Teut, or to onsult he priests who presided at that cult, would say that he went to find Teut. But this was only to distinguish the sanctuaries. Thus the god Penius was not specia divinity but the god whose sanctuary was upon the Alps. In like manner the Apollon Grynaeus of the Messians, established in Asia, was not an exclusive god, but the name given to the sanctuary by the Messians, because they offered their sacrifices to the sun in wood where the trees could not lose their verdure and where the earth was always covered with flowers. The Druids maintained that the Supreme had produced number of intelligences which animated different parts of matter and conducted people to the destiny of the Eternal Will. gences either as angels or
spirits,
They regarded
these intelli-
acting only in ac orda ce with the
orders and under the direction of the
Supreme God, whose ministers and
instruments only they were, but, participating in the empire
God, they were worthy of being associated with His glory and with the religious worship which He received from man. When man was accused of crime of which he be acquitted of the sovereign
or convicted
by the ordinary method he was thrown
into
river, his
judges being persuaded that the intelligences residing there would not
DRUIDISM
24
draw him
bottom or raise him to the surface, according to his guilt or innocence, which would thus be estabhshed. The Celts held in their mythology that water and fire took the first rank among the divinities emanating from the and the earth. The violent agitations of the air, the force and rapidity of its action, the terrible ravages of rain, thunder, storms, and tempests led them to believe that the air was filled with an enormous number of spirits who were masters of the destiny of man, and who consequently merite receiving religious worship. The Celts did no ende religious worship to heroes, or place them in the ranks of gods neithe during their life nor They beheved that the union of the active with te heir death. the passive principles had produced not only men, but gods, the latter springing from matter as well as the visible and corporeal beings. Here to the
fail
to
is
contradiction, but
it
may
well be that they believed
spirits
emanated from the first principle and that th rt had suppHed the body to which they were united, or the element It may be that with the Stoics they recognized in which it resided. or genii residing in matter
living,
active, invincible
matter,
of Divinity,
and
visible
by itself of Hfe and motion, which was the substance of the body. Although the Druids acknowledged beginning to all things, they beheved world would exist for all time, but they maintained would become purified and renovated by universal fire, as once it had been by the deluge. They did not believe in the existence of an almighty and universal evil power, but God could be offended by sin, but that He was placable and could be appeased by sacrifices. The Druidic conception of God had not, so far as can be ascertained, been degraded to the anthropomorphism current in other and later ages. The Supreme Being was represented to them in the sun, but the sun, as sun, was not worshipped it was the great and grand symbol of the Living God, known as Es s, he supreme light, self-existent and invisible, but yet seeing, penetrating, The sun was all things. supposed to be the most noble type of the Godhead the most glorious ateria creation. object of th The following is said to be an ancient hymn used by the Druids in their Mysteries. It is called Song of Dark Import, and is said to have been composed by distinguished Bard named Ogdoad The heat of the sun shall be wasted yet shall the Britons have an inclosure of great renown, and the heights of Snowdon shall receive inhabitants. Then will come the spotted cow, and procure blessing. On the serene day will she bellow on the eve of May shall she be boiled and, on the spot where her boiling is completed, shall her consumer rest in peace. Let truth be ascribed entity, incapable
Sk from Iry
J^
nehcn'^c.
wider-colour drawing
M. W.
Turner, R.A.
THE CREED to
Menvvydd,
the
dragon
25
chief
of
the
world,
Kydd
who formed
the
which passed through the dale of grievous water, having the fore part stored with corn and mounting aloft with connected serpents." chant, or chorus To this was added of Nuh. The covenant The wood Alas, my covenant. My covenant is the covenant of the ship of Nuh is my witness. curvatures of
besmeared.
Many
My
witness,
my
witness,
my
friend."
where Druidical worship is said to have prevailed can still be identified through the names which those places bear. Such, for example, as Grenach (in Perthshire), which means field of the sun Greenan (a stream in Perthshire), river of the town of sun Balgreen (a town in Perthshire and other counties), knoll of the sun the sun Grian chnoux, or Greenock, which means sun's fire." and Granton, which means Oxford, it is claimed, should According to tradition, Oxford was founded be included in any such list. bv Mcmbricius, who was destroyed by wolves when hunting at Wolverof
the
locaUties
from the city hence its Celtic title was Caer Membre, the citv of Membricius." or It was also known as Caer Bosca, probably from the Greek Bosphorus, Ox-ford. The latter name, possibly, was bestowed upon the city when the Greek philosophers, brought by Brutus migrated from their original college at Cricklade farther up cote, three miles
the Tain and set
up
suburb of the Bel-Mont (from name), just utside th city boundary.
their school at the
which Beaumont Street takes
its
was manifested in the sun, and the Druids, in singing hymns to that luminous orb, gave expression to their worship of the Supreme, and not of the emblem, thus offering thei adoration to the Supreme and Eternal Being. were Bel Baal The words and as common in the East for the name of the Deity as was in Jupiter of Bel
In short,
the West.
The name Baal
philological point of an interesting one from view. It is composed of three radicals, denominated in Hebrew, Beth, Jlt'ph, and Lamed which correspond with the Arabic letters, Ba, Alif, and Lam, and the Greek Beta, Alpha, an Lambda Each of these letters
has
is
numerical value.
In Arabic, Phoenician,
Hebrew and Greek, B,
when it is used as numeral, stands for and for for 10, thus making total of 33. Each number is regarded as mystical number. The Pythagoreans regarded the number as representing Intellect or \\'isdom, the Source of all things. The figure typified It typified God. male and female, who, in conjunction, produce life from the odd proceed both even. The added to complete the 30 of Lamed, might, from its shape, stand for the ovum the world or the cosmos. Intellect stands
first.
Thus we read
in the
Gospel ascribed to
St.
John
In the
DRUID ISM
26
And Wisdom was
beginning was Wisdom.
God." in
The numerals
Roman
letters,
with God, and
Wisdom was
which B, A, and L, stand, writte consecutivel total of XXXIII, run II, I, and XXX, producing for
representing nine se arat
Romans
In connection with this the
strokes.
Nun-
worthy of attention. The days were divided into groups of eigh and on every ninth day the people left their pursuits and went to the town to market hence the Latin saying Tres Mulieres purification ceremony on Nundinas faciunt. The Romans also held male infants on the ninth day of life, the presiding genius at this rite Nine was termed by the Pythagoreans the being named Nundina. dinals of the
are
perfect square of the perfect
given in Psalm
performance.
nine reasons for praising
God
are
El usin an Mysteries occupied nine days in
th
145
number
With regard
to
the
figure
33,
King David reigned
in
there are Jesus lived on earth for 33 years the MusHm Rosary of the 33 vertebrae in the human spinal column 99 Beautiful Names of Allah is divided into three sections, each containing
Jerusalem for 33 years
33 beads.
Many of the pomp and with
religious services of the Druids,
which were conducte
which could vie with the ornate ritual of later ecclesiastical organisations, began and ended with the ceremony of going thrice round in the course of the sun. As these circumvolutions of the sun, they were began at the East point and
known
ritual
in the Isle of
Man
as deas-iul, or
the
way
to the south."
This
ceremony was regarded by the Druids as signifying conformity to the direction, or carpposit will of God. To go round the circle in th Widdershin was another name tuia-iul, was to court disaster. opposite movement, which, it was said, upset all nature and rendered charge of witchcraft, which might end in its performers liable to sentence of capital punishment.
In the
Isle
well there, they
Skye, after drinking the water of
made
some deity resided before they
of
left it.
in
Borlase says
famous
three sun-turns round the well there, as
it,
to
whom
Weak and
if
they were to pay proper respect
simple as these turns
may
seem, they
have been used by the most ancient and most polite nations in the same manner as now practised by these uncultivated highlanders. round the persons they They turn three times round their karns three times they make round St. Barr's intend to bless three times
Church and three times round the well, so that the number three necessary part of the ceremony." was Maurice, in his Indian Antiquities, says of the Greek drama ro he the right hand to the left, In the by which motion Plutarch is of opinion they meant to indicate the in the Antistrophe apparent motion of the heavens from east to west
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM they moved from the
left
27
to the right in allusion to the motion of
and by the slow or stationary motion the permanent stability of the earth."
the planets from west to east before the altar,
dance was used by the Hindoos in their religious ceremonies and called the Raas Jattra, or dance of the This circular dance in honour of the heavenly bodies was in circle."
The same kind
use
among
of astronomical
number
of
ancient
The Romans during
nations.
their
public worship were accustomed to turn themselves round from left to right,
sometimes
larger
in
and sometimes
in
smaller circles, and they
derived this practice, according to Plutarch, from their religious monarch,
Numa, who was deeply
skilled in the
mysteries of the
Samothracian
Cabiri.
The ceremony
deas-iul
of
is
still
used on
many
occasions in the
Women with child go thrice in this direction Highlands of Scotland. round some chapels to procure an easy delivery. Sick persons do the same round some earns in order to charm back health. In Sc tl nd also the old Masonic Lodge at Melrose either elected the new office-bearers, or had the installation on the eve of St. John's day in summer, when the brethren walked in procession three times round the market-cross. After dinner they again turned out, walked two abreast, each bearing Preceded by their banners, the procession again walked lighted torch. three times round the cross, and then proceeded to the Abbey, round complete circuit of the building. which it slowly marched thrice, making The order of procession was right-hand to the centre in both cases round the Cross, and also at the Abbey, or deas-iul, or sun-wise. William Simpson, commenting on this, says In addition to the installation ceremony, let the craftsman also recall the point in the Lodge that marks the the sun. move on to another point where From that the luminary is at its meridian, and then on to where it sets, and he will have circular movement, which, if fully carried round, would undoubtedly mark the whole course of the sun, and be with the right hand to the centre." There is also the rule for the principal officers of the Lodge taking their seats and leaving them again, in relation to the pedestal
this
is
also deas-iul, or sunwise.
Hercatoeus of Abdura, there was an island
History of the Hyperboreans, says that of Celt ca inhabited by people
the
called Hyperboreans, because they were
climate
is
excellent,
the
soil
is
beyond the nort
fertile,
yielding
double
inhabitants are great worshippers of Apollo (the sun), to
many hymns.
To
ind. crops.
whom
The The
they sing
god they have consecrated large territory, in the midst of which they have magnificent round temple replenished with the richest offerings. This very city is dedicated to him, and is this
DRUIDISM
28
and players of variou instruments, who, every day, celebrate his benefits and perfections." The sun, as the giver and vivifier of life, says Napier in Folk Lore, was the primary god of antiquity, being worshipped by th Assy ians Chaldeans, Phoenicians and Hebrews, under the name of Baal, or Bel, In Hebrew the name for God other nations under other names. in Semitic, Al in Chaldee, //. The Welsh name for sun is is El while Ell is the Gothic for in Maeso-Gothic it is Hil fire." Haul high position in the state. The priests of Baal always held As the sun was the image or symbol on earth, hence aU offerings made to Baal were burned or made to pass through the fire, or were presented before the sun. full
of musicians
The foregoing
facts will account for the contention of
that Druidism was
many
writers
branch of the worship of the sun, which at one
time prevailed.
Next in point of rank to the Supreme Being, represented by the sun, came the lesser divinities, symbolised by the moon and all the celestial bodies being accorded honours. This feature was not more marked in Druidism than in other religions where veneration was accorded to the elements. their
multitudes
Many
of
religions
regarded as polytheistic taught that
gods or divinities were but emanations
constituted really but one Being.
It
was, in
all
from,
or
probability, this venera-
and observance of their motions which laid the foundation of the knowledge of astronomical science possessed by the Druids, testimony to which has been borne by C^sar and other They were undoubtedl in possession of sufficient kno-wledge writers. of the motion of the heavenly bodies to enable them to fix definite times for their festivals and religious ceremonies, aU of which were regulated and moon, and to calculat thirty-year cjxle of lunar years, by the In common with Gauls, in which the month began at the sixth day. Teutons, and Hebrews, the Britons reckoned time from evening to Their principal hours for devotion were midday and midnight, morning. and their most important solemn functions were held at the new and full moons. Maimonides says "In the days of Enos, the son of Seth, men fell into grievous Their errors, and even Enos himself partook of their infatuation. language was that since God had placed on high the heavenly bodies, and used them as His ministers, it was evidently His will that they should receive from men the same veneration as the grea prince justly claims from the subject multitude. servants of Impressed with this notion, they began to build themselves temples to the stars, to sacrifice to them, and to worship them in the vain tion of the celestial bodies
expectation that they should thus please the Creator of
all
things.
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
29
At
indeed, they did not suppose the stars to be the only deities,
totally
forgotten
religion
than the idolatrous worship of
but adored in conjunction with them the Lord God Omnipotent. In process of time, however, that great and venerable name was
and the whole human race retained no other of
heaven."
very pronounced reticence with regard to with one exception only, the articles of faith which they professed have been great writers in other They are that of immortah'ty.
The Druids observed
respects,
committed none
of
thei
religiou
or philosophical
key to which was in the possession only of the initiated, to whom the poems and doctrines It was the were taught orally and by them committed to memory. common practice of the nations of antiquity to transmit their laws and This doctrines from generation to generation merely by oral tuition. was done by, among others, the ancient Greeks and Spartans, who In the Isle of Man, even, many permitted nothing to be written down. Breast of the laws were traditionary, and were known by the name of Laws." One of the Druidic objections to the use of writing, except in instances where it was absolutely necessary, was that it caused deterioration of the powers of memory. tenets to writing, except in allegorical poems, the
The
Bardic, or Druidic, alphabet consisted of thirty-six letters, sixteen
It contained all the which were radical and the remainder mutations. Etruscan letters without the least deviation of form, except that four were as follows five were
of
/N
,1
H.
:i
vy to
Ia;
30
DRUIDISM
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
31
astronomv, geometry, music, and of science in general was named Jhoth, wlio was also called Phine, and Jablonsky claims that Thoth was not Phine certainly man, but signified science in general. the name of appears to be identical with the Irish Fenius, the author of letters. The Chinese claim to have been the wisest and most learned people in
from the remotest
the world
Confulus, was the inventor of letters
They say that Confulu, or and arts. But this Confulu was
meaning the learned Chon was the Egyptian name of Cann, or the head of the learned. The Hercules and Canoe the Egyptian name of Thoth or Mercury. literary tree as Chinese always carried with them the symbol of character, this symbol being knowledge was tradition among the Jews There is named Dar and this was supposed to be the oak, whence Dar in Irish wisdom." it also implies an oak means WilUam Beauford, in Druidism Revived, sets forth his reasons for Irish Druids had not only the method of committing asserting characters and letters their doctrines and learning to writing, but identical with the Cann-faola of the ancient Irish,
made
use of for this purpose bear not only
great affinity to those
of
and Egyptians, but, in several instances, are exactly the same, as may be seen on comparing them with the characters and inscriptions on the Bembine and Remessean tables. By these also, it appears that the Hibernian Druids, like the Egyptian
the ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians,
made
priests,
letters
also,
use of both hieroglyphic and alphabetic characters.
those of the ancient Egyptians, were of two species,
like
The profane were those used
sacred and profane. rences
of
life,
Their
public contracts,
in the
common
ordinances of state, poems,
occur-
etc.,
and
mentioned by antiquaries under the denomination of Bobeloth characters and were the same, or nearly those, of the Punic and Phoenician. The Ogham and Ogham sacred were those mentioned under the name These
Croabh.
letters
were mixed with symbols and hieroglyphics, in
which treated
their hiero-grammatic writings, or those
of their general
philosophy and laws.
An
might be made, as can be gathered from the following few illustrations. Debesh is the Arabic for school for writing." Dubir tree," while debistan means unbarking is
interesting
the Persian for
and duib
is
philological
writer
the Irish for
fruit, science, learning."
dana
learned
man
Arabic, means either tree,"
and
for writing," means feed of Dane is the Persian for learning," language, dan means
dihiriston
writing."
In the Irish
and aosddna
magi, Druids."
thick plantation of trees," or
while uchdach, in Irish, means
means
excursion
delivery of speech."
usee, in Irish,
means
Akdet,
in
the
confused words," Asek, in Arabic,
Hterary character."
There
DRUIDISM
32
proverb among the ancient Arabians, which ran
was
wood
the
meaning know his learning, eloquence, before he has spoken." Libanus was mountain, from its tall cedars. The Jews formed an alphabet called
of his tree before his fruit is ripened,"
so called
Catab Libona, or scriptura libonica; tops with scrolls like the tendrils of first
know
The Bardic legend man, beheld three
these letters were flourished at the vine.
of the origin of letters states that Einigan, pillars of light,
having on them
He
sciences that ever were or ever will be.
the quicken tree and placed on sciences, so that they should
all
the
demonstrable
accordingly took three rods
them the forms and
be remembered.
signs of all the
People, however,
came
god, although they only bore his name. time to regard these rods as When Einigan saw this he was greatly annoyed and distressed, and in
in
his
grief
His anguish was such that he burst parting breath he prayed to God that there should
broke the three rods.
asunder, and with his
be accurate sciences among men in the year and At the end of of them. three rods growing out of the
These ten
sciences of ten letters.
name
of
God
'^
mouth
Beli
the
Runic alphabet the symbol was
of
letters
Great for
and day of
understanding
flesh
decease
his
men
beheld
Einigan which exhibited the
were derived from the creative
made them
into
the god Tyr was
'\'
In
sixteen.
and that
for
the
man
In the Collection of Bardism, made by Llewellyn Sion of Llangewydd in the sixteenth century, the following account is given of the origin
and progress
of letters
Pray,
how was
my
skilful
and
discreet
the knowledge of letters
first
if
it
be
fair
to ask,
obtained
men
wisdom and profound When God pronounced His name, with the word
will exhibit the information of
knowledge, thus
teacher, of
was no life except God And the mode in which it was spoken was of God's Himself. His name was pronounced and with the utterance was direction. and vitality, and man, and every other living the springing thing that is to say, each and all sprang together. And Menw, of intellect and the Aged, son of Menwyd (meaning happiness, the mind or the soul, derived an active principle), beheld the springing of the light and its form and appearance, of not otherwise than thus, /^ in three columns, and in light the vocalisation for one were the hearing and seeing, one and one unitedly with the form and unitedly the form and sound was power, and one unitedly with sound was life And since each of these was one unitedly, which power was God. he understood that every voice, and hearing, and living, and being, sprang the light of
life
for previously there
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM and
sight,
and
seeing,
were one unitedly with God
than God.
least
hearing the voice
And by
33
nor
is
the
seeing the form, and in
it
he knew what form and appearhaving obtained earth under him
not otherwise
ance voice should have.
And
co-instantaneously with the light, he drew the form of the voice
And
was on hearing the sound of the voice, which had in it the kind and utterance of three notes, that he obtained the three letters, and knew the sign that was suitable Thus he made in form and sign the to one and other of them. Name of God, after the semblance of rays of light, and perceived one also with that they were the figure and form and sign of life that is to say, God is one with them was life, and in life was God life, and there is no life but God, and there is no God but life. It was from the understanding thus obtained in respect of this voice, that he was able to assimilate mutually every other voice letter suitable to kind, quality, and reason, and could make the utterance of every sound and voice. Thus were obtained the And it was from the three Cymraeg and every othe language primary letters that was constructed every other letter which is the principal secret of the Bards of the Isle of Britain, and from this letters that is possible. secret comes every knowledge was heard placed on record in the Thus was the the sense symbol and meaning attached to each of the three notes to the second or the sense of was given the first column of middle column and the sense of to the third, whence the word OIV. it was by means of this word that God declared That is eternity, and universality. ower His existence, life, know edge And in the declaration was His love, that is, co-instantaneously with it sprang Uke lightning all the universe into life and existence vocally and co-jubilantly with name of God, in one united song of exultation and joy then all the worlds to the extremity of Annwn. It was thus, then, that God made the worlds, namely, He declared His Name and Existence /|\ 01 v" Why is it not right that man should commit the Name Q. of God to vocalisation and the sound of language and tongue A. Because it cannot be done without misnaming God, for no man ever heard the vocaHzation of His Name, and no one knows how to pronounce it but represented by letters, that it may Formerly signs be known what is meant, and for whom it stands. Howwere employed, namely, the three elements of vocal letters. Bard is forbidden ever, to prevent disrespect and dishonour to God, to name Him, except inwardly and in thought." and
light
on the earth.
it
DRUIDISM
34
In the lolo MS. the following occurs Q.
A.
word all and life
When
were the three
letters
formed
God, in vocalising His Name, said ^l^ and with words and animations sprang co-instantaneously into being from their non-existence shouting in ecstasy of joy -1^
name
Immediately with the utterance was light, and in the light the form of the name in three voices thrice uttered co-vocaUy, co-instantaneously, and in the vision three forms, and they were the figure and form of the light, and together with the utterance, and the figure and form of that combination of utterance were the three first letters, and from their three utterances were formed by letter aU other utterances thus repeatin
The
inspirer of
th
Caesar's
of
account of Druidism
is
acknowledged to
have been Divitiacus, the Arch-Druid at the time of the Roman Invasion, and the intimate of Csesar and Cicero. Discretion must, however, be exercised in accepting as authentic all the statements made by Caesar as to Druidical belief and worship, for reasons that will be apparent and, fortunately, he is not the only source of information. It was quite impossible for Caesar, during the short period of time he was on the rese rch, if, indeed, he island, to conduct any personal investigation had been permitted to do so frequently, and the meagreness and occasionally proved inaccuracy of his statements have more than once provoked comment. He states emphatically that the Druids worshipped Mercury, which has led some writers the statecommit themselves ment that Mercury was the principal British Deitv. In all probability Caesar had observed among the Druidical symbols and emblems the winged rod with the serpents entwined around it, which, in Rome, was one of the emblems which adorned the statues of Mercury. This emblem may be found engraved in conspicuous characters upon Druidical remains on the plainsofAvebury, in Wiltshire, as well as in the Thebais of ancient Mercury, according to some authorities, is identical with the Egypt. venerawoman-man." The Druids had also Celtic name, Merch-ur, which they regarded as symbolical of truth, because it tion for way it was turned. This, presented the same appearance whicheve again, was one of the symbols of Mercury, and this fact is also mentioned proof of the affinity claimed to exist between Druidwriters as According to Caesar, the Druids represented ism and Freemasonry. Mercury as the inventor of all the arts. Hercules was regarded as the patron of eloquence, arts, and commerce, but they called him Ogimus, One the power of eloquence." word which has for its meaning, is not mentioned by Caesar, yet it was assigned a. emblem very important place
in the Druidical ceremonial.
THE CREED Helvetia Antiqua
gives the following
Taut
Hesus
et
Nova,
list
35
work published
in the sixteenth century,
of Druidical deities or divinities
Theutates, or
and Penninus. Theutates, or Taut, is asserted to have been the chief God, or Universal Father. Apparently, he combined the attributes of Jupiter with those of Mercur)', as he is said to have been the inventor of arts and to have acted as guide to travellers. The word taut is still preserved lofty rock near Montreux, thought by in Switzerland, and is given to some to be one of the sites of ancient Druidical worship. In this connection it may be remembered that tout in some parts of England is stiU the
name given
Taranis
Belinus
Cisa
The invention of writing has been attributed by legend to Taut, who was identical with the Baal Hermon worshipped in Sidon and the adjacent country. The name Tat or Teth was well known to the ancient Irish. Tat is the same This point as the Hindoo Tat or Datta and the Egyptian Thoth or Taut. is established, not merely by the identity of title, but by coincidence of an arbitrary nature. The first month of the Egyptians, which commenced on the calends of August, was called Thoth, in honour of the deity of that name and the first day of August was, for similar reason,
to the
called
gh
by the
over the harvest.
He was
oint in
Tat.
range of
hills.
This god was supposed to preside
akin to the agricultural Jupiter, Bacchus,
and Deo-Naush or, as the prototype of all those kindred divinities, Noah, the husbandman. Hesus, the strong and powerful, was the representative of Mars, the god of war, carnage, and bloodshed. In the German patois of Switzerland, Hees still means Some violent and quarrelsome person. writers have stated that this divinity was pictured with the head of dog. If so, it is probably identical with the barking Anubis of Egyptian mythology, who was claimed to be the son of Osiris and Nepthys, and to have had the nature and characteristics of This divinity had the special guardianship of the tropics. According to the Welsh triads, Heus, or Hesus, brought the people of Cymry into this isle from the Osiris,
summer country North
Sea).
called Defrobanni, over the
Davies
Celtic Researches, says that
explains the situation of Defrobanni as
now
stands."
Hazy Sea
of Fairies (the
one commentator
that on which Constantinople
As, or Aes, the British Heus,
is
preserved in
the
name
towns Aswardby and Asgardby. One writer says that Jehovah came from Aes, or Heus, subordinate god god of the Celts; As being of the Celtic Dhia, name for the Supreme Being, and identical with the Hebrew Jah, the Latin Deus being derived from the same word. Another maintains that the name Hesus comes from the Syrian Hizzus, or Haziz, signifying strong and powerful in war." In the latter part of 1859, curious discovery was made near Lille of the
DRUIDISM
36
by workmen engaged in cutting trenches for new fortifications. In removing the soil they laid bare stone tumulus, which, instead of bones, contained
block of stone, covered with inscriptions, which indicated
was an altar used by the Druids in their sacrifices. The names Hesus and Theutates were perfectly legible upon it. Near the stone, sacred golden knife, as used by the Druids for cutting the mistletoe, was that
it
also found.
The
inscriptions on the stone corroborate the fact already
known, that human
sacrifices
were made by Druids
in times of national
was placed in the museum at Lille. Taranus is word derived from taran, thunder, and is identical with the Jupiter of Greece and Rome and the Thor of northern nations. Belinus, known in Old Testament times as Baal, is identical with Apollo, the god of the sun. wood in the neighbourhood of Lausanne is still known as Sauvebelin, viz., Sylvia Bellini, and traces of the name
The
calamity.
knife
are to be found in title
of
many
Ham, whose
parts of England.
Belus
is
also
Babylonish
descendants include the Cuthites and Cadmians.
Both were zealous adorers
sun and addicted to rites of fire. They were men of superior stature, adepts in every branch of science, and particularly
were the
famed
first
for their skill in
astronomy.
Tradition savs that they
navigators of the sea, and the division of time with the
notification of the seasons all
of the
is
these arts took their rise
ascribed to them.
According to Herodotus, in Babylonia, whence they were carried into
Egypt, and from Egypt westward into other countries.
Elius Schedius,
book De Diis Gfrmanorum, imagines that he found in the name Belenus the 365 days of the year, in like manner as the Basilideans forerly foun them in Abrazas and Mithras, thus
in his
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM Anaculios (September)
37
DRUIDISM
38
who
Welsh princes. Cuhclyn, Bard of the sixth century, the goddess of the various seeds," refers to her as Ogyrven Ahmad, or and from this and other similar references, some authorities have conlived under the
nected her with the goddess Ceres, or Demeter.
was named Movrah. or
Ceridwen's first-born
the raven of the sea."
Antiquity furnishes us with several eminent
men
of the
name
of
There was Hierocles, the brother of Menecles, the Another was cited by first of the Asiatic orators in the time of Cicero. Stephanus, who wrote of the most remarkable things he had seen and
Hu, or
Hierocles.
speaks of
nation of Hyperboreans,
people addicted to philosophy, and
manner of flesh. The third Hu Gadarn, or Hierocles the Mighty, is said by lolo Goch to have been Emperor of Constantinople, to plough and to eat no bread but from corn of his own have This may have been Hierocles, the Grammarian, who wrote raising. treatise on the Empire of Constantinople. The triads that relate to Hu Gadarn, or Hu the Mighty, are seven We learn from them in number and six contain distinct notices of him. of floods, so that the lake that he drew to land the crocodile of and the names of these oxen, we are informed, were burst out no more Then the patriarch appears before us as the great Neinio and Peibis. benefactor of the Cymry, whom he is recorded to have instructed in the useful arts of agriculture, before their arrival in Britain, when they were conducted by him, and while they remained in the summer country, ancient commentator has described to be that part of the East now called Constantinople. Then he divided the people into various He is said also to unanimity of action. tribes, but directing them to have been the first to adopt vocal song to the preservation of memorial and invention and thereby contributed to the foundation of Bardism. Hu, or the aspirated U, was anciently employed to denote the Supreme
who
ate no
Being.
As an outcome
of the British tradition of the Deluge,
the Druids
consecrated certain lakes as symbols of the event, and looked upon the small islands which rose to the surface as mystical sanctuaries, because rock, when discovered, was hailed as they were emblems of the ark. typifying the place of debarkation of Hu the Mighty, and here, on
Druids of the Circle," would be celebrated by the or the Druids of high or advanced degree, certain mystical rites believed to be in commemoration of the salvation of the race from the waters of great part of the north of tradition that The Irish have the flood. Ireland was swallowed up by an inundation of the sea, but that the submerged regions often arise out of the waves and become visible to strong those who unite together th two indispensable qualifications of These regions are sometimes esteemed an strong faith. sight and certai
occasions,
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM enchanted
paradisiacal
island
and
at
other times
39 are
described
as
wonderful city floating upon the waves. Traditions of the submersion of cities beneath the various lakes of the country are
still
current throughout the whole of Wales.
Camden mentions
The anno-
names of no fewer than si akes in which One of these is ancient cities are reported to have been submerged. Some of the incidents, as related by Llyn Savaddan in Brecknockshire. an old man in the town of Hay, are thus narrated by Davies large The site of the present lake was formerly occupied by tator of
city
the
but the inhabitants were reported to be very wicked.
The
king of the country sent his servant to examine into the truth of the
rumour, adding
threat that, in case
should prove to be well-
it
founded, he would destroy the place as an example to his other subjects. The minister arrived at the town in the evening. All the
inhabitants
in
riotous
festivity
and wallowing
them regarded the stranger, or offered him mean the rites of hospitality. At last he saw the open door of habitation, into which he entered. The family had deserted it to in excess.
Not one
of
repair to the scene of tumult, all but one infant, in
the cradle.
The
roya
favourit
sat
down by
who
lay weeping
the side
was grieved at the thought that he, too, must perish in the destruction of his abandoned neighbours. In this situation the stranger passed the night, and whilst he was diverting the child, he accidentally dropped his glove into the cradle. The next morning he departed before it was light to He had but just left the carry his melancholy tidings to the king. tremendous crack of town, when he heard noise behind him like cradle, soothed the little innocent,
thunder, mixed with dismal shrieks and lamentations.
stopped
then sounded like the dashing of waves, and presently was dead silence. He could not see what had happened, as it
to Hsten. all
He
It
was dark, and he pursued his
so he no incHnation to return into the city journey until sunrise. The morning was cold. He felt
searched for his gloves, and, finding but one of
presently
where he had left the other. These gloves had been present to him from his sovereign. He determined to return for that which he had left behind. When he was come near to the town, he observed with surprise that none of the buildings presented themselves to his view as on the preceding day. He advanced few steps. lake. The whole plain was covered with little spot was gazing at this novel and terrific scene, he remarked in the middle of the water. The wind gently wafted it towards the bank where he stood. As it drew near he recognisd the identical recollected
cradle in which he
had
left
his glove.
His joy on receiving this
DRUIDISM
40
pledge of royal favour was only heightened by the discover the
had reached the shore alive and the king, and told him that this
object of his compassion
little
He
unhurt.
that
carried the
he had been able to save out of that wretched place." The greatest similarity among Deluge legends to the Druidical is, perhaps, that of the Incas, who believed that no living thing survived
was
all
woman, who were preserved from the flood by being Then the Creator began to raise up peoples and box.
man and
except
enclosed in
nations by making clay figures with the kind of garments they were to He then gave life and soul to each, and commanded them to wear.
The
multiply.
first of
became objects
each nation were transformed into stones, which In some parts of Peru there are great
of adoration.
blocks of stone, some of which are nearly the size of giants.
The following is said to have been the Druidical The inundation will surround us, the Yet complete
(the ship-goddess Ceridwen).
is
Hymn of
my
Neither disorder nor age wiU oppress him that
known
Manawya [Menu-Ida,
to
the Arkite or
Pryderi [Wisdom, or Intellect,
priests
chair in Caer Sidi.
is
within
round
the currents of the is
It is
it.
mundane Menu] and
the Greek nous, the Sanscrit menu, and that three loud strains round the
Ked
of
Noah, and equivalent to
of
title
the Deluge
or mcnes"],
whilst wiU be sung before it borders and the copious fountain
fire
its
sweeter than delicious
open from above, the liquor within
wine.
thou proprietor of heaven and earth, to whom great wisdom holy sanctuar there is on the surface of is attributed, May its chief be jovful in the splendid festival and at the time when the sea
with expanding energy.
rises
the billows
come beyond the green spot from the region
holy sanctuary there
Erbin
this let
is
on the wide lake,
the sea surrounds
with walls
what
thy ox be stationed.
Holy are
its
They
will not associate in the
there
is
it
is
city not protected
Before the lake of the son of
holy sanctuary there
inhabitants
bonds
in
preserving
of Pollution.
is
upon the
themselves.
holy sanctuary
rendered complete by the rehearsal, the hymn, and
the birds of the mountain.
and
of the Picts.
Demandest thou,
it.
can be meetly appHed
ninth wave.
festival
surge
and on the day when
mead
Bards over their
assail the
Frequently
my
Smooth
are
its
lays in its periodical
lord [the hierophant, or one initiated into
the
Mysteries] duly observant of the splendid mover [the sun], before
he entered his earthly
and wine out within the gulf
of the
cell in
the border of the
deep crystal cup.
there every one
is
circle,
gave
me mead
holy sanctuary there
is
kindly presented with his portion.
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM holy sanctuar\- there
with
is
Gallo-Arkite Noah] are the
The
first
Prydain [Hu, the anxious regard should
writings of
objects of
would again,
the waves disturb their foundation
conceal them deep in the
Ked
productions of the vessels of
its
cauldron of inspiration].
[the
41
holy sanctuary there
cell.
necessary,
if
upon the
is
there shall every one be kindly presented with
margin of the flood his wishes.
Disturbed
the island of the praise of
is
[Noah]
remunerator
severe
Mona
even
Hu, the the
of
island of the
generous
bowls
which animate vigour, the island whose barrier is the Mena [the firth between Anglesea and Wales, ed from Menu]. Deplorable is
the fate of the ark of
is
perceived that ther
hour of perturbation.
Aeddon
[or Adonis,
neithe has been nor will be his equal in
When Aeddon came from
into Seon of the strong door [the Ark], for
His contemporaries
magic wand,
set the
Gwydion and Amaethon
there
was
Hu] may being the
the
the
severe
dragon
of the
form irresistible. chosen rank was not overthe island of the praise of Hu,
is
Before
Buddwas
Cymry remain
the proprietor,
chief,
consume
shall
of counsel to impress
inspector.
community
What
Britain.
The
of
severe.
prevalent form,
Thus the mighty combination whelmed by the sea. Disturbed island
yet
itself
but in the living
elements
the front of his shield with
the
pure poison diffused as
the
Gwydion
the land of
season was
the
it
The woods afforded them no shelter, when skirts. Then Math and Eunydd, masters
fell.
the winds arose in their of the
whilst
successive nights,
four
Hu], since
title of
ruler
the of
[a
title
he
in tranquillity
rightful
the
claimant,
illustrious
of in
circle
four damsels, having ended their lamentation, have performed
their last office.
But the
just ones toiled
no land, long did they dwell did not endure the extremity of
Am
foe.
presents
Plougher
Have
with the aid of
Have
my
who
darkness to him, not
integrity distress.
my
friends
Am
my
not
it
sea,
which had
was, that they
My
not called Gorlassar, the ethereal
rainbow enveloping
Am
on the
belt has
protecting
form at both ends
not protected
my
been
prince in
of the hive
sanctuary, and
caused the wrathful ones to vanish
not shed the blood of the indignant in bold warfare against
the sons of the giant
Nur
Have not
imparted of
my
guardian
give Did not re en ou swor Did not to Henpen the of the enchanter perform the rites of purification, when Hearndor [1.^., Iron-door, was title of the ark] moved with toil to the top of the hill subjected to the yoke for my affliction but commensurate was my
power
ninth portion in the prowess of Arthur
DRUIDISM
42
the world had no existence, were
confidence
Hu
Privileged on the covered mount,
has
Deon
my
representing
thy bardic
son,
has recited
voice
world
the
my
progeny.
thy deputy,
of
father
mound
where the
death-song,
constructed
is
not for
with the expanded wings,
proclaimer, the
it
stone-work.
Let
the
countenance of Prydain, let the glancing Hu, attend to me. The birds of wrath securely went to Mona to demand sudden but the goddess of the silver wheel of shower of the sorceress auspicious mien, sadness, in
dawn
the
behalf
the
of
of
serenity,
Britons,
the greatest
restrainer of
speedily threw round
his
hall
stream which scares away violence from the earth, and causes the bane of its former state round the The books of the ruler of the mount circle of the world to subside. the stream of the rainbow
The
record no falsehood. till
the doom, shall
Hu
was described by
it
chair of th
preserve
remains here
and,
continue in Europe." lolo Goch,
Bard,
who wrote
in the
fourteenth century, in the following language
King, Hu, the Mighty, the Sovereign, the Ready Protector, the Giver of Wine and Renown, the Emperor of the Land and the After the Seas, and the Life of all that are in the world was he. Deluge he held the strong-beamed plough, active and excellent this did our Lord's stimulating genius that he might show to the proud to the humble wise, the art which was most approved nor is the sentiment false." by th Faithful Father
Another poet has written
The mighty Hu, who lived for Of mead and wine to men the The emperor of land and sea,
And
ever. giver,
of all things that living be,
plough with his good hand, Did hold Soon as the Deluge left the land. To show to men both strong and weak, The haughty-hearted and the meek. heaven below Of all the The noblest is to guide the plough."
Ceridwen is described by the Bards who lived under the Welsh princes as having presided over the most hidden mysteries of the religion, personage from whom also the secrets of the priesthood were to and They also intimate that it was be obtained in purity and perfection. requisite for those who aspired to the chair of presidency to have tasted the waters of inspiration from
cauldron
or, in
other words.
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM have been
to
initiated
fully
43
and completely into the mysteries over
which she presided. Druidical behef that water was the first principle of all It was things and existed before the creation of the world in unsullied purity, the but that its qualities deteriorated when it became
Water was venerated,
earth.
by
its
therefore, because
afforded
it
symbol,
inexhaustible resources, of the continuous and successive benefits
bestowed upon the human race and because of the mystical sympathy The air was existing between the soul of man and the purity of water. regarded as the residence of beings of
than humans, and
was looked upon
fire
action at the creation. fire
deity,
and one
more
refined
and
spiritual nature
vital principle
as
Ceres, the goddess of agriculture,
of her early
names was Cura,
brought into
was
title
originally
of the sun.
th st rage In her towers the sacred fires were perpetually kept alight According to Strabo and secondary use made of them. of corn was custom, which Pliny, fire rites were practised in ancient Latium, and
ceremony in remained even to the time of Augustus, consisted of This which the priests used to walk barefooted over burning coals. city stood at the foot of Mount Soracte, sacred to Apollo, and the priests were styled Hirpi. The earth was venerated by the Druids because it was the mother of mankind, and particular honour was paid to trees proof of the immense productive power of the because they afforded
For many centuries the Druids refused to construct enclosed Deity could be temples, regarding it as an outrage to suggest confined within any Hmits, and the vault of the sky and the depths of earth.
the forest were originally their only sanctuary.
In Druidical lore the clouds were composed of the souls of
who had
men
and their influence either Their souls inspired courage or struck terror into armies and people. were capable of terrif)ing mortals with bowlings, cries, apparitions, and luminous phantoms. Their agency was seen in dreams and nightmares. They vainly endeavoured to soar above the tmosph re bu an irresistible force impeded their flight into the purer spheres where they new body was formed. Not having attained that high waited until purity which would unite them to the sun, they were compelled to wander in the form of various birds, animals, and fishes, or, as they said, Millions of higher creatures that peopled the air, earth, and seas." have occupied vast ice-planes in the moon, where they recently quitted their earthly abode,
lost all perception, save that of simple existence.
kind of
life
they had lived, but on bridges,
by eclipses, they returned from the sun, they began
or tunnels caused particle of light
consisted of an assemblage of pure souls
or,
They
more
forgot even the
correctly,
tubes
to earth where, revived
new
floating
life
career.
on an ocean
by
The sun of bliss."
DRUIDISM
44
This glorious orb contained the souls of good, brave and wise people who had been the friends and defenders of mankind. These souls, when thrice purified in the sun, ascended to
still
higher spheres,
again descend to those stars which occupied
from which they less
succession of
Souls sullied by earthly impurities were refined
pure atmosphere.
evil was worn by repeated changes and probations until the last stain higher away, and they were ultimately ripened for immortal bhss in vehicle for carrying to Paradise meteor was supposed to be sphere. Even to the present day the appearance the soul of some departed Druid. falling stars," creates meteor, or what are called ball of fire, of belief that some illustrious among the more credulous Highlanders Dreug is the GaeHc spirit has taken its flight into the great Beyond. contraction of meteor," and is supposed by Dr. Smith to be for
Druid's death."
Druidh-eug or
Nid Dim ond bold and remarkable aphorism The Druids had God cannot be matter and what is not matter Duw, nid Duzv ond Dim must be God." They taught that the world was to be of permanent succession of violent revolutions, which woidd duration, but subject to be produced, sometimes by the predominating power of the elements of succession of The doctrine of water, and sometimes by that of fire. worlds and of continuous incarnations was held also by the Mexicans,
who
doubtless brought
it
out of Eastern Asia.
was Druidical doctrine which the Druids only permitted to be pubHshed which they teach There is one thing," he said, for poHtical reasons. their disciples, which hath been made known to the common people, in order to render them more brave and fearless, namely, that souls are
Pomponius Mela
tells
us that the
immortahty
of
the soul
immortal and that there is another life after the present." They held also to the belief that communication with the departed by the living
was
possible
and
really took place.
The
precise character of this after-
Some have has been the occasion of debate between some writers. held that the Druidical belief in life after death involved the tenet of life
transmigration, similar to the Buddhistic, but differing from the Theothat is to say, they believed in the possibility of the sophical beHef
descent of the
human
into the animal species.
Forth they
And
immortal
other bodies in
Thus
And
fly
life
in
Lucan wrote
kind.
new worlds they
find
for ever runs its endless race.
death but divides the space. Thrice happy they beneath their northern skies. Who that worst fear the fear of death despise. like
line
Hence they no
cares for this frail being feel.
THE CREED
45
But rush undaunted on the pointed steel Provoke approachin deat and bravely scorn To spare that life which must so soon return." the souls of men are Diodorus Siculus says that they held that undying, and after completing their term of existence they pass into
Edward Williams
another body." psychosis
God
to
is
that which, of
men,
is
all
others,
countenanced by
by many,
metemvindicates the ways of
declares that this doctrine of
most clearly
many
passages in the
New
Testament,
by th Essene In Irish tradition. Find MacCumall, the at least, among the Jews. celebrated Irish hero, is described as being killed at th Battle of D'Athbrea in A.D. 273, and being reborn in a.d. 601, and again later still as King believed in
of Ireland.
if
not
all,
the early Christians, and
D'Arbois de Jubainville states that the
belief in reincarnation
Long before our era, Eochaid went back to ancien time in Ireland. Airem, supreme King of Ireland, espoused Elain, daughter of Etar. Elain had several centuries before been born in Celtic lands as Aihill, wife of Mider, and she was deified after her death. The Celtic doctrine, after being lost for centuries, made its reappearance in modern France, where it was reconstructed and sustained by pleiades of brilliant Charles Bonnet, Dupont de Nemours, Ballanche, Jean Reynaud, writers Henri Martin, Pierre Larouy, Victor Hugo, Flammarion, many others.
The Druids
pparently, were
maintaining that the soul began
its
believers
in
kind of evolution,
course in the lowest water animalculse
and passed through several successive graduated bodies until it reached the human species. This belief laid restraint upon them in their choice of animals for food, and though no restriction was placed upon the choice of animals for sacrifice, they abstained from killing for domestic purposes all animals except those which might directly or indirectly eventually cause the death of man. According to some writers, the Druids believed that the whole of the animated creation was in state of gradual transmigration from the animal to the human, but that the soul was immortal and must be perfected for higher state of existence. In the human state it was in condition of liberty, good and evil being held to be equall
balanced
Some
writers maintain that, at death,
if
the good qualities preponderated over the evil, the soul would pass into
Gwynvyd,
or the state of bUss, but that
if
the evil qualities preponderated,
then the soul would pass into an animal displaying the characteristics exhibited by the
human
being while on earth, though
further opportunities of re-ascent to the lation to
Gwynvyd, even though repeated
human and falls
it
would have
of ultimate trans-
should postpone the latter
Other writers, again, have maintained Druids endeavoured to persuade their followers that death was but an interlude
step for ages.
DRUIDISM
46 to
succession of progressive
human
other world the soul would find
and so onwards
in
existences,
new body and
an innumerable cycle
and that
another
live
of Uves.
It
in this or
some
human
life,
seems very probable
by the Druids, particularly when it is remembered that one of their maxims was that money lent in this world would be repaid by th individual in the next, and that they also believed that letters given to dying persons or thrown upon the funeral pyre would be faithfully delivered in the next world. that
really the belief held
Like money by the Druids borrowed In t'other world to be restored."
Hudibras.
In some
way
the fear of death was removed, and the people were instilled
Cornish saying of the and warfare. There is Ni Jhuil an sablas athraghadh death, present day which runs there is change or alteration of life." nothing in death but the Jean Brantius, in his Commentary on Julius Ccssar,
with courage
in
battle
Druids did not believe that the soul of
rational bein
be
coul
and debased, so pass from the body of man into brute beast, and Escalopier and Brucker maintain the same opinion. D'Arbois de Jubainville, in The Irish Mythological Circle, says If the Celtic theories on the survival of the personality after death resemble somewhat those of Pythagoras, they are not, howIn the system of the Greek philosopher, to be born ever, identical. again and to lead one or more new lives in this world, in the bodies of animals or of men, is the punishment and common lot of the wicked
thus that they expiate their faults.
The
souls of the
encumbered with body pure spirits, they the atmosphere around, free, happy, immortal.
just are not
Quite other
is
the Celtic doctrine.
To be born
live
in
again in this
new body has been the privilege of two heroes, Tuan mac Cairill, called at first Tuan mac Stairn, and Mongan, known in the first existence as Find mac Cumaill. For them it was privilege and not punishment. The common law, according to Celtic doctrine, was, that after death men find in anothe worl the new life and new body which their religion holds out to them. This new life is continuation of that led in with all its ups and downs, all the social relations that are incident to it. The dead chief's favourite slaves and dependents are burned with him on his world, and to put on
they followed their master tomb, along with his chariot horses into the other world to continue the services they rendered him in this.
The debtor who
dies without
find himself in the other
having acquitted
his
debt will
world in exactly the same position towards
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
47
His obligations will follow him into the land of the dead, and he wiU have to fulfil aU engagements he contracted in the his creditor.
land of the Uving.
The
did not conceive of the other
Celt, then,
life
as
com-
which one suffers here, or as place of punishment for those who have abused the pleasures of this world. The life of the dead in the mysterious region beyond the ocean is for each pensation for the
ills
continuation of that led here."
The Druidica
with regard to the persistence of
teaching
been summarised in the following
life
have
lines
Let no mean thoughts of dissolution fright,
Or damp your spirits with the dews of night The soul's immortal and can never die Then death and aU his dreadful Another world is ready to receive Immortal souls that earthly bodies leave
To
dust the perishable part
But at the grave eternal
And
in virtue's paths
if
In heavenly mansions
return,
spirits spurn.
they trod below.
'tis
glow
their fate to
by vice enslav'd, their doom's to roam Without heavenly or an earthly home." But,
Lucan,
fifty
if
years after Christ,
and
after
the withdrawal of the
Romans, thus addressed the Druids
And
yc,
ye Druids, now
once more your barbaric is
rites
your dwelling
From you we
forest.
learn
the senseless grave, nor
another world his
is
removed, begin
To you only
and weird solemnities.
given knowledge, or ignorance, whichever
the power of heaven
is
sword
is
in
it
be
of the
gods and
the laire heart of the
bourne of man's ghost is not pale realm of the below in
spirit survives still
but the passage to enduring
death,
if
your
lore be true,
life."
Several writers assert that in combats with the Romans, the Druids
remained immobile
receiving their
ue
wounds without
fleeing or
They knew themselves immortal, and counted another world new and always young body.
defending themselves.
on finding
in
In Martini Hamconii's Frisia seu de viris rebusque Frisia illustribus,
published in
1620,
it
Druidum, who lived
is
in
set
forth
Holland
that
in
Barco, Pontifex seu Prcefectus century,
wrote on the
immortality of the soul, and that another Dutchman, Poppa, distinguished heathen
author of the eighth century,"
other works, the treatises
Dg
officiis
Druidum and De
left,
the most
along with
ritu sacrificorum.
DRUIDISM
48 also that Occo,
ferocious fellow," the last of the Frisian Druids, wrote
on the doctrines and lives of the chief Druidical priests. These books, however, are not available in England, and are referred to in the barest terms in Sedan's Selecta Litteraria, which was printed at Lubec in 1726. The Druids, it is ascertained from these and other works, apart from any speculation as to their belief or dis-belief in the doctrine of reincarnation,
were non-believers that
state
infliction of
of
such
of eternal
in
punishment, maintaining
punishment is in itself impossible, punishment is the only act which the
eternal
and the
commit."
They, however, taught that the punishment of the wicked after death might be cancelled or lessened by sacrifices to the Supreme Deity, and they accordingly offered up black sheep for the
departed.
the
Lucan wrote If
dying mortals'
No No
doom they
sing aright,
ghosts descend to dwell in dreadful night. parting souls to grisly Pluto go,
Nor seek the dreary The Druids
believed in
silent
shades below."
three circles of existence
the
Circle
of
which was traversed only by God the Circle of Felicity, sometimes called Gwynvyd, or Happiness, through which men have to travel after they have passed through their terrestrial changes and the Circle of Abred, or Evil, through which humans pass in their varjang states of existence, necessary to be undergone before they are fit to inhabit the Circle of Felicity. In the third circle, man began in the lower state mixture of good and evil, of which man of existence, which contained could make his choice or balance his propensities. Thence man passed through the Gate of Mortality, into the Circle of Happiness, where there want nor adversity, sorrow nor death. If there he would be permitted evil affections and passions to govern him, he would sink from the Circle of Happiness, and Death would return him to the lower circle, where he would suffer punishment in proportion to his offences, the soul beast or reptile, or in several of these doing penance in the form of From this degradation the soul would successively. arise and resume human form, until repeated probations and corrections would ultimately subdue all evil propensities. Such is th generall accepted statement of the Druidical belief in life after death as expounded by Infinity,
the principal authorities.
Another topic which has formed the subject of much debate is the question as to whether human sacrifices were offered by the Druids, although it seems scarcely open to question in view of the categorical statement of Caesar. Divitiacus is scarcely likely to have consented to the publication of the statement
if
it
had not been accurate.
Possibly,
The
Dniids.
or the conversion of the
Britons
to
Christianity
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
49
may be found in human sacrifices was
however, the explanation of the divergent view assertion of
some
practice of
writers
pre-Druidic custom.
perpetuation of mystical power of
human
the
the
Superstitions connected with the
sacrifices are of
scytho-medique
Doubt-
origin.
human victims to superior persons or This powers comes from an instinct common to all primitive people. barbarous custom is found among the yellow tribes of America, the Humanity has black tribes of Africa, as well as among the Gauls.
less,
the practice of immolating
greater or lesser pronounced degree, the
everywhere, in
same native
no doubt but that the practice must be admitted always remembering, however, that it was not peculiar to the Druids, Greeks and Romans, amongst others, had their sacrifices of and impossible to deny, after men and women. Bertrand says that that human sacrifices, up to the time of the close examination Roman Conquest, were very popular and were regarded as an ordinary He also arrives at the practice in several parts of Gaul and Germany. conclusion that they were established in Gaul anterior to the introduction It is doubtful, however, whether these of Druidism in that country. instincts.
sacrifices
Ther
seem
The
took place in the vicinity of the temples.
religion of the
Druids, apart from this custom, seems to have been spiritual and refined,
without statues, enclosed temples, and the their
netnus,
the
chaste
like.
Tacitus calls one of
wood."
Chastity
implies
writer as Tacitus freedom from every kind of pollution, and so exact grove stained chaste to would scarcely have applied the epithet with human gore. These Druidical sacrifices appear, however, to have been legal executions, and an interval of five years generally elapsed between
sentence and execution. of the
There
is
no evidence
Druids consisted of aught save the
to criminals
but
it
is
human
sacrifices
punishment meted out
necessary to observe that, according to Bardic
law, even murderers seldom expiated their crimes with death,
when
these wer
except
proved to be premeditated and perpetrated deliberately,
and the victims subjected to ill-usage and cruelty before being despatched. The Bardic teaching was that man having been guilty of crimes that are punishable with death must be so punished and, by giving himself man does voluntary victim, being conscious of deserving death, up as power to expiate his crimes." all that is There is no proof that the Druids ever offered sacrifices in the sense of substitution or atonement. Although some writers have ventured to censure the Druids for their alleged inhumanity in regard to this practice, they have never brought the charge of immorality, either in public or private, against the Druids, and it is generally admitted by all writers that no obscene or improper language was permitted in the
DRUIDISM
50
The candidates, indeed, were for ever disgraced if they uttered one word of unseemly import." It is also worthy of note that Druidism was free from that spirit of intolerance which has marred other faiths, and there is no record of any Christian missionary undergoing martyrdom at the hands of the They are of much sincerity and Diodorus said of them Druids. celebration of the Druidical rites and mysteries.
and knavery of men amongst us contented with homely fare, strangers to excess and luxury," while Strabo states that they were remarkable for justice, moral and religious doctrines. integrity, far
Some
from the
craft
writers maintain that
human
were offered only on solemn occasions, such as when the people feared famine, when they were hard pressed by the enemy, or when they were about to enter on some arduous undertaking. It was then that they sacrificed malefactors, felons, or captives of war.
sacrifices
The Druids believed that those who
killed
themselves to accompany their friends into the next world would
live
with them there, so that there was no lack of victims who, in time of trouble, came forward as volunteers to submit to deat with this object Eager to rejoin their dear departed in the happier sphere, eager in view. to ascend into the Circle of Felicity, the Celts
mounted gladly th
sacrificial
and death came to them in the midst of song of joy. The old life for hfe Mosaic law of was also required by the laws of Cymry, and the capital punishment inflicted by the executioner was regarded as the requital of the debt due to God and man. The object of the sacrifices was to remit to an offended Deity reprobate spirit to suffer the judgment of heaven. According to the laws of Dyonwal Moelmund, the three forms of capital punishment practised in Britain, were beheading, hanging, and burning. It is possible that the practice of burning was derived from Phoenicia, where the annual sacrifice of human beings by fire, which was part of the worship of Moloch, may have given rise to the custom of burning malefactors and prisoners taken in war, and other immolations in vogue amongst the Druids. stone,
Dr. Milner, in his History of Winchester, says that at Douay and Dunkirk, there was an immemorial custom of constructing huge figures
wickerwork and canvas that were filled with men and women and giant who was killed by their patron saint. moved about to represent Columba, when beginning the erection church at lona, addressed of
point clearly to
his followers in
good
for us that
sacrifice
our roots should go under the earth here
that one of you should go under
The
human
Odran
of this
It is
permitted hallow
it."
and said If thou shouldst am ready for that." Columba readily accepted the offer, take me, Odran went to heaven, and Columba founded the church of Hi. Adamnan story runs that
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
51
mentions that the church founded by Columba was
The Romans
human
Duirthcch, or oak
issued stringent laws forbidding the retention of the
by no means free from the guilt of such practices themselves, even in their most civiHzed ages. by an ancient law of Romulus, Adam, in his Roman Antiquities, practice of
although
sacrifices,
such as treachery or sedition,
crimes,
persons guilty of certain
devoted to Pluto and the infernal gods. or praetor might devote
In after times,
himself, but
any
were
consul, dictator,
of the legion,
and slay
In the first ages of the Republic, human an expiatory victim. sacrifices appear to have been offered annually, and it was not until the
him
as
decree of the senate was made to prohibit year of the city 657 that cruel death in the time of Cicero and them. Boys used to be put to
Augustus ordered three hundred senators Horace for magical purposes. and equites, who had sided with Anthony, to be sacrificed on the altar pretext of under of Julius Cassar. Gibbon tells us that abolishing human sacrifices, the Emperors Tiberius and Claudius suppressed the dangerous power of the Druids." The Romans, however, regarded
human
sacrifices as
War
period as the Second Punic
Even
pleasing to the gods.
man was
at so late
buried alive for the purpose
and when the soldiers of Julius Casar attempted an insurrection at Rome, two of them were sacrificed to Mars in the Campius Martius, and their heads were stuck up in the Regia. The Egyptians carried the practice to such monstrous excess, says of conciliating the divine favour
Carte, in his History of England, that, at Heliopolis, they offered every
day three men to Juno,
till
images of wax instead of
Amosis
men
bo is ed th
as the Laodiceans of Syria did in lieu
The
of the virgin they yearly offered to Minerva.
offered their victims to Jove
Ireland
is
custom, substituting aborigines of Italy
and Apollo. writers, particularly d'Arbois de Jubainville,
said
have been free from the taint of human sacrifices, but this is because, wherever possible, all mention of this practice has been suppressed by partial writers. Marcus Keane, in Towers and Temples of Ancient Ireland, to
says
have prevailed
in
of the
Ireland
asserted the fact children at
Meagh
St. Patrick.
also.
and the
custom
Several
Celtic
of
human
writers
sacrifices
upon
having
Ireland
have
Druids are stated to have sacrificed
Sleachth, in Cavan, shortly before the coming of
believe this charge to be an anachronism, so far as
the Druids are concerned, as no such sanguinary rites could have prevailed during the age immediately preceding the introduction of Christianity,
without
receiving
early Christian writers.
some particular
But the
slight
notice
from
the
notices of such sacrificial
DRUIDISM
52
bcHeve to be due to traditions of the
survived,
rites,
antecedent Cuthites."
In the Latin Life of St. Patrick, however, Tara, not only princes and heads and
stated that, on the provinces,
but also the druidum magistri, assembled for the purpose of offering
human
The following poem is found in the Books of The translation Leinster, of Ballymote, of Lecan, and in the Rennes MS. was made by Dr. Kuno Meyer, and it appears as an appendix to Nutt's Voyage of Bran sacrifices to idols.
Here used
to be
high idol with
many
fights.
Which was named the Cromm Cruaich It made every tribe to be without peace. 'Twas sad evil Brave Gaels used to worship it. From it they would not without tribute ask To be satisfied as to their portion of the hard world.
He was
their god.
The withered Cromm with many mists. The people whom he shook over every host, The everlasting kingdom they shall not have.
To him without glory They would kill their piteous, wretched offspring With much wailing and peril, To pour their blood around Cromm Cruaich. Milk and corn
They would ask from him
speedily
In return for one-third of their healthy issue
Great was the horror and the scare of him.
To him Noble
would prostrate themselves. From the worship of him with many manslaughters,
The
Gaels
plain
is
Mag
Slecht.'
There came Tigernmas, the prince of Tara yonder. On Hallowe'en with many hosts, cause of grief to them was the deed.
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
53
They did evil, They beat their palms, they pounded their bodies, Waihng to the demon who enslaved them. They shed falling showers of tears. Dead were
the
men
Of Banba's host, without happy strength, Around Tigernmas, the destructive man in the North,
From
the worship of
for
Cromm
Cruaich
'twas no luck
them.
have learnt. Except one-fourth of the keen Gaels man alive lasting the snare Not Escaped without death in his mouth. For
Around Cromm Cruaich There the hosts would prostrate themselves Though he put them under deadly disgrace, Their
name cHngs
to the noble plain.
In their ranks stood
Four times three stone
idols
To bitterly beguile the hosts. The figure of the Cromm was made
of gold.
Since the rule the noble man of grace. im There was worshipping of stones Until the coming of good Patrick of Macha.
sledge-hammer to the Cromm He appHed from crown to sole.
He
The The animals his funeral in the
destroyed without lack of valour feeble idol
of
same manner
which was there." were
killed
as in
Gaul
on
his
in the
grave at the time of time
improbable that the reUgious instruction of the populace was limited absolutely to the teaching of th doctrine of the immortality of the soul. It is more likely that the Druids followed the practice of the It is
Gymnosophists of India, the Magi of Persia, the Chaldeans of Assyria, and other priests of antiquity, by having two sets of doctrine, one being communicated to the initiated only, admitted after certain ceremonies and rites and sworn to secrecy, and the other taught freely and openly No verses or poems whatsoever relating to the to the uninitiated.
DRUIDISM
54
system or creed were permitted to be issued unless previously examined For this pu pose they were first Gorsedd. and publicly approved at recited
by th
or reciters, in the hearing of aU.
Dageiniaid
Diodorus states that the Britons paid great regard to the exhortations of the Druids, in times of peace, but also in the time of war. step in between two hostile armies, who They sometimes," he says,
drawn and their spears extended, ready eloquence, as by an irresistible enchantment,
are standing with their swords
and, by their
to engage
they prevent an effusion of blood." before
chieftains,
battle, fly
Tacitus also says that
the British
from rank to rank and address the men
with animating speeches tending to inflame their courage, increase their hopes, and dispel their fears."
According to Justin, the Druids eclare ha in times of public calamity the people could not be rid of pestilence or trouble until they
had dipped the gold and
silver
secured to them during
time of war
He gives the following description of this ceremony at the foot of the Gevaudan Many persons resorted to
into
lake.
under the name
mountains, consecrated to the
and thither entire fleeces
cast,
some the
entire
human
of
Helanus,
habits, linen, cloth,
others cast in cheese, wax, bread,
everyone according to his ability
and other
sacrificed fo
and
things,
several
days."
Strabo also states
Gauls consecrated their gold in certain
lakes.
The
old metrical Life of St. Patrick, ascribed to Fiacc of Sleibthe,
The Tuatha adored the Sidhe.
According to the Book of Armagh, the Sidhe were supernatural beings supposed to dwell in the earth, the says
sea, the rivers, in valleys
and
hills, in
fountains, wells, and
trees.
Both
they and the natural objects in which they were supposed to dwell were
invoked or conciliated.
They were supposed
by the Magi. The
to be conciliated
sacred caste called Druada or and incantations of Banshee is just the ca -sidh, or female sprite or fairy. Mullaghshee, the hill on which the church stands in Ballyshannon, is the hiU of the spells
sidh or shce, or fairy palace." Caesar says
Druids were the judges on
all
points of law and
and were the distributors of all punishments and rewards. They had the power of excommunication against all who did not submit'^to their decrees, of excluding persons of all ranks from the benefits of of deposing princes, and even of Society, and even from Society itself condemning them to death, power not infrequently exercised, and of peace. The Druids themselves were exempt from declaring Divitiacus, the Arch Druid, however, bearing arms and paying taxes. equity,
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM we
learn from Caesar,
even with the Cffisar
was permitted
command
of
to carry arms,
55
and was entrusted
corps in one of Cesar's battalions.
gives the following account of the effect of the sentence of
excommunication acquiesce in If any person, either private or public, That is, their decisions, they interdict him from their sacrifices. among them, the severest punishment. They who are thus interall men depart from dicted are reckoned impious and accursed them all shun their company and conversation, lest they should the administration sustain some misfortune from their contagion of justice and the protection of the laws is denied to them and no honour
is
conferred upon them."
The sentence consigned
lingering death
the miserable defaulter to
He had no fire to cheer his or to warm himself in the depth and snows. No friend, kinsman,
from cold and hunger, says George Jones.
home
or dress food for his subsistence
of winter, while
surrounded with
frosts
him with it under pain of incurring The excommunicated had also to walk with
or neighbour was permitted to supply
the like cruel sentence.
lives. bare feet and wear black garments for the remainder of Repentance and purification were regarded by the Druids as necessary
They observed one day in seven as peculiarly sanctified and made holy by the Great Creator, and they were wont to dedicate oneduties.
tenth of
all their
substance to religious purposes.
Geometrical figures, such as
lines, angles, squares,
and perpendiculars
were ranked amongst the symbols of Druidism. As the Druids had no enclosed temples," says Borlase, ing
them
think-
inconsistent with the majesty of the gods, so neither
had
they any carved images to represent them, and for the same reason but, instead thereof, rude stones were erected in their places of worship at some mystic, significant distance, and in some emblematic
manner, situation, and plan squares, sometimes in both
more from the circles circular line, and making
sometimes
now
single
or eminently
part of
it
in triangles,
and
taller
hke
fifty
sometimes
in
paces distant or
than the
rest
portals, not only to
the entrance, but also to hallow those that entered
it
in
the
shape
appearing
by many monuments that the Druids attributed great virtue
to
these passages between rocks."
The Druidical philosophy and were certainly equal,
if
religion,
even in their corrupted state,
not superior, to any of the philosophies and
day and time. the Druids the excellent laws by which their island Manxmen has always been governed, and th ancien Greeks, on their own admission, part of their philosophy and many of their fables from the Gallic religions
current in other parts
of
the world in
their
DRUIDISM
56 Druids.
The power
the moral
of the
of
the Druidica
priesthood was tremendous,
country was in the hands of the
priests,
all
who were
At one time their no other superior human power. th Alpine authority appears to have extended over France, lander Regions, Lombardy, and the British Isles, but was ultimately confined within the narrow Umits of the Isle of Man, where the blood of the last victim was shed and where the last temple was overthrown. accountable
to
The knowledge
of the
Druids astonished the Fathers of the Church.
Augustine declared that their philosophy almost approached that of Their studies embraced those elevated objects Christian monotheism. St.
which had engaged the attention Deity,
the nature
of
the
of the
human
bodies, the terrestrial globe,
and
soul,
its
whole world
the nature of the
the future state, the heavenly
various productions.
Their concep-
and sublime, their speculations comprehensive in their sphere, pervading most of the arts and sciences which had interested M. J. P. Megnin, in his work, De Porigine de la the earliest peoples. Ferrure du Cheval, says that the Druids taught the structure of the horse's foot by the enormous sacrifices they made of this animal, and accustomed to the manipulation of metals, and their intelligence continually cultivated by study, were marvellously disposed to be the VVhen we also look to the rational form inventors of shoeing by nails. how wisely they placed the they gave to their work," he continues, nail holes, and how skilfully they made the nail heads to form so many cages to assist travelling in rocky and mountainous regions, we cannot but be astonished at the perfection which the sacred smiths had attained Perhaps, in defending and assisting nature two thousand years ago." also, there was no order of men among the pagans who preserved the of mankind in the early state with greater simplicity philosophical The ceremonies of their religion were performed with or integrity. solemnity that deeply affected the spectator, and it is said that even the Romans "stood astonished and trembled." They were monogamists and of the highest moraHty, but followed the Phoenician custom of giving widow to her husband's brother. No idol or graven image has ever been tions were great
discovered
among
Druidical remains, despite Caesar's statement that the
countries of the Druids were fuU of idols.
Under
characters the Druids acknowledged one God, the
and the Lord
of
all
Divine Providence, of
As
of
Maker
names and
of all things,
They taught the superintendency of moral responsibility, and of recompense after death. the earth.
consequence of these principles they observed, as well as enjoined,
the most rigid justice in their decisions and in their dealings with their
fellow-men.
According to Banier
Although the memoirs
extremely short, yet we can very evidentl
of our
Druids are
discover from
them that
THE CREED OF DRUIDISM
57
the Druids were of Abraham's religion entirely, at least in the earliest times,
same manner as he did, example, or the example of his and their
and worshipped the Supreme Being
and probably according to
common
Certainly,
ancestors."
examined
his
the creation of th
when
in the
the teachings of the Druids are
the formation of
orld
man,
his primitive
and his fall into guilt and misery, the creation of angels, their rebellion and expulsion from heaven, the universal deluge, there was no great the final salvation of humanity, it will be divergence from thos teaching contained in the writings of Moses and innocence and
felicity,
other parts of the Jewish scriptures.
Their worship consisted in
rites
the people knew their institutes, believed and praise Sermons appear generally to have been absent and practised them. from their services. In its primitive state, Druidism may be regarded as an edifice raised Its ostensible design upon the same basis as the patriarchal religion. was to enlighte th understanding, to promote harmony, and to encourof religion, it undoubtedly deteriorated in age virtue. As its historv, possibly under the influence of commerce, and probably by the contaminating influence of the Carthaginians and the Phoenicians. From them possibly were derived those cruel and abominable rites of
of sacrifice, prayer,
human
sacrifices
factor
common
and the burning
of infants.
Deterioration, however,
The East to-day is losing its former the home of mysticism and high spiritual
to all religions.
deservedlv high reputation as
culture under the advance of commerce,
and the
among Buddhist
lost
priests,
is
and wherever such There
seems
to
is
be
becoming
art of meditation,
accomplishment, whenever
into contact with we te
much
truth in
what
even
ideas
Taliesin
and customs.
describes
the
as
oppression of the metal-workers."
note to Lord Lytton's King Arthur says
The testimonv
to
be
found
in
classical
Druid worship, before
original purity of the
the idolatry which existed in
it
writers
as
to
the
was corrupted into
Britain at the time of the
Roman
by the Welsh triads. These triads, indeed, are of various dates, but some bear the mark of very remote antiquity wholly distinct aUke from the philosophy of the Romans and the mode of thought prevalent in the earlier ages conquest,
is
strongly
of the Christian era
corroborated
in short, anterior to all the recorded conquests
Cymrian people. These, like proverbs, appear the wrecks and fragments of some primeval ethics or philosophical reUgion. Nor are such remarkable alone for the purity of the notions they they have often, upon matters inculcate relative to the Deity
of the
less spiritual,
of
reflective
the delicate observation, as well as the profound thought
wisdom.
Nor were the Druids
of
Britain inferior to
DRUIDISM
58
whom the Sages of the On the contrary, contact.
Western and Eastern worlds came the even to the time science and repute those of Gaul, and
those with into
Druids of Britain excelled in to their schools the neophytes of the Continent were sent." Hutchinson, in his History of Cutnberland, bear similar testimony
when he
saj^s
them
We
do not find that the Britons, from the first account of part of the island, were enveloped in that dreadful
darkness of mind in which most other nations, on their
by Europeans, have been described were
not
ignorant
the
of
first
discovery
on the contrary, they
to us
Deity
not
corrupted
their
religion with idolatry."
The Druidical teaching concerning man's
spiritual
nature
is
com-
prised in the following Triad
In every person there
is
In every intelligence there
gence there
is
good and
there
is
Hfe
Another
In every soul there
soul is
In every
life
is
In every thought In every good death
thought.
In every evil there
evil
is intelli-
is
God."
utterance shows the spiritual character of the Druidical
teaching
Let God be praised in the beginning and the end Who supplicates Him, He will neither despise nor refuse
God above
May
In Ireland,
and
before us,
God
all
things.
portion Heaven grant us the Druids left more solid traces
of
mercy domination
the Father of
their teaching.
foreign
God
possessing
us,
civilizations.
Only
modification in that island exclusively moral.
been subject to the influence of
Ireland
one
influence
has
any sensible which has been
effected
the triumph of Christianity,
CHAPTER
III
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD Hark
The
'twas the voice of harps that poured along hoUow vale, the floating tide of song.
see the glitterin
train in long array,
Gleam through the shades, and snowy splendours see them now with measured steps and slow,
play
'Mid arching groves the white-robed sages go.
The oaken wreath with braided fillet drest The Crescent beamin on the holy breast The silver hair which waves above the lyre. And shrouds the strings, proclaim the Druid's quire. They halt, and all is hushed." Wordsworth. The Sages skill'd in Nature's lore changeful universe, its numbers, powers. Studious they measure, save when meditation then in the grove Gives place to holy rites Each hath his rank and function." Mason. Caractacus.
The
The mode
of life
adopted by the Druidical priests made easy the
from Pagan to Christian monasticism. To all intents and Church, and their ecclesiastical system purposes the Druids formed seems to have been as complete as any other system of which records have been preserved, whether Christian or non-Christian. The word transition
note, is by many etymologists derived inte esting Church," circle." It appears in varied, from the Greek word kirkos, meaning Scotch, kirk though similar forms in different languages Welsh, cyrch
Anglo-Saxon, circe or cyrice Old Enghsh, chirche, cherche, or chireche Swedish, kyrka Danish, kirke German, Icelandic kirkja Dutch, kerk Old High German, chirihha. kirche The rank of the Arch, or Chief, Druid was that of pontifex maximus, and, apparently, he held his position until death or resignation, successor appears to have been elected in
manner
when
his
similar to that in
which the Pope of the present day is elected, although some writers assert when Cassar states that that the Arch Druid was elected annually.
DRUIDISM
6o
the presulary dignity becomes vacant by the head Druid's death, the but, when there are equals in competition, next in dignity succeeds election carries it."
Many Druids appear
to
hermit existence, in order
have retired from the world and Hved reputation for they might acquire
Description of the Western Isles, has pointed out that, in his time, in the most unfrequented places of the Western Isles of Scotland, there were still remaining the foundations of small circular sanctity.
Martin,
houses, intended evidently for the abode of one person only, to which "Druids' Houses" by the people of the country. were given the name
and if any one was found prattHng if, after the during their assemblies or sacrifices he was large piece of his garment third admonition, he did not cease talking, and if, after that, he again offended, he was punished in was cut off
The Druids were
great lovers of silence,
more rigorous manner. comThe majority of the Druids, however, appear to have lived munal Hfe, uniting together in fraternities and dwelHng near the temples each temple requiring the services of several priests, which they served except, perhaps, in isolated districts.
In Wales, one
resided
in
In addition every Cwnizvd to offer sacrifices and to instruct the people. to the portion of land to which every freeborn Cymro was entitled, and the immunities and privileges belonging to his class, this local priest contribution from every plough used in the hamlets of his could claim
Cwmwd.
Ammianus
in the following
of Marseilles describes these early
ri st
of Britain
words
The Druids, men
poHshed parts, as the authority of Pythagoras has decreed, affecting formed societies and sodalities, gave themselves wholly to the contemplation of divine and hidden of
things, despising all worldly enjoyments,
the souls of
men
and confidently affirmed
to be immortal."
more public and secular manner, attaching themselves to kingly courts and the residences of the noble and close affinity with both the monastic The Druids have thus wealthy. orders and religious congregations of the Church of Rome, known as the and those Hving unrestricted by special vows, known as regular clergy
Not
few, however, lived in
the secular clergy.
and the character of the training of an rigorous as aspirant to the Druidical priesthood was as lengthy and that of an aspirant to membership of the Society of Jesus, better known It lasted for twenty years and, although the as the Jesuit Society. candidates were, in general, enlisted from the families of nobles, many youths in other ranks of life also entered voluntarily upon the novitiate, were dedicated to the priestly life by their and very
The period
of
novitiate
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD parents from an early age.
None but freemen were admitte
slave seeking admission into the Order
so that
freedom from
had
first
6i
as aspirants,
to obtain his
his master.
The ceremony of initiation, so far as can be gathered from the The candidate first took an oath records, was solemn and arduous. He not to reveal the mvsteries into which he was about to be initiated. was then divested of his ordinary clothing, crowned with ivy, and vested colours emblematical with tri-coloured robe of white, blue, and green Both white tunic. Over this was placed of light, truth, and hope. were made with full-length openings in the front and, before the ceremony of initiation began, the candidate had to throw open both tunic and robe, male. in order that the officiating priest might be assured that he was This divesture was also to symboHse his extreme poverty, which was supposed to be
his characteristic
The tonsure was one
initiation.
of the ceremonies
connecte
with initiation.
As practised in the Roman Church the tonsure, the first of the four minor orders conferred upon aspirants to the priesthood, is undoubtedly There is evidence of its practice in Ireland in Druidical survival. custom in England A.D. 630, but it does not appear to have become until the latter part of the eighth century. The tonsure was efer ed the diabolical mark," although, according to Druidical by St. Patrick as and in Ireland it was known as lore, St. Patrick himself was tonsured The Druidical differed greatly from the tonsure of Simon the Druid." All the hair in front of both the modern monastic and secular form. line drawn over the crown from ear to ear was shaved or the Druids wore long beards, Druids wore short hair, the laymen long the laymen shaved the whole of the face, with the exception of the upper kingly The tonsure was known also in Wales of service in lip. or noble family. In the Welsh romance known as the Mabijiogion, we find among the Brythons youth who wished to become one of Arthur's knights, whose allegiance was signified by the king cutting off the \-outh's hair with his
The
own hand.
initiation
existed that
cave, because of the legend which
took place in
Enoch had deposited
certain invaluable secrets in
crated cavern deep in the bowels of the earth. in
There
is
conse-
stiU to be seen
Denbighshire one of the caves in which Druidical initiations are said
to have taken place.
The caves
in
which the various ceremonies were
performed were, like the over-ground Druidical temples, circular in form. The underground rooms of the Red Indians, where their secret councils around were held, were also circular in form, with them.
After taking the oath the candidate had
through the Tolmen, or perforated stone, an act held to be the means of purging from sin and conveying purity. Captain Wilford, in Asiatic Researches, to
pass
DRUIDISM
62
says that perforated stones are not people pass through them, to be regenerated.
If
when
uncommon
and that devout admit it, in order
in India,
the opening will
the hole be too small to permit of the passage of
put either the hand or foot through the hole and, sufficient degree of faith, this answers nearly the same purpose.
the entire
with
Among
Namburi
the
of the
being passed through the body of colossal golden lotus flower,
the priests. of the soul,
stones
is
man
Travancore State
which
is
made
Brahman
golden cow, or bein
then becomes the property of
article
The individual is, by or have become twice-born.
placed in
new
said to acquire
birth
Passing persons through holed
also practised in other parts of
it is
in the
East Indies.
In some parts of the north of England children are drawn through
hole
on the day on which they are christened. All rocks containing an aperture, whether natural or artificial, were held in
Groaning Cheese
the
means of transmitting purification to the person passing through the hole. At Bayons Manor, near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, to possess the
there
petra ambrosice, consisting of
is
upon another stone and hollowed out so large for
man
to pass through.
gigantic upright stone resting as to
form an aperture
This stone
sufficiently
believed to have been
is
used by the Druids in the performance of their sacred rites. The celebrated Purgatory of St. Patrick, at Lough Derg, in Ireland, is also thought
have been place of Druidical initiation, and even in ante-Druidical times no person was permitted to enter the enclosure without first undergoing all the ceremonies of preparation and purification. Some to
writers
have conjectured
practice similar to this
prophet Isaiah was referring to
when he wrote
(i,
And they
19)
go into
shall
the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth for fear of the
Lord, and for
of
His majesty, when
ariseth to shake terribly
and dedicated lapis ambrosius which
All such orifices were consecrated with holy oil
the earth."
to religious uses, hence the distinguishing
was given to each. Forlong, in Rivers of Life, throws one passage he says
The clefts
He
in
name
much
of
fight
upon
this
custom.
In
superstition of passing through natural, or even artificial,
trees
and
rocks,
or,
faifing
them, caves and holes, has
scarcely yet left the most civiUzed parts of Europe, and
is
firmly
maintained throughout the rest of the world, and, in India, takes the thoroughly literal aspect of the question, viz., of being really born again,' the person to be regenerated being actually passed
through the mouth and organ of the sinner be very rich, of gold or
properly constructed silver
cow, which
is
cow
if
then broken
up and divided among the purifying priests. wooden or lithic Oni, is, for ordinary men, however, perforation, that is an sufficient
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD and
baptism the
is
proper tree
to
in these islands the
regenerate
holy ash,
63
gdrasil,
Major Moor describes
one.
his
young ash longitudinally (the oak naked child through it three times, is its equivalent) and passing The tree is bound always head foremost for rickets and rupture.' up again, and if it heals, all goes well with the child. The operation is called drawing in Suffolk, and, in 1834, seems to have gone beyond medical luxury. In the spiritual and passed into the sphere of it should be England the ash is for drawing preferred to the oak split for about five feet, as closely as possible east and west, and in gardener in Suffolk as splitting
the Spring, or fertilising season of the year, before vegetation has set in,
and
just as the sun
The
is rising.
must stripped and not head, foremost,
child
some say passed feet, three times, and it should
quite naked, and
through the tree
carefully turned
deasil-ways, that
round, or, as the
is
with the sun, after
Here we
which, the cleft of the tree must be bound up carefully. see the tree as of
life,'
and
in
thing of
life,
and forming the very lOni-ish,
the presence of Siva, or the
regeneration of old, or the giving of
new
life
Sun, without is
known by
door
whom
all
to be
impossible.
West Cornwall, says that children were at one time brought to Madron Well to be cured of shingles, wild fires, tetters, and various skin diseases, as well as to fortify them against The child was stripped naked, witchcraft and other mysterious ailments. then it was plunged or popped three times through the water against next it was passed quickly nine times round the spring, going the sun then dressed, rolled up in something from east to west, or with the sun if the child slept and plenty warm, and made to sleep near the water good sign. of bubbles rose in the water, it was in which he chest The candidate was next placed in Bottrell, also, in his Traditions of
remained enclosed
made From this
apertures being
to represen
thre
days
third
day to symbolise
death.
for the circulation of air
chest he was liberated on the
his restoration to life.
the initiation of Arthur,
The Bard,
in describing
at his (mystical)
nights was he placed under the
flat
for
stone of Echemeint."
three
When
the
which he had been immured he was pronounced regenerated, or born again. Dr. George OHver, in Signs and Symbols, says that in all ancient Mysteries before an aspirant could was placed higher secrets of the Institution claim to participate in or, in other words, was subject to within the Pastos, or Bed, or Coffin prescribed period of time, that he might solitary confinement for reflect seriously, in seclusion and darkness, on what he was about to aspirant emerged from the
tomb
undertake, and be reduced to
in
proper state of mind for the reception of
DRUIDISM
64 great and important truths,
by This was symbolical death and
course of fasting and mortification. his
deliverance from confinement was
The candidate was made representation and was placed under
the act of regeneration, or being born again. to undergo these changes in scenic
the Pastos in perfect darkness.
The sanctuary was then prepared for the further ceremonies in connection with the initiation, and bHndfolded, was introduced to the assembled company during the chanting of h\mn to the sun and placed in the charge of
the same time, kindling the sacred
professed Druid, another Druid, at It
fire.
said that
is
we
still
retain
some old English choruses the odes which those Phallo-Solar worshippers used to chant. Thus Heydown, down derry down," is held to be Hai down ir dcri danno, signifying Come, let us haste to the oaken grove or, if taken from the Celtic, Dun dun daragan dun, it would mean, To the hill, to the hill, to the oaks, to the hill." Another chant High troloUie, lollie loi, or lee," is said to come from the Celtic Ai tra la, la, li," which would be an address to the rising sun as Hail in
early day." Still
bHndfolded, the candidate was taken on
nine times round the sanctuary in circles at
the South.
circumnambulation from East to West, starting
The procession was made
to
the accompaniment of
tumultuous clanging of musica instruments and of shouting and screaming, and was followed by the administration of second oath, the violation of which rendered th individual liable to the penalty of death.
Then followed number of othe ceremonies which typified the confinement of Noah in the Ark and the death of that patriarch, the candidate pa sing eventually through narrow avenue, which was guarded by angry beasts, after which he was seized and borne to the waters, symbolical of the waters on which the Ark of Noah floated. He was completely in this water, and, on emerging from the water on the bank opposite to that from which he had entered, he found himself blaze of light. in The most dismal howlings, shrieks, and lamentations are said to have been heard during the progress of this ceremony, the
barking of dogs, the blowing of horns, and the voices of men uttering discordant cries. These were made partly for the purpose of intimidating th
candidate, and partly with
of inspiring
who might be within earshot, and the secrets. Some writers assert
uninitiated persons
from prying into thunder was heard, which thunder was known to the at the opposite bank, his
throne or
official
is
not improbable
priests of Delphos.
was presented chair,
to the
explained
to
with terror any so
deter
them
sound
of
the art of making artificial
The candidate, on
arriving
Arch Druid, who, seated on the
initiate
the
symbolical
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD meaning
65
which he had just taken an active
of the various ceremonies in
part. initiation, says
Taliesin, in his account
was of Ceridwen,
my
first
modelled into the form of
who
subjected
ark and modest in
me above
my
me
pure
in the hall
Though small within
to penance.
was
deportment,
man
sanctuary
great.
was inclosed and my within its ribs, the sweet Awen rendered me complete law, without audible language, was imparted to me by the old but her claim was not regretted, giantess darkly smiUng in her wrath fair grain of pure wheat fled in the form of when she set carried
upon the
of
the surface of the earth.
Whilst
covering cloth she caught
me
in her fangs.
In
proud mare, which she also ship upon the waters. Into like She carried me back into the sea of
was as large as rese re semb mble led: d: th then en was she swelling out,
appearance
she
dark receptacle she cast me. D\-lan.
It
was an auspicious omen to me, when she happily God, the Lord, freely
cated me.
The ceremony rites
of
of
initiation
set
me
at large."
was similar to that
were regarded as
Osiris,
through the infernal lake, followed by
suffo-
of
descent into
the
hell,
Egyptian passage
landing on the Egyptian
Isle of
holy, just, means men were held to and pure, and to be delivered from all hazards which would otherwise aspi pira rant nt was placed for the purpose The cave in which th as be impending. of meditation before he was permitted to participate in the sacred representation of the terrible divinity Mysteries was guarded by Busnawr, who was armed with naked sword, and whose vindictive wrath, when aroused, was be such as to make earth, hell and even heaven itself, tremble.
By
the Blessed.
Dionysius
this
tells
us that
when
the Druidesses celebrated the mysteries
Hu, the
of
passed over an arm of the sea
The ship or vessel in which they made the passage represented the Ark of the and the Deluge the arm of the sea that of the waters of the Flood fabled Elysian island, where the passage terminated, shadowed out the Lunar White Island of the ocean-girt summit of the Paradisiacal Ararat. After the initiation was completed the novice retired into the forest, novitiate was spent, his time being devoted to where the period study and gymnastic exercises. The Druids encouraged learning, and in the
dead
of
to certain smaller contiguous islets.
through the courses assigned Four degrees were to those who were to become Ovates or Bards. candidates for the priesthood passed
conferred during the long novitiate
the
first
being given after three
and music, if the candidate, by his merited the honour. The second was conferred
years' study in the arts of poetry
capacity and diligence,
first
DRUIDISM
66 after six years' further study,
if
merited
the third after
further nine
and the final degree, equal to doctorate, was bestowed two years later, on the completion of the twenty years' course. The Book of the Ollamhs gives the following as the course of study for the first twelve years. The Druids, it may be remarked, have been
years' study
claimed as the originators of the coUegiate system of education. First year.
Arai Ar aice cech cht, t, or grammar, twenty tales,
Fifty oghams, th
and some poems. Second year. Fifty more oghams, thirty tales, and some poems. Third year.
six
minor lessons
in philosophy,
Learning the correct diphthongal combinations,
the
major lessons of philosophy, forty tales, and various poems. Fourth year. Fifty tales, Bretha Nemidh, or law of privileges, twenty poems called Enan." six
Fifth year.
Sixty tales, critical knowledge of adverbs, articles, and
other niceties of grammar.
Sixth year.
^Twenty-four
name given
(this
to
great
Naths,
twenty-four
Naths
small
certain kind of poems), the secret language
and seventy tales. Seventh year. The Brosnacha
of the poets,
of the Sai (profe (professo ssor) r)
and the Bardesy
of the Bards.
Eighth year.
Prosody or Versification
of
meaning
the poets,
of
obscure words (or glosses), the various kinds of poetry, the Druidical or incantatory
compositions
Teinm
called
Laeghdha,
Imbas
Forosnai,
Dichetal di channaibh, the knowledge of Dinnseanchus or topography,
and
all
the chief historical tales of Ireland, such as were to be recited
in the presence of kings, chiefs,
and goodmen.
Ninth and tenth years. Forty Sennats, fifteen Luascas, seven Nenas, an Eochraid of sixty words with their appropriate verses, seven Truths, and six Duili Fedha. Eleventh year. The Fifty great Anamains, fifty minor Anamains.
Anamain was
great
species of
measures of composition,
viz.,
poem which contained
four different
the Nath, the Anair, Laidh, and
Eman,
composed by an Ollamg only. Twelfth
year.
Six
score
great
Orations) and the four arts of poetry,
Ua
Ceatals viz.,
(measured
Laidcuin
addresses
Mac Barceda's
or
art
Crotta's art, O'Briene's art, and Beg's art. J.
W.
Arch, in Written Records of the Cwmry, says hereditary priest castes of the Eastern world,
sacro-sanct character,
not to blood and race, but to
Druids,
owed
long continued
course of instruction, from which they were supposed to emerge
more
sober,
better informed,
portion of the community.
and
more learned
class
their wiser,
than any other
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD The presiding
officers in all
(>-]
Druidical ceremonies and Mysteries were
They were named Cadeiriaith, the Principal, who was Goronwy, who represented the moon, and occupied stationed in the East position in the West and Fleidwr Flam, the representative of the three in number.
meridian officers
stationed
sun,
were necessary
principal of these were
Arch-Druid
South.
Other
subordinate
Swedyad,
or the mystagogue,
who
and Ys yw wedydd, the revealer
The two
heaven were
great
these rites and ceremonies.
The
assisted the of secrets,
to the initiated the mysterious tokens of the
their meaning.
importance
the
the due celebration of the mysteries.
in the illustration,
who communicated and
for
in
of
Order
no
little
The
symbol of the superior god Hu, because he is the great source of light and the ruler of the day. The mild sovereign of the night typified the supreme goddes goddes Ce Ceri ridw dwen, en, in whose sacred cauldron were involved aU mysteries in
of this religion.
The Druids ascribed the
origin
of
all
things
to
three
principles,
ceremony three hymns were chanted to These h\'mns were called by the name of Trigaranos, or
therefore during the initiation
the Deity.
the triple crane."
The
Druids,"
li
applied
themselves
as
earnestly to the study of philosophy, as well natural as moral, that
they were held in no sm ll re reve vere renc nc
of the people, as they
were
both accounted and known to be men of the most perfect life and innocence, by means whereof their authority daily so far increased that, finally, judgments in the most doubtful matters were committed unto their determination, offenders by discretion punished, and such as had well deserved accordingly by their appointments rewarded. as refused to obey their decrees and
by them excommunicated, so that no creature durst once keep company with such till they were reconciled again and by the same Druids absolved."
ordinances were
Rowlands, studies pursued
in
Mona
Antiqua, bears testimony to the nature of the
The Druids considered nature
systems and in her motions
in her largest extent
magnitude and powers in all which they seemed to ca ba iz Their philosophy was so comprehensive as to take in, with the theory of nature, astronomy, geometry, medicine, and natural magic, and all this upon the corpuscularian in her
in her
hypothesis."
They were very studious
of
the virtues of plants and herbs, and
were exceedingly partial to the vervaine, which they used in casting lots and foretelling events. This was gathered at the rise of the Dog-star, and, before digging it up, they described circle around it. It was gathered with the
left
hand
into
clean,
new napkin,
the right
hand being
DRUIDISM
68
sacred vestment kept specially for that purpose.
covered with
waved
The
was separated from the ground. It was infused in wine and then used as an antidote to the bite of serpents. It was also supposed to possess the virtue of fascination. Medea, in Sophocles, it will be remembered, is described as gathering her magic herbs with brazen hook. In gathering the selago, kind of hedge hyssop, the Chief Druid had to be clothed in white, as an emblem of inte in tern rn rity ri ty after bathing himself in clean water. The herb was gathered in bare feet and the gathering was preceded by participation sacrament of bread and wine. in The Druids looked upon this herb preservative against all misfortune, and the smoke of it was regarded as as an excellent cure for, as also preservative against, sore eyes. The act of going with naked feet was always considered to be token of humility and reverence, and the priests in the temple worship always officiated with feet uncovered, although frequently it was regarded as inimical to their health. The command thus given to Moses did not ep es esen en th civil and legal ceremony of putting off the plant was
shoes,
as
the
aloft after
it
IsraeHtes were
renounced any bargain or contract (Deut. xxv, yet the sign of grief and sorrow, as
barefooted (II Samuel
when they
subsequently directed
Ruth
when David entered
iv,
3)
nor
into Jerusalem
was enjoined that Moses might approach that sacred place with reverence and godly fear, as if it had been temple consecrated to divine worship. There was another herb, called by the Gauls samolus," which grew in moist places and had to He who gathered it must be gathered with the left hand while fasting. not look upon it before it was plucked, and he was not allowed to place it anywhere save in or places where beasts drank, bruising it before depositing it. prevention of disease among It was held to be swine and oxen. The three degrees of Ovate, Bard, and Druid were regarded as equal in importance, though not in privilege, and they were distinct in purpose. There is little doubt that knowledge was confined mainly, if not altogether, to the professed Druids, and it was one of their tenets that the Arcana of the Sciences must not be committed to writing, but to the memory. Caesar Druids disputed largely upon subjects of natural philosophy and in tr truc uc ed th youth of the land in the rudiments of learning. knowledge of By some writers the Druids are credited with the telescope, though this opinion is based mainly upon the statement of Diodorus Siculus, who says that in an island west of Celtae the Druids brought the sun and moon near to them. Hecatasus, however, informs xii,
30)
but
it
us that they taught the existence of the lunar mountains. the Milky
Way
consisted of small stars was
known
The
fact that
to the ancients
is
often adduced in support of the claim to the antiquity of the telescope.
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD pre-Christian astronomer,
Idris the giant,
is
69
said to have pursued his
study of the science of astronomy from the apex of one of the loftiest name mountains in North Wales, which, in consequence, The Druids Cader Idris, or the Chair of Idris. which it now bears encouraged the study of Anatomy to such an extent that one of their
have delivered lectures on the bodies of more than seven hundred men in order to reveal the secrets and Diodorus Siculus is responsible for the wonders of the human frame. statement that the Druids were the GauHsh philosophers and divines, great veneration, and that it was not lawful to perform and were held doctors
any
named Herophilus
sacrifices
Sir
is
said
to
except in the presence of at least one of these philosophers.
Norman Lockyer writes The people who honoured
us
with their presence here in
some four thousand years ago had evidently, some way or very complete Egyptian culture, other, had communicated to them and they determined their time of night just in the same way that difference the Egyptians did, only of course, there was between the latitude of 25° in Egypt and 50° in Cornwall. They They the same stars for the same purpose. could observed the stars which served their purpose for one thousand years Britain
or so. P.
W.
These stars were Capella and Arcturus."
Social History of Ancient Ireland, says that in times the Druids were the exclusive possessors of whatever learning
Joyce,
pagan was then known, and combined
Druids, or priests, but judges, prophets, historians, poets,
being
and
in themselves all the learned professions,
even
physicians."
He might have added
and
instructors
of
No one was capable youth," since education was entirely in their hands. Druid. Children of public employment who had not been educated under were brought up and educated away from their parents until they reached Even St. Columba began his education under Druid, and so great was the veneration paid to the Druids for the knowkind of adage with respect to ledge they possessed that it became No anything that was deemed mysterious or beyond ordinary ken one knows but God and the holy Druids." Druid which runs legend concerning St. Columba and There is Now when the time for reading came to him, the clerk went to certain prophet (Jaidh, or Druid) who abode in the land to ask him when the boy ought to begin. When the prophet had scanned the sky, he said cake, Write an alphabet for him now.' The alphabet was written on and St. Columba consumed the cake on this wise, half to the east of So shall this Said the prophet water and half to the west of water. child's territory be, half to the east of the sea and half to the west of the sea.' This is claimed to have reference to Columba's work in lona
the age of fourteen.
DRUIDISM
70
and among the
Picts,
chief province
was to enlarg
and the other half in Scotland. The Druids were the intermediaries between the people and the spiritual world, and the people believed that their priests could protect The them from the malice of evilly-disposed spirits of every kind. rememauthority possessed by the Druids is easily understood when dered that they were possessed of more knowledge and learning than They were," says Rowlands, any other class of men in the country. men of thought and speculation, whose in Mona Jntiqua Restorata, i.e.,
one half
in Ireland
bounds of knowledge, as their fellows empire into what country or climate soever they th
were to do those of came." Kings had each ever about them
who was
also
Druid
and
for prayer
sacrifice,
judge for determining controversies, although each king
of Conchobar, king of Ulster, civil judge besides. At had no one had the right to speak before the Druid had spoken. Cathbu, or Druid once attached to that court, was accompanied by Cathbad, After the introduction and adoption hundred youths student of his art. bishop or priest, just of Christianity, the Druid was succeeded by the Druidesses at Kildare were succeeded by the Briggintine Nuns.
Martin,
who wrote
1703, tells
Every great family
who
Western Islands of Scotland in
his Description of the
of the
Chief Druid
Western Islands had
all causes, civil and eccleand siastical. It is reported of them that they wrought in the night Before the Britons engaged in battle the time and rested all day. He was Chief Druid harangued the army to excite their courage.
foretold future
placed on an eminence whence he ad re
about him, putting them in mind of
all
ed himself to great
in
all
th
standing
were per-
formed by the valour of their ancestors, raised their hopes with the by noble rewards of honour and victory, and dispelled After this harangue all the topics that natural courage could suggest. the
army gave
general shout and then charged the
enemy
stoutly."
In the time of Tacitus the GalHc Druids prophesied that the burning of the Capitol signified the
The
approaching
fall of
the
Roman
Empire.
Arch Druid was, as already stated, at one time held by Divitiacus, the Eduan, the intimate acquaintance and friend of Ca?sar, who is believed to have inspired the account of Druidism given by Caesar have had his The British Arch Druid is in De Bella Gallico. position of
residence in the Isle of Anglesey, in or near to Llaniden.
There the name
Dryw, or Druidstown, is still preserved, and there are also still there some of the massive stone structures which are associated invariably The courts of the Arch Druids were held at Drewson with Druidism. short distance from the road leading from Killiney or Druidstown. of Tre'r
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD
71
chair formed of large blocks of granite, which Bray there stands The Druid's Judgment Seat." On occasions of ceremony the is called Arch Druid's head was surrounded by an oaken garland, surmounted by When at the altar tiara composed of adder stones encased in gold. golden white surplice, fastened on the shoulder by he wore Druidical In Ireland there appears to have been no chief Druid, nor even in twos and threes. The Druids acted ingl hierarchy or corporation. They were married and each Hved with his family in his own house. The principal seat of the French Druids was at Chartres, the residence of the Gallic Arch Druid, at which place also the annual convention of and some say the British Druids was held. There was also Gallic It was here that Caesar, in order large Druidic settlement at Marseilles. to put an end to Druidism in Gaul, ordered the trees to be felled. to
Dr. John Jamieson, in his Historical Account of the Ancient Culdees of lona, published in 1870, says that twenty years previously there was living in the parish of MouHn an old man who, although very regular in his
devotions, never addressed
than that of Arch Druid.
He
the
Supreme Being by any other
title
quotes this as an illustration of the firm
hold which ancient superstition takes of the mind.
Druids had the privilege of wearing six colours in their robes, and their tunics reached to their heels, while the tunics of others reached only to the knee.
Kings and queens reserved to themselves the right
of wearing robes of seven colours of fortresses, four
young gentlemen
and the common people, one in
lords
colour.
their official capacity
holiness as well as of the sun.
and
of
quaUty, three
When
wore
When
ladies five colours
governors
soldiers,
two
the Druids were officiating
white robe, emblematic of
officiating as
judge the Druid
girdle, surmounted by his Druid's wore two white robes, fastened with eg encase in gold, and wore round his neck the breastplate of judgment, which was supposed upon his breast should he give utterance to One is reminded by this breastplate of the false or corrupt judgment.
wonderful collar referred to in Irish lore and legend, known as the Jadh very surprising virtue, for if collar was attended with judge who intended to pronounce was placed on the neck of false but judgment it would immediately shrink and almost stop the breath if the person that wore it changed his resolution and resolved to be just in his sentence, it would instantly enlarge itself and hang loose about the This miraculous collar was also used to prove the integrity of the neck. person who designed to witnesses and if it were tied about the neck of give false testimony it would shrink close and extort the truth or conFrom this practice arose tinue contracting until it had throttled him. the custom, in the judicature of the kingdom, for the judge, when he of witness, to charge him solemnly to speak suspected it
DRUIDISM
72
was in danger if he did not, because the fatal collar, the Jadh Morain, was about his neck and would inevitably proceed to
the truth, for his
life
execution.
Hibcrn.
Vallancey, in Collect,
breastplates found twelve feet deep in
turf
tells
bog
of
one of the Druidical
in the
county
of Limerick.
neat and workmanUke was made of thin plated gold chased in the breast plate was single but the hemispherical ornaments at manner were Uned throughout with another thin plate of pure gold It
they were
less
lower part.
exposed to injury when on
About the centre
receive the ring of
of
than when on the
each
chain that suspended
small hole in the lining to it
around the neck, and
in the
centre in front were two small conical pillars of solid gold, highly polished.
The whole weighed twenty-two golden guineas. Another was in County Longford and sold for twenty-six guineas.
also
found
The Druid sitting as judge also wore golden tiara upon his head and two official rings on his right hand fingers. On ordinary occasions golden representation of the cap worn by the Druid had on the front half moon of silver, supported by two Druids, one at the sun under The Irish Druid wore long crimson each cusp, in an inclined position. shorter one, and suspended at his side was his which was He wore white cap, in shape and appearance like fan Druid's knife. The British Arch-Druid wore over ornamented with gold plate. it wa white mantle edged with gold around his neck was his ordinary robes golden chain from which was suspended golden plate, inscribed with Historical The gods sacrifice." the words C. Walker, in J. Essay on the Dress of the Irish, says that when the Druids were employed
and other solemn ceremonies they wore, behind an oak-leaved golden crescent, with buttons at the extremities, through which crown, Several of these string was drawn that served to fasten it behind. bogs. crescents have been found The dress of the Druids was white garment, emblematic of the affected uniformly and universally In order to render their appearance more venerable purity of their mind. and imposing they encouraged their beards to flow on their breasts. in sacrifice
His seemly beard, to grace his form bestow'd.
Descending decent, on his bosom flow'd His robe of purest white, though rudely join'd Yet showed an emblem of mind Stern virtue, beaming in his eye, controul'd
Each wayward purpose, and o'eraw'd the bold." It is also established that in
many instances
priesthood was hereditary
special name was given to Thus the priestly family. and that ing was written by Ausonius, in honour of Attius Patera.
follow-
from
water-colour drawing by Constable Victoria and Albert Museum).
THE INITIATORY CEREMONIES AND PRIESTHOOD Tu
73
Druidarum satus
Bajocassis stirpe
fama non fallit fidem) BELENI sacratum ducis Templo genus Et inde vobis nomina Tibi PATERAE (sic Ministros nuncupant (Si
Apollinaris
Fratri-Patrique
Mistyci.)
Phoebo datum
nomen
Natoque de Delphis tuo."
From
this verse
it
is
clear that all the family of Attius
had
par-
name, owing to their deriving their origin from the Druids of Bayeux, and that they were also devoted to the Mysteries of Belenus. that of his father and brother name of Attius was Patera The name of the son of Attius was Delphidus, was derived from Phaebus. ticular
as
we read
later
Facunde, docte, lingua
amsne, Delphidi."
Jocis
Here
et ingenio celer,
another verse from Ausonius in confirmation
is
Nee reticedo senem Nominie Phoebtium, Qui Beleni aedituus Nil opis inde tulit
Sed tamen, ut placitum, Stirpe satus
Druidum,
Gentis Aremoricse, Burdigalae
Cathedram
Nati opera obtinuit.
Et tu Concordi, Qui profugus patria Mutasti sterilem
Urbe alia cathedram, Et libertina, etc."
The
following interesting narrative appears in Wilson's Prehistoric
Annals of Scotland
may
In the
Phrenological Society of Edinburgh skulls brought from the interesting group
museum
be
of
the
Druid from the Hebrides." They were presented to the society by Mr. Donald Gregory, secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and of sacred
isle of
lona, and each
the lona Club,
The
marked
as the
skull of
who procured them under
institution
of
Scottish Club,
the following circumstances. specially estabHshed for the
investigation of the history, antiquities,
and early Hterature
of the
meeting held on the Highlands of Scotland, was celebrated at island of lona, upon the 7th September, 1833, when the sepulchres
DRUIDISM
74
The
were detailed by addressed to Mr. Robert Cox, of
were explored.
of the Scottish kings
Mr. Gregory in the following letter
results
the Edinburgh Philological Societ)'.
Along with
you
this
will receive six ancient skulls
There
under the following circumstances. Cladh na Druineach,
i.e.,
place
is
procured
here
called
the burial place of the Druids, in which
An incredible quantity have caused some deep cuts to be made. and as it is perfectl certai that ee un of human bones has Christian churchyard, or as this place has never been used as place of interment at
here by
establishment of Christianity
since the
all,
Columba, there
no doubt of the antiquity of the They are by every one here firmly believed to be skulls now sent. the skulls of the Druids, who were probably interred here from distant parts as well as from the neighbourhood, on account of the sanctity of the island, which formerly bore the name of Innis na Druids' Isle. Druineach, The six skulls herewith sent were St.
by myself from
much
number. But will observe is higher in the forehead than the rest. for am satisfied and others whose attention exception selected with care
to the matter agree with is
me
low forehead, and
posterior
parts
of
the head,
is
an
directed
undoubtedly readily
will
exception
have the same general character differences in
this
breadth in the upper and
which you
the
are sufficient
One you
that the general character of the skulls considerable
perceive.
larger
mentioned, these skulls
as
can judge),
the individuals to
make them
of con-
must not omit to mention that the present race in the islands appear to have much better foreheads than the Druids, and independent of intellect and intelligence, are perhaps above the average of the Highlanders and islanders.
siderable interest to the phrenologist.
Some as
of the skulls did not present such strong individual character
those sent
limited in the skulls,
the for
and were more quickly developed.
number
to be taken,
But as
was
preferred choosing well-marked
character of the whole was so
particularly as
much the same." The mode of excommunication from the community was to expose erring member to naked weapon. The Bards had special ceremony the
degradation
convicted brethren.
It
took place at
Gorsedd, when the assembled Bards placed their caps on their heads.
and named the dehnquent aloud three times, the last occasion the words *' The sword is naked against him." After these words were pronounced the offender was expelled, never to be re-admitted, and he became known man deprived of privilege and exposed to warfare." as
One deputed
for the ofhce
unsheathed
his sword, uplifted
it,
CHAPTER
IV
BARDS AND VATES too, ye bards, whom sacred raptures fire chant your heroes in your country's lyre Who consecrate in your immortal strain Brave patient souls, in righteous battle slain Securely now the tuneful task renew. And noblest themes in deathles songs pursue." Luc AN. Pharsalia.
You,
To
Yonder grots Are tenanted by Bards, who nightly thence, flowing vests of innocent white, Rob'd Descend, with harps that glitter to the moon. Hymning immortal strains. The spirits of air, Of earth, of water, nay of heav'n itself. Do listen to their lay and oft, 'tis said, magi roun In visible shapes dance they
To
the high minstrelsy."
Mason.
Caractacus.
Before an aspirant to the priesthood could attain to that exalted
had to pass through the two preliminary and definite degrees Bard and Vate, or Ovate. Many of the youth of the land, however,
rank, he of
who
entered the service of the temple, did so with the express intention
two Orders. It is said that originally there was but one rank, which went by the name of Gwyddoniaeth, with no legal privileges or immunities. Vallancey is of opinion Bards were the original Celtic priests, so called from
of remaining in the ranks of one or other of these
their chanting to the
their sacred office.
This opinion
is
also
The division into Druids, Bards, and Ovates came later, when each had its peculiar honours and duties, and all were equally endowed and protected by the state. The term Bard is said by some to have been derived from one Bardus, the fifth king of Britain, circa 2082, a.m., and who was man famous for the invention of verses principal vehicle for conveying and music. Verse was information. The Hindoo Arithmetic is in verse. The most ancient of the Cambrian Bards taught in verse and preserved the records of transactions through the medium of rhyme and measure, and when held by Borlase.
laws were to be enacted and historic facts preserved, they were thrown 75
DRUIDISM
76
Toland asserts that the Bards did not belong to the body of the Druids. But against his opinion must be placed the cateIrish history also gorical statements Strabo, and others. relates same Amergin, who, at the Milesian invasion, assumed the dignity of Arch Druid, took upon him also the office of Ard-Filea, into triadic form.
or Chief Bard.
The
Orders or Degrees any of was to enrol among the Awenyddion, or Disciples preliminary, or disciple was unimfourth class. The first requisite for admission as peachable moral character, for it was indispensably necessary that the candidate, above all things, should be above any criticism as to character and conduct. Nor was it permitted for one to be admitted to the possession of any of the secrets of the various degrees until his understanding, affections, morals, and principles had undergone severe trials. His passions and tendencies were watched closely and tested when he was least aware of the fact. At all times, in all places, and on every possible occasion, there was an eye, unknown to him, fixed continually upon his actions, and from the knowledge thus obtained of his head and very soul, an estimate was made of his inclinations heart, indeed, and mental and spiritual abilities, and agreeable to the approbation given, and in the manner and degree most suitable, he was initiated by graduating steps into the mysteries and instructed in the doctrine and to
initial step for
practices of Druidism.
Rhodes, who travelled in Gaul about He describes them as B.C. 100, was the first to mention the Bards. parasites," who attended the Celtic warriors, even on their warlike The Bards, however, he says, expeditions, to celebrate their praises. Poseidonius,
the
Stoic
of
were not barbarians among barbarians Vallancey says that Vaith,
Vaithoir,
or
Phattoir.
Arabs, and Outeis by
they were or
men
of letters.
Prophets, were
called
Baidh,
The name was written Vaedh by the The word is thought to be derived
from the Persian word Bach, which means
Baid is the Chaldean an bada. The Irish Faithoir is the Hebrew ptr, meaning enigma." word baid in the GaeUc language means Pezron says Barth comes probably from the Hebrew or Chaldee word brt, poet." speech," traces of Bar is the root of the Irish Bear la, to sing." parhament." parole," parler," which are found in the words The first Bards were called by the triad names of Plennyd, Alawn, light," harmony, an energy." Gwron, meaning Afterwards their calling came to be held in such high esteem that they were maintained at the expense of the state, but their pride became so overbearing, their demands so extortionate, and their members so numerous that they tr and indifference of time, th deservedly earned, in holy."
BARDS AND VAXES
-ji
even of their friends, although they retained their position after the extinction of Druidism.
Mason, to the
Caractacus, speaks of the three Orders.
After referring
Arch Druid, he proceeds His brotherhood Possess th
neighb'rin
cliffs
On Reside the sage Ovades
the
left
yonder grots
Are tenanted by Bards." No sacerdota functions were performed by the Bards these were reserved exclusively for the Derwyddon, or Druids, who were set apart for, and employed solely in the exercise of peculiarly religious functions and long after the conversion of the Britons to the Christian faith, the ministers religion were called by this term.
From Anewydd,
to Inchoate Bard, or
band of the Order, gold mented with
th
the degree of Inceptor, thence
postulat
Bardd
Caw, when,
white mantle and
with crescent.
for the first time,
When
he became
he received the faculties to proclaim and hold
and
blue cap, orna-
fully-fledged Bard,
Gorsedd, admit disciples,
In Ireland, and morality. gold blue cap ornamented with
instruct others in the principles of religion
the Bard wore
white mantle and
In Britain the Bard wore
crescent.
the
he wore the
emblem
of peace
and
truth.
Blue was the favourite colour among
the Britons from the earliest times. blue keeps
its
uni-coloured robe of sky blue,
An
old
Welsh proverb runs
True
hue."
The Laws of Howel Dda (Howe, the good) have been published by the Record Commission, in the Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales. In editing the volume, Mr. Aneurin title
page the uncertainty connecte
of these laws.
The laws
He
Owen
wit
is
careful to indicate on the
the authorship and codification
places the oldest manuscript in the twelfth century.
Bards are given as follows Three branches of the art of Bardism. bard licensed by privilege, having bard, or relating to the
First,
his
the primitive
degree and his
from an authorised teacher, who is presiding bard and upon him depends every memorial of art and science, so far as they may be in his department as being an authorised bard of degree and privilege and, likewise, every memorial and record of country and kindred, in respect to marriages, and kins, and arms, and territorial divisions, and the privileges of the country and kindred of the Cymry. Second, the Ovate, having his degree under the privilege of genius and commendable sciences, which he shall exhibit authenticated, and for which he shall be able privilege
by
discipleship,
approvingl)- to answer before
customary and legitimate session
of
DRUIDISM
78
where that shall not be, before lawful and authorised congress, under the patronage of the lord of the territory, or twelve court where that is of his judges of court, or of twelve customary and discipleship shall not be required in respect to bards
or,
him, nor other claim than for
the
authorised sciences.
purpose of protecting sciences,
lest
there
And
should
this
not
is
be
found customary teachers, and, consequently, that the sciences and deficiency art of record and wisdom should pass into oblivion, from
And, likewise, for the and disciples. purpose of improving and increasing the sciences of art, by adding everything new to them, by the judgment of teachers and wise men, and thence to establish and give them authorized privilege, and also against precluding sciences of wisdom, which might spring from Third, the burst of genius and intuitive invention. presiding Bard, graduated and warranted Druid Bard, who is to be as to wisdom and sciences, and of elocution to demonstrate judgment and reason in respect to sciences and his function is to be under customary the privilege of grant by the direction and induction of session, authenticated by the vote of session by ballot. And his function is to diffuse instruction and to demonstrate the sciences of wisdom and religion in the session of the bards, and in court, and in church, and in the household wherein his office is performed. And it is right and law for each of these three to have his five free what has been tilled.' It was measure erws [an erw means it appears to have contained applied exclusively to arable lands about 4,320 yards] under the privilege of the function of his art, distinct from what is due to him otherwise by the privilege of an for innate privilege extinguishes no art nor any of
systematic
teachers
art innate privilege."
Howel Dha were enacted by him and The place where they met is senatorial assembly in the open air. highly venerated to this day as is Runymede, near Windsor. By Malkin
his
as
those laws
the laws of
it
appears
courts of justice, especially the supreme
and the king, or prince, who was accustomed to sit as supreme judge, was placed on the leeward side It is very clear, from the large stone fixed up for of early Welsh Christians, from the oldest historical documents, middle of the first to the middle of the fifth century, always met for religious worship in the open air. Bard was regarded as fully Before exercise all the functions of Bardism, he had to preside at Gorseddau, when, if approved, he was classed as one of the Gorseddogion. According to the triads, there was one special Gorsedd in each of the courts, were always held in the open air
BARDS AND VATES three principal provinces.
The Gorsedd was
79
kind of national assembly
to which the majority of residents in the respective provinces resorted
The
at appointed times for the purpose of receiving instruction.
triads
state
The three Britain
Gorsedd
principal
Gorsedds
Bryn Gwyddon and the Gorsedd
the Gorsedd of of
The
of
the
Bards
the
of
Isle
of
at Caerleon-upon-Usk, the of Beiscawen."
three Gorsedds of entire song of the Isle of Britain
the
Dynwal, the Gorsedd of Caer Caradog in and the Gorsedd of Bryn Gwyddon in Cymru." Further particulars of their constitution and formation are given by Meyryg of Glamorgan, who says Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain must be held in conspicuous place, in full view of hearing of country and aristocracy, it being unlawful and in the face of the sun and in the eye of light to hold such meetings under cover, at night, or under any circumstances otherwise than while the sun shall be visible in the sky. conventional circle It is an institutional usage to form of stones on the summit of some conspicuous ground so as to enclos any requisite area of greensward the stones being so placed as to man to stand between two of them, allow sufficient space for except that the two stones of the circle which most directly confront th easter sun should be sufficiently apart to allow at least ample space for three men between them thus affording an easy ingress Gorsedd
of
Beiscawen
in
to the circle." his
Bard, but Nine years was generally sufficient for graduation as education was not considered complete, for the purposes of this
graduation, until he had committed to
memory
20,000 verses containing,
in allegorical language, the tenets of the Druidical faith.
By
the term
Bard the Welsh did not understand merely poets, but persons regularly instructed in the institutes and mysteries of the ancient British religion. The name of Bard appears to have been common in various parts of the Celtic world. place In septentrional Italy, near to Milan, there was known as Bardomague, champ du barde. In Helvetia, there was part known as Bardus, and the same name is found in Carinthie, Vienna, Styria, and Misene (Italy). Toland says that there were often at time thousand Ollaws, or graduate poets, in addition to proportionable number of inferior rhymers, all of whom lived free of any themselves or their families, being encouraged in their studies and supported by the great men and nobles.
Merddin, or Merlin, as he in the sixth century.
is
generally known,
He was among
Caledonian, lived
the last of the Druidical Bards, and.
DRUIDISM
8o in allegorica
language, bewailed the decline of his rehgion, the pollution
and cutting down of the sacred groves, and the demolition of the circular temples by the Christian missionaries. Writing on the decline and fall of Druidism and the persistence of Bardism, Blair, in his Dissertation on the Poems of Ossian, says So strong was the attachment of the Celtic nations to their poetry and their Bards that amidst all the changes of government and manners, even long after the order of the Druids was extinct, and the national religion altered, the Bards continued to flourish, not as set of strolling songsters, like the Greek Rhapsodists, in Homer's time, but as an order of men highly respected in the state, and supported by We find them, according public establishment. to testimonies of Strabo and Diodorus, before the age of Augustus Caesar, and we find them remaining under the same name, and exercising the same functions as of Ireland, and in the north
down
of Scotland, almost
to our
own
times."
In his work. Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards, Edward detailed description of the divisions of the Welsh Bards. Jones gives
He of
To
states that they were divided into three classes
which they treated were as
The
duties of the Clerv\yr were,
mimick, to sue for or intreat, to lampoon, Clerwyr usually stood before the company, one
satirize, ridicule or taunt, to
and to reproach. to give in rhyme
Two
at the other's extempore, to excite mirth
The
with their witty quibbles. or
follows.
and that the subjects
Bard
of
and laughter
duties of the Teuluwr, or family songster,
domestic eloquence, were to dwell with and solace his patron,
and enliven the time by mirth and pleasantry, to infuse liberality, to receive guests, and to solicit in polite, becoming manner. The poets of this class composed extempore as well as in writing. They also sang love songs, or amatory verses, in every kind of metre, with delicacy and elegance. The duties of the Prydd were to teach aright, to sing aright, and to judge properly of all things. His three excellencies were to to divert
satirize
and
without ribaldry, to
to address
men
commend
married
suitably to their calling.
woman without obscenity He was to commend
pleasant disposition of mind, to praise liberality, to celebrate the science
music and the art of poetry, to delight his hearers, to oppose the bitter invective of the Clerwyr and, in to avoid satirizing any other person, to be obedient, liberal, chaste, to make himself perfectly beloved, of
to
avoid
the
seven deadly sins
extortion,
theft,
pride,
fornication,
gluttony, indolence, and envy, because these things destroy the genius,
memory, and imagination Other writers (2)
Bards as (i) Privardh, or Chronologers and (3) Aruyvardh, or Comic or Satirical
classify the
Posvardh, or Heralds
Bards.
of the poet.
BARDS AND VATES of
8i
The Constitutions of the Irish Bards differed somewhat from those the British, and Joseph Cooper Walker, in Historical Memoirs of the detailed account of
Irish Bards, gives
the Irish
organization.
When
the student had finished his course, an honorary cap called Barred (from
which some think the name Bard was derived) and the degree of Ollamh, The young Bard then decided his choice of or Doctor, were conferred. profession whether he would pursue his studies and seek for admission Bard. into the Order of Druids, or whether he would remain as If he Filea, Breitheamh, or decided upon the latter, he had to become Seanacha, according to his birth.
Re-Dan, were the poets who turned the tenets of religion into verse, who animated the troops before and during engagements with martial odes, raised the war song, celebrated valorous deeds, and wrote the birthday odes and epithalamiums of the chieftains
The
Filidhe, or Ollamhain
and constant attendants in the They were field of battles and the chiefs whom they served, marching at the head of their armies, arrayed in white flowing robes. The Breitheamhain
and
princes.
(Brehons) or legislative Bards promulgated the laws in
The Seanachidhe were
chant.
kind of recitative
antiquaries, genealogists,
and
historians.
They recorded remarkable events and preserved th genealogie of patrons in kind of unpoetical stanza. Each province, prince, and had
Seancha.
In addition to th se
another of an inferior kind,
known
their
chief
hree Orders of Bards, there was
as Oirfidigh, comprising the Cleana-
an Cuilleannach, all of whom names from the instruments on which they played. The Order was called Ollamh-lc-Ceol. Their profession, as well the higher Bards, was hereditary, just as the office
naigh, Crutairigh, Ciotairigh, Tiompanach
took their
head as that of
of piper in Scotland.
the
prince or chief
fell
in battle, or died in the
the stones of his fame
were raised amidst the voices The Druids having performe the rites prescribed by
course of nature, of
When
Bards.
and the pedigree of the deceased having been recited aloud by the Seanacha the Caione, composed by the Filea of the departed and set to music by one of his Oirfidigh was sung in recitative over his grave by Racaraide (or Rhapsodist), the symphonic parts being performed by minstrels, and the responses given by Oirfidigh. Macpherson gives an illustration of the Caione sung over Circullin's tomb, which was religion,
as follows
tomb
By
the dark rolling waves of L6go,
Luath, at
the chance. battle.
Thy
distance,
lies,
the companions of CuchuUin, at
Blest be thy soul, son of
Semo
strength was the strength of
the eagle's wing.
Thy path
they raised the hero's
in the battle
thou wert mighty stream
was
thy speed
terrible
in
like
the steps
DRUIDISM
82 of
death were behind thy sword.
Blest be thy soul, son of
Semo
car-borne chief of Dunscaick
Thou has not
fallen
thy blood on the spear blast sting of death in
bow, perceive
it.
by the sword
of the valiant.
nor
of the mighty, neither
The arrow came, feeble hand,
was the
which drew the
Peace to thy soul in thy cave, chief of the
isle
of Mist
OUamh
Fodhla,
Order of Bards
men
of genius
his
who became king peculiar
care.
and
that the profession estate
was
of Ireland in a.m. 3236,
He
the
ordained that none but young should be admitted to the Order
hereditary, but
to devolve, not to his
made
st
had displayed the most distinguished
when
Bard
died,
his
n, but to such of his family as
talents
for
poetry and
music
that every Ard-Filea might retain thirty inferior Bards as his attendants,
and
Bard
furnished
of the second class
be allowed
retinue of fifteen.
He
also
university at Teamor, called Mur-Ollavan, where the powers
and song, the mysteries of metrical cadence and vocal harmony were taught. Those bards on whom the highest degree in this seminary was conferred preceded all others of the same rank in every part of the kingdom. He invited to his palace at Eamanis representative gathering of Bards where their laws were codified and the several Filean graduatus were instituted. They were i. The Fochlucan 2, Macfuirmidh and 7, OUamh. 6, Anstruth 3, Doss 4, Canaith 5, Cli Bard obtain the diploma of In no Filean College from this period could Ollamh, or Doctor, till he had passed through the first those degrees, but when the honour was conferred upon him, he was considered as qualified for any office in the state, and frequently became the minister, friend, and confidant of princes. The Brehon laws fixed the studies and obligations of each degree, and according to these, the Fochluchan was to be able to repeat thirty tales, if required, upon any of the festivals, or public meetings. His heifers or one large cow. reward He was to be attended for one supplied with all kinds of necessaries and if on journey, he was to be attended by two men for five days. He was also to be furnished horse and greyhound. with The Mac-Fuirmidh was to repeat forty tales, if required, and his reward was forty milk cows. He was also to be attended for three days and supplied with all kinds of necessaries and to be waited on by three attendants on all festivals and pubHc The Doss was to repeat fifty stories, if required. Hi reward meetings. were variable, according to the nature of the poems or compositions, and varied from one to five cows. He was to be attended by four learned men and he and his attendants supplied with all kinds of necessaries. The Canaith was rewarded in accordance with the nature of the compositions of verse
BARDS AND VATES he recited.
He was
attended by six
men on
all
83 public occasions
and
and protected from all accusations on account of debts or any other charge. The Cli was He was attended by eight rewarded with five cows and ten heifers. students in poetry and entertained for ten days, he and his attendants The Anstruth was to repeat for the being supplied with necessaries. many stories of times Assembly as an Ollamh. His reward was twenty kine. He was attended by twelve students in his own science, entertained for fifteen days, and he and his attendants supplied with all necessaries. The Ollamh, or Chief Doctor, was skilled in the four principal branches of poetry, in each of which he had to study for three years. He was to have in memory 350 stories to entertain the Assembly. His reward was twenty milk cows and he was attended by twenty-four men on all occasions, whether at home or abroad, who were also to protect him if occasion required. And he and all his attendants were to be month. supplied with all kinds of necessaries for Ollamh Fodhla instituted parliament to be held at Tara once in supplied
with
all
necessaries for
eight
days
every three years to revise the laws in accordance with the exigencies of the times.
This parliament was composed of the nobility, the Druids,
the poets, and the historiographers.
The learned OUamh Fodhla first ordained The great assembly, where the nobles met, And priests, and poets, and philosophers. To make new laws, and to correct the old. And to advance the honour of his country." Eochoid Flinn, poet of the seventh century, composed the
following
On
poem
Once
And
the Triennial Convention at Tara."
in three years the great
convention sate,
pubUc happiness debate The king was seated on royal throne, for the
And
face majestic greatnes
shone.
monarch for heroic deeds design'd For noble acts become noble mind About him, summon'd by his strict command. The peers, the priests, and commons of the land, In princely state and solemn order stand. The poets, likewise, are indulg'd place.
And men
of learning the
Here ev'ry member
He
assembly grace. truth assert,
scorns the false and double-dealing part,
(For
true patriot's soul disdains the trimmer's art).
Here love and union ev'ry look confess'd, And love and justice beat in ev'ry breast.
DRUIDISM
84 Justice Is
by nothing
bias'd or inclined,
deaf to pity, to temptation blind
For here with stern and steady rule she sways, flagrant crimes with certain vengeance pays
The monarch, ever
jealous of his state.
Inflexibly decrees th' offender's fate
Tho'
just, yet so indulgently severe.
Like heaven, he
those he cannot spare."
pities
was here
youth were instructed in poetry and music and initiated into the mysteries of the hidden harmony of the universe." Tara was for centuries the great Irish stronghold of Druidism. At National Assembly, or Parliament, at Drumoat, in Londonderry, in Animrens A.D. 597, under Aldu Christian king, it was decreed that It
for the better preservation
of their genealogies
and the purity
of their
language, the supreme monarch and the subordinate kings, cantred, should entertain
lord of
poet of his own, no more being
allowed by the ancient law of the island, and that upon each of these
and
duties should be settled for
portion of land
their posterity
that for encouraging the learning these poets professed, public
ever
and endowed under national inspection and that the monarch's own Bard should be arch-poet and have superin-
schools should be appointe
tendency over the others.
This
the
among Indo-European
earliest
many
historic
domestic bard
in
is
nations
there
are
items of evidence which show an intimate connection between
singers, story-tellers, of religion.
the
times
office of
memory
Many
and the
like,
and the priesthoods
of these practised to
in order
rites,
in the early forms
high degree the cultivation of
formulas, poems,
and
tales of their
might be handed down from generation to generation. The recognised as the sacred herald of peace, under the
religion
Bardd Tnys Prudain, or Bard of the Isle of Britain." The members of the Order made hymns for the temple, but this was the title
of
extent of their temple duties. Clogher,
was the
Armagh, Lismore,
In Ireland, there were Bardic colleges at
Aithan, the son of Conachar,
chief Bard, or laureate, of Arth, or Art, king of Ireland.
On
the
death of that monarch, he accompanied his son and successor as Chief Bard. It is beheved that originally the Bards were Celtic priests, and that it was not unti thei office was usurped by the Druids that they
became mere poets, heralds, and chanters to the Drui. The voice of the Bard caused instant attention if heard by armies in the heat of action, both sides immediately desisting from fighting, so appearance of Bard operated as modern flag of truce. His word was to be credited in preference to that of any other person whatever. According to the old Welsh laws, whoever even slightly injured
BARDS AND VAXES
85
Bard was to be fined six sows and one hundred and twenty pence. Bard was to be visited with severe punishment serious assault on In Ireland, to kill Bard fine of one hundred and twenty cows. and crime of the highest degree, while to seize his estate was deemed was an act of sacrilege. Bardism inculcated
free
investigation
all
to the attainment of truth and wisdom, grounded
To beHeve nothing and
to beUeve everything,"
matters contributing
upon the aphorism that
to
is,
beheve
The everything supported by reason and proof and nothing without." Bard was, however, to be bold in the cause of truth, in accordance with The Truth
his
From
the Triads of
in opposition to the world."
Dynwal Moelmud, who
about four hundred years before the Christian
is
era,
There are three distinguished characters First, the chief
Bard or the
free privileged
conventional bard.
being
He must
we
learn that
of the art of
Bard,
dignity and privilege through discipline under ised,
said to have written
who
Bardism.
obtains his
master duly author-
preserve every record of
the arts and sciences whilst he should continue in his office of Bard regularly inducted in
dignity and privilege.
He must
also
keep
country and tribe respecting marriage, pedigrees, arms, inheritances, and privileges of the country and tribe of the Cambrians. The second is the Ovate, who obtains every record
and memorial
of
the
and praiseworthy sciences, by fully proving that he understands them before the customary and honourable convention of the Bards, or where sessions guaranteed by there is no such convention, before his dignity according to the privilege of public genius
the tribe of the district or
before
The Ovate
twelve of the judges of his court,
twelve juniors of the court in the customary manner. is
not to be interrogated respecting any regular discipline,
through which he
may have
passed nor respecting anything
except that his views of the sciences be strictly accurate. is
done
for the
And
else,
this
purpose of protecting the sciences where the regular
and where the sciences and arts of record and wisdom are in danger of being totally lost by the failure of organised teachers and skilful masters. Beside they are privileged th arts by submitting for the purpose of improving and enlargin every new experience respecting them to the judgment of masters and wise men, so that they may establish them and annex the and also lest the sciences of wisdom may be common privileges deprived of the knowledge that arises from the natural bursts of The third is the poetic genius and the energies of inventions. Druid-Bard, who must be graduated conventional-Bard, and be communicate inducted in wisdom and the sciences, and be instruction
are not found,
DRUIDISM
86
judgment and views respecting them. He is raised to this oflSce according to the privilege granted by reason and the tribe of the customary Convention and is elected by ballot, which election is His office is to impart guaranteed by the vote of the Convention. instruction and to teach the sciences of wisdom and virtue in the Convention of the Bards, in the court, the sacred place, and in every Each of these three family where he has his office in full privilege. is entitled by equity and law to five acres of free land according to professor of the authorised arts, besides what his privilege as free-born Cambrian, for the belongs to him by his privilege as privilege by the arts does not abrogate that by nature, nor that by nature what the arts produce." great number of memoranda of remarkable The Triads contain events which are said to have taken place among the Ancient Britons, his
but are entirely deficient in the matter of dates, as instanced in the following examples
There were three awful events
was the bursting
Lake
in
the Isle of Britain
the
and the rushing of an nu da on until all persons were destroyed, all the lands, except Dwyvan and Dw^^ack, who escaped in an open vessel and from them the Isle of Britain was re-peopled." Inlthe most ancient songs of the Bards the naked vessel without ship sails by'which the island of Britain was constantly alluded to was Dwyvan preserving what was left of th inhabitant of the old world. and Dwyvach signify in the Welsh language, man and woman." The former was also called Dyglan, son of the sea," and Hu Gadarn, the mighty inspector." He was thus described by one of he en Bards first
Hu
of the
of Floods,
Gadarn, the sovereign, the ready protector,
and the renown,
King, distributing
The Emperor
And
of the land
the hfe of
all in
and
seas.
the world was he,
After the deluge, he held
The strong beam'd plough, active and excellent Thus did our Lord of stimulating genius. That he might show to the proud man, and to the humbly wise The most approv'd art, with the faithful father." Another
of these historical Triads
song and record of the Kymry nation Genhedon, who was the first in the world that composed
The three inventors
Gwyddon
vocal song
Hu
memory and first
of
the Mighty,
first
appHed vocal song to strengthen
and Tydain, the father of poetic genius, who on poetic song and made it the medium of record.
record
conferred art
who
BARDS AND VATES
87
From
done by these three men, originated Bards and were and the privileges and institutes of Bardism organised by the three primary Bards, Plenydd, Alawn, and Gwron." There is another Triad which runs There are three pillars of the nation of the Isle of Britain. The first was Hu, the Mighty, who brought the nation of the Kymry first to the Isle of Britain and they came over from the Hazy Sea The to the Isle of Britain and to Armorica, where they settled.
who
second was Prydain, the son of Aedd,
first
organised
for, before that time there and sovereignty in Britain was no justice but what was done by favour, nor any law except that of supreme force. The third was Dyvwall Moclmud, for he first made arrangements respecting the laws, maxims, customs, and And on account of es th ee privileges of the country and tribe. reasons they were called the three pillars of the nation of the Kymry."
social state
Two
others of
similar character are
There were three social tribes of the Isle of Britain. The first was the tribe of the Kymry, who came to the Isle of Britain country and with Hu, the Mighty, because he would not possess The land by fighting and pursuit, but by justice and tranquillity. second was the tribe of the Lloegrians, who came from Gascony,
Kymry. because they came by
and they were descended from the primitive These were called the hr tribes, peac pe acef ef mutual consent and tranquillity and these
from the primitive
tribe of the
tribe of the
tribes
were descended
Kymry, and they had
all
three the
same language and speech. There were three refuge-seeking tribes that came to the of Britain
of the
without opposition. The was the tribe of the Caledonians in the north. The second was
tribe of first
and they came under the peace and permission
Isle
the
Kymry, without
the Irish tribe,
who
The
dwell in the Highlands of Scotland.
who when
third
was drowned, came in naked vessels to the Isle of Wight, where they had land granted to them by the tribe of Kymry. They had no privilege of claim in the Isle of Britain, but they had land and protection assigned to them under cert certai ai limi limita tati tion on and it was stipulated that they
were the people of Galedin,
should not possess the rank of native
their country
Kymry,
until the ninth of
their lineal descendants."
The Bards were in the habit of decorating their plants and herbs suitable to the season and suggestive
tribunals with of
some moral
These were Alban Eilir, or the vernal equinox
truth in religious doctrine. 1.
2.
The trefoil for The vervain for Alban Hervin,
or the
summer
solstice
DRUIDISM
88 3.
Ears of wheat for Alban Elved, or the autumnal equinox
4.
Mistletoe for Alban Arthvan, or the winter equinox.
The
principle of the Bardic
Mcmoria Technica was the number
three,
histor oric ical al fact fact were committed to memory and religious, scientific, and hist under this form of Triads, of which various discoveries have been made and compiled, particularly of the tenth, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth The Bards brought this system of acquiring knowledge to centuries. the highest state of perfection, and it was applied to the purpose of The Triads, however, preserving every kind of knowledge and science. as the production of any one individual, or of any must not be eg rd given period of time, but as an accumulation formed successively by national concurrences, as the various events appeared and became The arrangement of classes, both in recognised in public observation. partook of the ternary form. Nothing could religi giou ou poli polity ty civil and reli reference to this figure. be transacted by the British Druids without occa casi sion on th pr proc oces essi sion on moved three times round th sa re On solemn oc enclosure the invocations were thrice repeated, and the poetry was The ternary deiseal, or procession from east to composed in Triads. rites, as secular, west by the south, accompanied all and nothing was accounted holy without the performance of this preword, the Triad formed the spirit of religion In liminary ceremony. among the forefathers of Britain it was introduced into the poetry, it pervaded the philosophy, politics, and morals and, like the property for which the number three was venerated by all antiquity, it formed the beginning, middle and end of all policy, whether civil, military, or religious.
Speaking
by most
generally, the
historical value of the Triads
accepted
Edward Davies, in his Celtic Researches, says among the oldest Welsh MSS. many historical notices
authorities.
We
find
upon the model
of the Druidical Triads
remains of Druidical ages. all
upon other grounds.
and purporting
Their contents furnish, in
strong evidence of their authenticity. at
is
Many
my
cannot account
be the opinion, for
them
collections of these Triads are
preserved at this day, in old copies upon vellum."
The
editors of Welsh Archcsology say
The Triads may be considered amongst the most valuable and curious productions preserved in the Welsh language and they contain great number of memorials of the remarkable events which took place among the ancient Britons. Unfortunately,
however, they are entirely deficient with respect to dates
and,
considered singly, they are not well adapted to preserve the con-
Yet collection of Triads combined together, as condense more information into small compass than is
nexion of history. these are,
BARDS AND VATES to be accomplished,
by any other method
perhaps,
mode
quently, such
89 and, conse-
of composition is superior to all others
for
system of tradition."
the formation of
The following Triads are submitted as proof of the nobility of the system of ethics and morals as taught and practised by the Druids, Bards, and Ovates
The three primary Concern Laws of God with fortitude
The
all
th
for
What
how
of
and Suffering
life.
man's actions
of
Obedience to the
mankind
of
acci ac cide dent nt
three great laws
another
Wisdom
principles of
he requires from another
What he forbids in and What he cares not
done by another.
The Decorum.
three
Three
ends
great
things
of
corrupt
the
Knowledge world
Duty,
Pride,
Utility,
and
Superfluity,
and
Indolence.
There are three things which God to look at
pomp
monster, and the
Fighting,
Diogenes Laertius,
will not love
who
him that dehghts
of pride.
died a.d. 222, gives as one of the Bardic
Triads
To worship
the gods
to
and to exercise
evil
fortitude.
Other Triads are
The three foundations
Bardism
of
man
For three reasons ought if
necessary
Peace, Love, and Justice.
to hazard his
In seeking for truth
life
and to
lose
In cHnging to justice
it,
and
In performing mercy.
The following Triads
brated prince and legislator,
The of life
Laws
are the
who
of
Dyvnwal Moelmud,
flourished in the fifth century b.c.
three principles and protection of
and person
the cele-
security of possession
Security
social state
and dwelling
security
of national right.
Three things that confirm the social state Effectual security of property just punishment where it is due nd me merc rc tempering justice where the occasion requires it in equity.
The three elements
of
law are knowledge, national
right,
and
conscientiousness.
The
three ornaments of
the ingenious artist of
of
and the
social state
The learned
scholar
just judge.
The three proofs of judge Knowledge of the law knowledge the customs which the law does not supersede and knowledge its times and the business thereto belonging. Three things which
judge ought always to study
Equity
DRUIDISM
90
mercy conscientiously
habitually
and knowledge profoundly and
accurately.
Dynwal declared that there were Three persons who forfeit Hfe, and who cannot be redeemed one who shall kill another through traitor to country and kindred
The Laws
of
and proved thief for the worth of more than four byzants. Some of the Welsh Triads bear witness to the Druidical belief in Supreme Being There are three primary unities, and no more of each one Truth One God and one Point of Liberty kind exist and this is where all opposites equipreponderate. Three things of which God necessarily consists The greatest and the greatest power and of what the greatest knowledge life is greatest there can be no more than one of any thing. do Three things it is impossible God Whatever whatever perfect goodness would desire perfect goodness and whatever goodness is able to perform. to be Three things evince what God has done and will do Infinite and Infinite love for there is nothing Infinite wisdom power that these attributes want of power, of knowledge, or to ferocity
perform.
Three things is
most
is
it
impossible
what
beneficial
is
God should not perform
most wanted
and what
is
What
most beautiful
of all things.
The three grand
attributes of
God
Infinite plenitude of Hfe
and Infinite power. knowledge thin in that th at none but God can do Three th
Infinite
of
the Circle
of
Infinity
without changing causing the loss of
Endure the
eternities
Participate of every state of existence
and Reform and renovate every thing without it.
have produced rational beings Divine love Divine wisdom knowing all possible possessed of perfect knowledge joint will of divine love and Divine power possessed by means and divine wisdom. Here are two further Triads worthy of quotation man equal to an angel Three things which make The love and the love of pleasing God. the love of charity of every good man to God, who does good There are three sorts of men for evil man to man, who does good for good and evil for evil man to the devil, who does evil for good. and The candidates for the degree of Ovate had to be well versed in Each had to be proposed by science, letters, medicine, and language. pers rson onal ally ly by judge or Druid or Bard, to whom he was known pe Three causes
BARDS AND VAXES magistrate, or, failing these,
Ovates wore
91
by twelve respectable men.
green robe, that being
The
British
symbolical of learning,
mantle of grey or sky-blue. The badge was but the Irish Ovates wore The judgment of heaven will golden star, bearing the inscription
severely
punish
iniquity."
The Ovates otEciated
as
physicians
and
and are said to have been greatly proficient in natural philosophy and the secret workings of nature. Diodorus Siculus says that the Ovates from auspices and the entrails of victims predicted future events. On the fall of Druidism, Bardism adapted itself to Christianity, for the Chair of Urien Rheged, that military chief who led the British against the Saxons at the memorable battle of Cattraeth, celebrated by Aneurin, in his immortal Gododin, was decidedly Christian. diviners,
CHAPTER
V.
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC One
of the principal items in the curriculum of
initiate during his
twenty years' novitiate, which was spent
was instruction
of the forest,
study of
Druidical
in the
depths
In the art of magic.
upon
magic which does skilful dexterity in hand-manipulanot mean deception, or cunning, or tion alone, though it is sometimes employed in one or other or all of Magic proper, however, means the understanding of nature, these ways. and it derived its name from the fact that this occult knowledge was The supposed to be the exclusive possession of the Magi, or wise men. Confused
often held
ar
founder of Magic
is
this subject of
claimed by the mythologists to have been Chus, the
reputed founder of the Cuthites,
who
is
also accredited
by tr di io
The Greeks, however, claim be the first to venture upon the high seas. that magical arts were invented in Persia, in which country the Magi applied themselves to the study of philosophy and the assiduous search after the
most curious works and mysteries
of
Nature.
These men were
chosen generally to superintend divine worship and all religious rites they attended constantly upon kings to advise them and ceremonies in all affairs of moment and were chosen for the highest honours and later It was at and confidence. stage in Persian history that thei credit and esteem became diminished in consequence of their abandonment of the contemplation of nature and the betaking of themselves to the invocation of demons. The magicians and sorcerers whom Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar
places
demanding the greatest
summoned
aid are referred to in the Gaelic Bible as Draoitho,
Druids, the same in the
trust
name
New Testament
word Druid
in
Celtic
as
is
are mentioned
given to the wise
as travelling from the East to Bethlehem. signifies
New
The
wizard," and the translators of the
Testament into that language have accordingly rendered the Simon Magus Simon the Druid." expression as Professor John Rhys, in his Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion, says
The appearance
of
Simon on
Celtic
ground
is
not very
difficult
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC to
He was known
explain.
opponent that was
of the apostles,
pagan
tonsure usual
and
among
and
to
the
his
93
early Church
name became
anti-Christian
thus,
identified
the
ancient
the clergy of the British Church
half of the eighth century,
and among those
notorious
as
of the
till
with
all
Druidic
the latter
Irish
Church At
Druidi tonsur continued. was probably rate, it was described by those who had adopted the Roman tonsure As to Ireland, in particular, all the fiercest as that of Simon Magus. opposition there to Christianity is described as headed by the Druids, who competed with Patrick and other saints in working miracles. So it would be natural enough to Christian writers to liken the chief Druids of Ireland to Simon, especially seeing that when Druid," had to be rendered the Latin tongue the native word drui, versa, Simon Magus became in Irish by magus, nay, he was at last claimed Simon the Druid Simon Drui, or as an Irish ancestor and as such he appears as Simon Brec, or Simon the Freckled, son of Starn, or Stariath of the family of Nemid, and Fir Bolg, who, owing to Simon's eastern origin, as ancestor of are made to come from the east on one of the motiveless wanderings
not quite so
so
common The
late,
in the
legendary history of Ireland.
m)-thical creation,
known
as Roth Fail, or Fail's Wheel,
have been and Roth Ramach, or the wheel with paddles, is celebrated Irish Magus, assisted by Mog Ruith, made Druid from the island of Valencia, who, having learned all the Druidism or magic that could be learned in these islands, went with his daughter to take lessons from Simon Magus, in whose contest The wheel was part. Peter he is represented as taking with but it met with an accident, to enable Simon to sail in the air and Mog Ruith's daughter brough certain fragments of it to Ireland, one of which she fixed as the rock or pillar stone of Cnamchoill, place near Tipperary, the name of which has been Anglicised into Cleghile. The stone was believed have produced blindness if looked at, and death if touched."
known as Druidity and the Druidism." The Irish Druids of ancient
In Ireland the modern art of magic magician's
wand
as the
Rod
of
is
have been in league with the demons of paganism, and to have been able, through their to their friends and to work mischief upon their agency, to enemies. They were credited by the people with the power of transforming men into stone pillars by magical means, and this credulity assisted in making the Druids as great as, if not greater than, any priesthood in ancient or modern times. They were held in such veneration by times are said to have been
species of sorcerers, to
DRUIDISM
94
that no public measures
all classes
became
unless
and
tmtil
they received their approbation.
The
the Nemedians and the Formarians
had their Druids, who worked mutual spells against each other. The Tuathade-Danann had innumerabl Druids among them who employed spells. The Tuatha-de-Danann were descendants of those who followed the Nemedians out of Ireland when the Africans usurped that kingdom. They landed in Achaia, where they learned the arts of necromancy and enchantment and became experts in magical knowledge. It was said that when the country of Achaia and the Athens were invade by the Assyrians, these sorcerers were enabled by means of their charms to revive the bodies of the dead Athenians and bring them again on to the field of battle The Assyrians resolved to take counsel of learned Druid and discover, if possible, in they could defeat the skiU of those necromancers and break the power of their charms. The Druid told them that after battle was over they should thrust stake of wood through every one of the dead bodies this would demonstrate whether the dead were brought to life by diabolical means or divine power. if
pre-Milesian races
If
could not then be resuscitated
the former,
the latter, they would find
The Assyrians
it
futile to fight against
but
an Almighty Power.
upon the advice given, and the sorcerers were defeated. The Tuatha-de-Danann then fled from Achaia and Greece and betook themselves to Norway and Denmark, afterwards migrating to Scotland and then back former home, Ireland. Druids are mentioned in connection with all early Irish stories, from the first colonisation down to the time of the saints. At the time of the battle between the Milesians in Ireland and the invaders in the early days of th Christia era, some of the invaders, known by the name of Tuatha Fiodhga, poisoned the heads of their arrows, which had the effect of making the slightest wound mortal incu ab e. Criomthan Sciathbeil, who was governor of Leinster at the time, was informed by are said to have acted
Milesian Druid,
named Trosdane,
of
an antidote to such poisonous
wounds. It was to procure one hundred and fifty white-faced cows and with when he had digged pit near to the place where he usually
empty their milk into the hole, and when any of his soldiers were wounded by the enemy, they were to go immediately into the pit and bathe themselves in the milk, which would prove sovereign antidote his foe, to
against the poison.
Druid
Criomthan,
said,
advice of the
complete and the Milesians, as result, obtained The wandering Picts, after tedious voyage Around the British coasts, at length arrive where the GadeHans Upon the Irish shore Were fighting with the Britons fierce and cruel,
victory.
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC Who, with envenom'd Dispensed and many
arrows, certain death
brave Milesian
Languished with wounds incurable,
By By
95
till
relieved
prevailing antidote, prescribed
the wise Trosdane, of the Pictish race.
This learned Druid, exquisitely
skill'd
In poison, did expel the subtle
venom
warm bath
By
the dugs
of milk,
Of an fifty bald-faced cows distilled The soldiers here soften'd their rankling wounds. And washed, and to the fight returned unhurt. Thus were the Britons routed in the field
And
all their
barbarous art defeated."
Fiachadh Muilleathan, king of Munster, appealed on one occasion Druid, named Modhrauith, to dehver his armies out of difficulties to occasioned by the lack of water. The charm used by the Druid was an enchanted dart, which he flung into the air with all his force, and from the spot of ground upon which the arrow fell there sprang fountain of the purest water sufhcient to supply the wants of the ho rm According to legendary lore, the Druids could, by their magical powers, create clouds and mists and bring down showers of fire and blood. St. Patrick, on his way to Tara one Easter Sunday morning, chanted hymn beseeching God to protect him against the spells of women, smiths, and Druids. In contest which the Druids had at Tara with the celebrated Irish apostle, they are said to have caused snow to descend by means of their magical incantations. The following account is given of an encounter between th Drui Dr uidi dica ca magicians and St. Patrick thes es th thin ings gs being done between the magician and Patrick, All th the king says to
them
Cast your books into the water, and he
whose books shall escape uninjured we will adore.' Patrick answered, will do so.' And the magician said am unwilling to come to the trial of water with this man, because he has water as his god he had heard that baptism was given by Patrick with water.
And
the king [Laogaire] answering, said
Patrick said said
This
man
god, water and
am
ready
alternately,
fire.'
And
Allow
it
by
lire
and
but the magician, being unwilling, in
each successive year, adores as
the saint said
Not
so,
but thou thyself
and one of my boys shall go with thee into separate and closed house, and my vestment shall be on thee and thine on him and thus together you shall be set on fire.' And this counsel was approved of and there was house built for them, the half of which was made of green wood and the other half of dry and the magician was sent into that part of the house that was green and shalt go
DRUIDISM
96 of the
of St.
Bienus by name, with the vest of
Patrick,
The house, then being
the magician into the dry part of the house.
was
closed on the outside,
and
came
it
on
set
fire
before the whole multitude,
by the prayers
to pass in that hour,
of Patrick, that the
consumed the magician, with the green half of the house, while the garment of St. Patrick remained untouched, because the But the fo on th co tr fort rtun unat at Bi Bien enus us fire did not touch it. trar ar the dry half of the house, according to what is said of the three children, was not touched by the fire, neither was he annoyed, nor did he experience any inconvenience only the garment of the magician which he had about him was burned." flame of
fire
In the Life of Senan mention is made of the use of charms and spells brother of Senan, was ordered by King MacTail by the Druids. Coel, of
Hui Figente
to
command his on his way
brother to leave his territory.
Coel met
perform his errand. When MacTail heard the news he was angry, but his Druid said to him Thou needest charm with me to him, will take not to be anxious about this, for and he shall either die or leave thy land in possession." The victory,
with death
w^hile
to
however, did not come to the Druid. In the story of The Retreat of the Sons of Mile we read The sons of Mile submitted to the judgment of Amairgen.
They returned by
the
way they had come,
and, going on board
withdrew from the shore to the mysterious distance of nine waves, in accordance with the judgment of Amairgen. As soon as the Tuatha de Danann found them launched upon the sea, their Druids and the people began to chant magic poems, which caused furious tempest to arise, so fleet of the sons of Mile was driven far out and dispersed."
their ships,
Mannanan-Beg-Mac-y-Lheirr the
first
after
person
whom
who
Man
held
the land was
paynim (pagan).
He
(the Isle
named
he reigned
many
kept the island under
If he dreaded necromancy. hundred, and that by magic art."
the Isle of Man.
Mannanan), Son of the Sea," of Man), was the ruler thereof,
(Little
Little
Mannanan
is
years,
mist by means
he could cause one
man
to
seem
Thus runs one of the legends of said to have been converted to
Christianity by St. Patrick in a.d. 447. St.
Patrick could meet charm with charm.
the Druids sought to poison
It
is
said that
when
him he wrote the following words and placed
the paper on which they were written over the liquor in which the food
had been placed
Tubu
fis
fri
ibu,
fis
ibu anfis
Fris bru natha, ibu lithu, Christi Jesus,"
Dntidicid at
Festival
Slont'liengt'.
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC
97
and declared that whoever pronounced these words over poisoned Hquor would sustain no injury. According to the Scnchus Mor When the men of Erin heard of the killing of the living and the resuscitation of the dead, and all the power of Patrick since his and when they saw Leghaire with his Druids overarrival in Erin come by the great signs and miracles wrought in the presence of the
men
they bowed down in obedience to the will of
of Erin,
and Patrick." Part of the ancient St.
hymn known
God
as Ntnine's Prayer, referring to
Patrick, runs
He He
fought against hard-hearted Druids, thrust down the proud men with the aid of our Lord of
fair
heavens,
He
We
purified the great offspring of
meadow-landed Erin,
pray to Patrick, chief apostle, who will save us at the judgment from doom to the malevolence of dark demons, Against snares of demons, Against black laws of heathenry, Against spells of women, smiths, and Druids."
Columba was anxious to release. The Druid refused to listen to Columba's request, whereupon an angel broke the glass cup out of which he was drinking, which caused him to Columba healed the Druid's wounds by means of be cut severely. Columba Another act attributed magic pebble which floated on water. bull have been drawn from was the turning into blood of milk Scottish Druid. by Druid whose
There was
There
is
poem
Irish slave
attributed to Columba, part of which runs
adore not the voice of birds.
Nor Nor
My
nor
destiny on the earthly world
son, nor chance, nor
Drui
is
Christ, the
Son
woman, of
God."
Another verse, bearing reference to the practice
of divination
among
the ancient Druids, runs
Our fate depends not on sneezing. twig, bird perched on Nor on knotted tree, Nor on the root of of clapping hands Nor on Better is He in whom we trust. The father, the One, and the Son." There if
not
is
Gothic manuscript of
which reads Columba went once of
or thirteenth century,
earlier, part of
time to the King of Curithne (Picts),
DRUIDISM
98
and the door of the dun (castle) was shut against him and the iron locks of the town were opened readily through the prayers of Columba. Then Maelcu, the King's son, came to his Druid to resist Columba through Paganism." of We know from Adamnan that there were magi in Brude, near Inverness. They were called Geintighecht by the Christian viz.,
to Brude, son of Milcoln,
writers.
Among
other achievements, the Druids have been credited with the
man insane simply by flicking wisp of straw, which power to drive was called Dlui fulla, in At the famous battle of Culdreimne (Coolcrevny) in a.d. 560, accordFraechan, son of Temnan, it was that ing to the Annals of Ulster made the Druids' erbe for Diramit. Tuatan, son of Diman, it was that The same author is responsible for threw overhead the Druids' crheP Fergus Glutt, king of Cobha, died from the statement that in a.d. 738, the envenomed spittles of evil men." The belief that magical powers were in the possession of certain well on in the Christian wiU be individuals was etaine Sopater, the philosopher, and friend of Constantine, was accused era. of binding the winds in an adverse quarter by the influence of magic, Constantinople, and, in response to
so that warships could ecclesiastical clamour, the
Emperor was compelled
to issue the order for
his decapitation.
can be traced to Druidism, and some of the practices attributed to witches after aU traces of Druidical worship and customs were supposed to have died out are nevertheless exact, or almost Belief in witchcraft
exact, reproductions of the practices attributed to the Druids authorities.
the direct
More than one writer has descendant of the Druidess,
by
earlier
Scottish witch
and,
is
according to Pomponius
Mela, the Druidesses of the Isle of Sena could grant
fair
winds or
raise
tempests, and, in 1792, the author of the Statistical Account of the Hebrides in the island of Gigha it was believed that by performing certain ceremonies
at
fountain there, persons thus initiated into
its
mysteries could cause the wind to blow from any quarter desired.
Concerning Druidesses, however, much controversy has arisen, some
Most writers, however, agree that there even disputing their existence. were Druidesses and that they were divided into three classes, but none performed priestly duties.
The members
of the first,
or highest, class
took vows of perpetual virginity, and were regarded as the elite of the Their duty was to attend to th sacred fire, and they were known order. but sometimes as Breochuidh, together in communities, Th member of this class fire keepers." The second class married, but spent the separated from the world.
as Inghean an Dagha,
daughters of
fire,"
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC greater part of their time in religious work. of the groves,
made
99
They wove the hangings
the vestments of the priests, took part in certain
and performed the ordinary duties of the household. consisted of such as performed the most servile offices
of the ceremonies,
The
third class
In Gaul, the second about the temples and the priests' households. continence, remaining always class, though married, were vowed year to consort with within the temple enclosure, emerging only once The third lived at home their husbands for the purpose of procreation. with their husbands, training their children, but devoting their leisure
work in the temple. Although there, as in Britain, they were dependents and subordinates of the Druids, they, in fact, superintended entirely the divine mysteries and sacrifices, entrance to certain parts of to men. Druidesses appear also to have the temples being to
formed part
of
the
Irish
ecclesiastical
organization.
Toland,
in
his
Druidess, who resided near History of the Druids, speaks of Gealcossa, Gealcossa's Mount, in Inisoen, in the county of Donegal. Her name, he
Homeric strain, signifying white-legged.' On this hill is her grave, and hard by is her temple, being sort of diminutive Stonehenge, which many of the old Irish dare not at this day in any way says,
is
of
profane."
Every Druid wore around
Druid's Egg."
as the angiiinum, or
the following account of
There
is,
his neck,
encased in gold, what was known
Natural History, give
Pliny,
it
kind of egg held in high esteem by the
besides,
inhabitants of Gaul, unnoticed by the Greek writers. the serpents' egg of serpents, twiste
folding
by the
called
it,
the slime of their bodies.
saliva of their
The Druids say that
is
an immense number summer, are rolled up in an artificial
and, in order to produce together in
It
and that it must be intercepted in th ground. cloak before it each The person who seizes it flies on horseback, for th serp nt pursue him till they are stopped by the intervention of some river. The proof of this egg is, that, though bound in gold, it will swim against the stream. And, as the magi are very artful and cunning in concealing this egg
is
tossed on high with hissings
their frauds, they pretend that this egg can only be obtained at
certain time of the
moon,
as
if
this operation of th
serpents could
be rendered congruous to human determination. have indeed seen that egg of the size of an ordinary round apple, worn by the Druids in chequered cover resembling the enormous calculi in the arms of
polypus.
Its virtue is highly extolled for gaining
and procuring access
law
and worn with so great ostentatio that knew Roman knight by birth, Vocentian, who was slain by the Emperor Claudius for no cause whatever except suits
to kings
DRUIDISM
100
wearin
on
of these eggs
on
dependence
his breast during the
of
lawsuit." It is
not improbable that this egg and the alleged marvellous manner
had connection with some primary dogma which Pliny Hughes, in Hora Britannica, says that in the writings never fathomed. mummery of the ancient Bards several allusions to what he terms the are to be found, one of which he quotes as follows Lively was th aspect of him, who, in his prowess, had snatched distance over the ford that involved ball which casts its rays to the splendid product of the adder, shot forth by serpents." The Druids themselves were called Nadredd, or snakes, by the Welsh mystical mentioned by and the whole the Bards reference to the difficulty of attaining Druidical secrets and the danger There is, of course, no doubt that this famous object of disclosing them. The art of making these of Druidic superstition was merely artificial.
of its production
known only
being
trinkets
the credulity of the
common
to the Druids,
they availed themselves of
people, to magnify the virtues of
mysterious import. them sacred reptile among the Druids. The serpent was
them and
to give
its spiral coils
to represent the eternal existence of the Almight)'.
many
us that in
tells
They supposed
parts of Wales
and throughout
all
Camden
Scotland and
an opinion held by the people that about Midsummer Eve the snakes meet in company and that by joining heads together and kind of bubble is formed which, by continually being blown hissing, upon, passes through the body, when it immediately consolidates and glass ring, which, whoever finds, shall prosper in all his resembles Cornwall
it is
undertakings.
The
snake stones." stone
is
there
is
rings
Wirt
thus generated are called Glcinunadroeth, or
Sikes,
in
British
Goblins,
striking W'elsh tradition associated with
says
snake
Midsummer Eve, and
Welsh saying respecting people who lay their heads together blowing the gem." talkers are in conversation Any water poured on the serpents' eggs is said to have had wonderful It has also been life-giving power and become able to produce life. asserted that the Druids were wont to place live serpents at the foot of the altar during the time of sacrifice.
In Scotland, the Druids' egg was
was
in
great
known
as
reputation for the foreteUing of
an adder stone, and events, the working
it
of
and the gaining of law suits. bead of red glass, spotted with In the Scottish Museum there is others of white another of dark brown glass, spotted with yellow and two of curiously figured pale green and blue glass, plain and ribbed patterns, wrought with various colours interwoven in their surface. These glass baubles were badges and passports that th bearer were miracles, the curing of disease,
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC
loi
and whoever purloined or carried one without authorization was pursued by the deadly vengeance of the Brotherhood. The amulet round bead at was variously shaped. Sometimes it was like sometimes it was glass boat glass circle, crescent with others, like In every case it was regarded and sometimes it resembled glass house. initiated,
powerful
as
talisman.
Camden
has
thus
described
these
magical
appendages These geminse anguinje are small glass amulets, commonly of green colour as wide as our finger rings, but much thicker
though some of them are blue, and others curiousl waved with blue, red, and white." Specimens have frequently been found in the Isle of Anglesea. white for Druids, blue for Bards, and green Smaller consecrated beads for Ovates were carried by the individuals and interred with them at number of these beads were found in an excavation made at death. usually,
Quarrington in 1828. Beautiful
is
Taliesin,
the circle with
its
speaking of enriche
The anguinum was not known
in
warrior's
amulet, says
border." Ireland,
by
the
Llhwyd, the antiquarian, being The Druid doctrine about the Glain Neidr obtains very much but there throughout all Scotland, as well lowlands as highlands is
not
snakes,
word
of
kingdom
it
propagate
they
where, as there are it.
Besides
snake-stones,
highlanders have their small snail stones, paddock stones,
aU which they attribute
their
special
virtues
the
etc.,
to
and wear them
as
amulets." In another
letter, referring to
the same subject, he says
variety of charms, and have still towards The Cornish retain the Land's End the amulet of Mael Magal and Gelin Nedir, which latter they call Milpreu, or Melpreu, and have charm for the snake to make it, when they have found one asleep and struck hazel wand in the centre of her spires." Edwards supposes Welsh Bardic title of Nadredd is to be traced to the belief in transmigration. The serpent, which sheds its skin annually and appears to return to second youth, may have been regarded by them, as well as by other people of that time, as symbol of renovation,
and
this renovation or reincarnation
was th grea doctrine
by the Arkite mysteries and by the symbolical Mason, in Caractacus, has described the ceremony anguinum in the following words
set forth
potent adder stone
Gender'd
When
'fore
th'autumnal moon
in undulating twin
egg. of securing
the
DRUIDISM.
102
The foaming snakes
When
prolific join
they hiss and when they bear
Their wondrous egg aloof in
Thence, before to earth
The Druid,
air,
fall
it
in his hallow'd pall.
Receives the prize.
And
instant
flies,
Follow'd by th' envenom'd brood
he cross the crystal flood."
Till
The Druids represented the wren as the king of all the birds and the Welsh for king is bren. At one time the raven was regarded by the Greeks as the greatest of soothsaying birds. One of the Druidical proverbs ran
He
wren's nest
that takes
Will have no health
The well-known
all his life.
The Three Ravens,"
song,
survival
is
of
Druidic chant three ravens sat on
Down-a-down
They were
hey
down
tree,
hey down.
as black as black might be
down Then one of them With
Where
shall
With
Every Druid
mate
his
we now our
breakfast take.
down, down, derry, derry-down.
The wand
wand.
Druids was made from oak, but that of the Irish Druids was made from yew. At carried
the present day, in some
Roman
Catholic churches,
the faithful approach the confessional, for
wand which
the head from
of the British
practice,
them
when
touch on
the priest holds in his hand.
In this
way
In Scotland the Rowan, and exorcised. or Mountain Ash, will always be found near holy places and circles or Clachans. It was essential that on Belrane, or May-day, all sheep and hoop of the Rowan-tree, and that on all lambs should pass through also the
Isis
blessed
occasions Scottish shepherds should be the
hills
influence
Rowan wand.
with is
doorposts.
feared,
evil
is
spirits.
If
if
all
where malign Rowan branch over the
Scottish
at the present
isles,
day plant the Rowan, or
their dwellings or fields for the purpose of
be carried thrice
warding
Rowan wands, part of the spirits may be expected, round the fires kindled on the May
heather and flowers
important beneficial services on the particularly
the
the custom to place
Many Highlanders
Mountain Ash, near off
it
In
drive their flocks to
be added to
festival.
The
gift of
prophecy was also believed to be
power
in the possession
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC
103
They claimed to be able to predict future events, not only from holy wells and running streams, but also from rain and snow water, which, when settled and afterwards stirred, either by oak leaf
of the Druids.
might exhibit appearances, which would convey the credulous information to the far-seeing Druid, or appear to do inquirer, while the priest was at full liberty to represent the appearance or branch, or magic,
in of
whatever manner he thought most suited to Ceridwen was said to contain the water
his purpose. of inspiration
The cauldron and science. person and
upon the finger of This, then put into his mouth would open up futurity to his view. however, could only be done on the completion of he ours of initiation, water was an essential rite. when the testing Several instances of the exercise of this prophetic power are related in ancient Irish writings, and many of them are similar to the recorded D'Arbois de Jubainville instances of modern clairvoyant predictions. various Lives of St. Patrick and the other works of Christians says few drops of this water allowed to
who
fall
regarded the Druids as adversaries testify to the fact that even those
Christians believed in the prophetic power of the Druids.
We
read in Josephus {Antiquities,
xviii)
that the Jewish Agrippa
who put him
As he palace, an owl perched upon that stood leaning against tree before German (some versions say tree. German Druid "), one of the Emperor's guards, spake to him to be of good cheer, for he should be released from those bonds and arrive at grea di nity and power but bid him remember that when he saw the bird again, he should Uve but five days. He was made king by All this, we are told, came to pass. Caligula. speaks of his St. Paul preached before him, and fell
into the displeasure of Tiberius,
into bonds.
death agreeably to the prediction. Before St. Patrick went to Ireland, his advent was foretold by the
Druids Lucait Mael and Luccra, or Lochru, in the following lines Adzheads (tonsure heads) wiU come over furious sea Their mantles (cowls) hole-headed Their staves (croziers) crock-headed
Their tables (altars) in the east of their houses
Amen.' interesting Druidical prophecy
All will answer
An
is
told in the Life of St. Brigit,
as follows
Dubthach (father of Brigit) and bondmaid whom Dubthach married, along with him, went in
Once upon (Broicsech),
chariot
past
the
time,
house of
certain
wizard heard the noise of the is
in the chariot, for this
bov
Dubthach
is
is
wizard (Druid).
he said
My
boy, see
noise of chariot under king.'
therein.'
The wizard went out
When
to
the
who
Quoth the meet him
DRUIDISM
104
and asked whose was the woman hiding in the chariot. Mine,' Now Maithgen was the name of the wizard and said Dubthach. from him Ross Maithgin is named. The wizard asked if she was She is pregnant by me.' said Dubthach. pregnant by any one. Marvellous
Said the wizard
will
her Uke will not be on earth.'
bondmaid,'
said
Dubthach.
be the child that
My
Said
wife compels
the
wizard,
is
in her
me
to
through
womb
sell
this
grace
of
of thv bondThe seed of thy wife shall serve daughter, conspicuous, maid for the bondmaid will bring forth sun among the stars of heaven.' radiant, who will shine like Dubthach was thankful for the answer, for hitherto no daughter had been born to him." The birth of Ciaran, of Clanmacois, an Irish saint, was foretold by of King Crimthann, who Lughbrann, the Druid attached to predicted concerning him
prophecy
He healed Oengus' steed When he lay swaddled in From God
Was
ha
ra
cradle,
to Ciaran
given."
The story then goes on in prose as follows certain day the horse of Oengus, son of Crimthann, On Now when Oengus slept, an angel died, and he felt great sorrow. vision and said this to him Ciaran, of God appeared to him in the son of th wright will come and bring the horse for thee to life.' And this was fulfilled, for, at the angel's word, Ciaran came and blessed water, which was put over the horse, and the horse at once arose out of death."
An
The Etymology of Names, Lughaidh, who ruled over Ireland, circa a.m. 3490, was one of five brothers, reason the same name. is explained by all of whom certain Druid, who had the skill of prophecy, told the statement that son whose name the father, Daire Domtheach, that he should have Lughaidh, who should one day sit upon the throne of Ireland. Daire, it seems, afterwards had five sons, and the more effectually to he gave the same name to each one as he bring this prediction mature age, Daire took was born. When the five brothers reached advantage of an opportunity that presented itself and called upon the He inquired of him which of his sons would have the honour of Druid. The Druid, instead of giving him being the monarch of Ireland. direct answer to the question, ordered him to take his five sons with him general convention on the morrow to Tailteau, where there was to be While the assembly was of all the nobility and gentry of the kingdom. fawn or young deer running through the field, sitting he would see ancient
work,
entitled
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC
105
his five sons would likewise which would be pursued by all the company run among the rest, and whosoever of them overtook and kUled the fawn, his and he should be the sole monarch of the island. the crown The father followed the direction of the Druid with great exactness, and,
next day, set out with his
accordingly, th
he found the assembly
running over the
fields,
five sons for Tailteau,
where
Looking about him, he espied the fawn and the whole assembly suddenly left their debates sitting.
and pursued her, following her close until they came to Binneadirr, afterwards called the Hill of Meath. mist ha was raised by enchantHere ment separated the five sons of Daire from the other pursuers and they continued the chase and hunted her as far as Dail Maschorb, in Leinster, where Lughaidh Laighe, as the Druid foretold, overtook the fawn and The word Laighe in Irish, signifies fawn." killed her. When the Caledonians were expelled from Scythia, they met with great difficulties on the water and, uncertain which way to steer their renowned Druid, for advice. He, by course, they appealed to Caicer, means of his prophetic knowledge, informed them that there was no country ordained for them to inhabit until they arrived upon the coast of western isle, which was Ireland. The Druids, even in those days, were accredited with being men of extraordinary learning and wisdom. They were attendants of th Gadelians, and settled with them in Ireland.
have prophesied to Modha Nuagat, king of Ireland, seven years' famine to follow seven years of plenty, and A.D. circa 125, advised him to build storehouses and to buy in all the corn of the country. Modha Nuagat was so convinced of the integrity of the Druid that he gave credit to his prediction and for seven years he and his subjects Hved upon flesh and fowl, securing the corn and other necessaries of life in granaries, sending factors all over the kingdom who bought up all the provisions exposed for sale. The famine is said to have occurred exactly Druid
is
said to
as predicted.
This power of prophecy was shared also by th Druidess that foretold to Diocletian, when he was
he would be Emperor of Rome.
day
in casting
up
his accounts,
It
was
GalHa that Diocletian was amusing himself one
when
him
Druidesses soldier in
his hostess, said to be
well-known
you are too covetous." Well," repHed Diocletian, shall be liberal when come to be emperor." You shall be so," answered his hostess, when you have boar." Diocletian, struck with this answer, applied himself from slain
Druidess, thus addresse
In truth,
sir,
that time principally to the slaughter of boars, without, however, securing
bethinking that the equivalent Latin word for might refer to Aper, Numerian's father-in-law, him to
the throne
boar
last,
death, and was chosen emperor.
DRUIDISM
io6 that
It is also said
it
was
Druidess
who
said to Alexander Severus
was setting out on his last campaign, the expedition in which he Go on, my lord, but beware of was assassinated by his own soldiers your soldiers." Before setting out on the great expedition against Ulster, Medb, Queen of Connaught, went to consult her Druid, and just before the famous heroine, Derdriu, or Deirdre, was born, Caithbu prophesied what sort of woman she would be. Claudius also, stated, consulted female Druids on the question whether the empire would continue in its prosperity, and he was told that no name would be more as he
illustrious in the republic
than that of the posterity of Claudius.
examines the question of these Druidesses very thoroughly, and throws doubt on their existence and, therefore, on their predictions. He points out that nymph of the woods," the term used for Druidess is Dryas, which means Toutain,
in
Les
prctendues
Druidcsses
Gauloises,
but Greek and Latin writers never use this term when speaking of the
Druids. drouidas,
The Greeks and the Latin
write druides or druidai, with, as variant, druidee,
very rarely druides. Moreover, thes
not give the feminine as dryas.
These forms would are
prediction
Gaul adjacent to Germany. The geographical indications in the account given by Lampridius of the death of Alexander Severus are very confused. He appears to be ignorant of the exact locality where Severus was killed he does not know whether it was Brittany or Gaul. But it is known from other sources that was killed Mayence, at the extreme east of Gaul. The text of the Ufe of Aurelian does not give any particulars locality. But in have taken place
in that part of
the case of Diocletian,
known
incident took
for certain
place in the country of the Tungri, in the neighbourhood of the Mause. Also, says Toutain,
it
would be astonishing to
find Druidesses in the third
century a.d., since no authors of the first century knew of their existence. Neither Caesar, Diodorus of Sicily, or Strabo mention Druidesses. The
women who made such as described
desperate resistance at the taking of Anglesea,
by Tacitus, were female
fanatics.
No
makes any
historian
reference to Druidesses.
Mela, however,
in the Isle of Sena, off the coast of
there resided nine consecrated virgins, called Gallicena;,
who
Armorica,
could raise
up storms and tempests by their songs, cure all diseases, predict the future, and transform themselves into all shapes of animals. They are have solemnised in that isle the bloody orgies of Bacchus. The ruid were also experts in the science of psychotherapy. Lady Wilde, in one of her works, says
The
priests
and magi
ful faculty of healing.
of the ancient
They were
Druids possessed
wonder-
able to hypnotise the patients
by
the waving of the wand, and, while under the spell of this procedure,
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC the latter could
tell
what was happening afar
107 off,
being vested with
cures by stroking ffecte They with the hand, and this method was thought to be of special efficacy They also employed other remedies which in rheumatic affections. appealed to the imagination, such as various mesmeric charms and
the power of clairvoyance.
incantations."
Vervain was much used in magical operations and many virtues were ascribed to it. By rubbing themselves with it, the Druids claimed it banished fevers, cured all sorts of to obtain anything they desired maladies, and reconciled the hearts of those that were at enmity one with another to
make
sprinkled
those
who
by way
upon guests, it had virtue more gay and better pleased
of aspersion
with
it
high The medical practitioners held than the rest of the company. distinguished place at and influential place in the Order and occupied the royal tables, next to nobles, and above the armourers, smiths, and
They were
wear special robe of large honour at the courts of kings, and were always attended by number of pupils, who assisted their masters in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the preparation necessary for the curative potions. The Druids were inordinately attached to augury and divination, one of their methods being the practice of casting stones into water and Other methods counting the number of circular ripple thus formed. were the Druid's wheel, sneezing, examination of tree roots, the howling particularly the croaking of the raven of dogs, and the singing workers in metals.
also entitled to
When St. Kellach, Bishop of Kellala, and of the wren. was about to be murdered, the rave cr aked and the wise little wren After the deed was perpetrated, the birds of prey came twittered. scrambling for their share, but every one that ate the least morsel of the
Both Pliny and Cicero bear testimony to the Druidical practice of sortilege or divination. They would foretell the future by the flight of birds and by the inspection of the entrails of the people would obey them unquestioningly, and it was an established custom among them that no one should offer sacrifice if philosopher were not present. It was claimed that no one could offer saint's flesh
sacrifices
these
dropped dead.
acceptable to the gods except through
men who knew
the intermediary of
the divine nature with which
supposed
to be in communication. Tacitus, in Germania
(c. x.),
speaks of
full-grown tree from which
branch was severed and afterwards divided into small cuttings which were marked and then flung upon white cloth, and, as the sticks fortuitously
fell,
the diviner interpreted fates.
According to
numbers
is
of
more ancient
Druidical
teaching with
origin than the Pythagorean.
regard
to
The Pytha-
DRUIDISM
io8
gorean philosophy flourished in the fifth and sixth centuries B.C., and it is supposed that at this time the Celtic civiUzation became subject to Grecian influence, and coming from meridional Italy, this was an influence not only on industry, but also on morals, and the Celts are supposed to
have modified
customs through contact with the Italian
their funeral
people.
appropriated to the celestial and even ones to and in aU the occurrences of Hfe, the former were
Odd numbers were the infernal deities,
predilection
accounted fortunate. persists
among most
peoples.
usually set on an odd
number
in
favour of odd numbers
Thus, in domestic concerns, of eggs.
still
hen
Pallad us says that the
is
same
Druidic divination also consisted in watching
thing was done in his time.
Sometimes the Druid would chew raw flesh, muttering at the same time an incantation and an bit invocation to the gods, when he claimed that generally the future would place his hands upon his cheeks Sometimes he be revealed to him. illumination by the this was known as divine sleep and fall into the direction of smoke from
palms
of the
tinually
fire.
Fionn was
hands."
when he was
in the habit of biting his
seeking superhuman
Dr. Joyce, the Irish Druids
made
knowledge.
their divinations
thumb con-
According to
from observations
of
the clouds.
Diodorus Siculus gives the following account
methods
of
one of the Druidical
of divination
On
great occasions they
ra tise
very strange and incredible
man who is to be sacrificed manner of divination. They take the diaphragm and kill him with one stroke of the and, by observing the posture in which he falls, his different convulsions, and the direction in which the blood flows from his body,
they form their predictions, according to certain rules which have
been
left
them by
their ancestors."
And, leaning Explored
o'er the victims as in the
they died.
gushing
tide.
Oft as the blood, impelled with various force To right or left, directs its headlong course.
They saw some bless'd event, or traced with skill Divine, some signal of impending iU." when the Swedes offered Mallet, in Northern Antiquitifs, up animals in sacrifice, they speedily killed them at the foot of the altar they then opened their entrails to draw auguries from them, as among the
Romans. Belief in fairies
was
also Druidical.
The
hero, Cuchulainn,
on
his
was unable to forget the fairywoman, potion by some He was given Fand, who had enticed him thither.
return from the land of the
fairies,
DRUIDISM AND MAGIC Druids, which
banished
all
memory
109
of his adventures,
but rid
Emer, of the pangs of jealousy. Another story runs that Elain, former existence, the wife of Eochaid Airem, high king of Ireland, was, in beloved of the god Mider, who again sought her love and carried her off. The king had recourse to the Druid Datan, who asked for year in which the couple. By means of four yew wands hunt to discover Dr. inscribed with Ogham characters, he was successful in his mission. John Rhys, in his Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by Celtic Heathendom, says that Cuchulainn was educated at the Druid, was the master, though what the school of which Cathbad, Incidentally, however, it has been teaching consisted of is not known. One ascertained that he told his pupils of lucky and unlucky days. morning, for instance, he informed an elder pupil that the day then lucky one for anybody who should take arms on beginning would be it for the first time, which Cuchulainn, overhearing, at once carried out, to the surprise of his teacher and king, both of whom he outwitted in To be able to make the declaration ascribed to the Druid the matter. would seem to imply that he began the day with augury or some other his Years later, when Cuchulainn was asked kind of divination. education, he is represented as enumerating among the advantages he had enjoyed, that of avin been taught by Cathbad, the Druid, which master of inquiry in the arts of the god of had, he said, made him Druidism, or magic, and rendered him skilled in all that was excellent his wife,
in visions.
With regard
to this latter statement,
the Druids were always ready
interpret
well
known
that
dream, which was probably
done according to the canons they had elaborated for their use. well in St. Columba is said to have striven against the Druids at He exorcised the heathen demon of the well, the country of the Picts. which, thereafter, as
holy well, cured
many
diseases.
The dolmens of St. Pol-de-Leon, Brittany, are said to be haunted by dwarfs and fairies, who are believed to be the spirits of ancient Druids and Druidesses. O'Curry, Trial by ordeal was known to and practised by the Druids. in his Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, gives one example of woman to clear her character had to rub her tongue this practice on red-hot adze of bronze, which had been heated in fire of blackthorn Walking on red-hot coals was frequent practice at or rowan-tree." their annual festivals and we are told by Marcus Verro, Roman author, that the Druids had an ointment with which they besmeared their feet, when they walked through the fire. It was customary for the lord of the place, or his son, or some other person of distinction, to carry the entrails of the sacrificed
animal in his hands, and, walking barefoot over
the coals three times after th
lame
had ceased, to carry these straight
no
DRUIDISM
to the Druid,
harmless,
it
who waited
close
was accounted
by the
altar.
me
but
If if
the nobleman escaped
he received any
it
was deemed unlucky, both to the community and himself. The Druids of later times the men who claimed to possess the power of making themselves and others invisible, who inscribed characters upon pieces of wood and distributed them as charms against sickness and other ills, who for money would curse the enemies, or bless the friends, of those who sought their aid had no connection whatever with Druids of more ancient times, who performed their mystic rites in of the earth, the groves of oak, or the stone temples open to the heavens.
CHAPTER
VI.
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS not in kingly hall or bower, met, Oh But where wild Nature girt herself with power They met where streams flashed bright from rocky caves,
The Druids
They met where woods made moan
And where And where And
The trees,
schools of
o'er warriors' graves,
the torrent's rainbow spray was cast. cark leaves were heaving to the blast.
the oaks breathed mysterious
murmurs round."
situated invariably
the
while the priests and other
officials of
the uninitiated, in
manner
simila
Guards were placed
groves to bar the entrance of
to that of th
Cutter
or Tylors,
who
Egyptian temples and as the the present day placed as Outer Guards to Masonic Temples
were stationed at the entrances Tylers are at
groves of
the temples lived in houses
erected in the woods and on the mountain slopes. at the stone entrances of the consecrate
in
of the
and Lodges. In this connection the following extract from the Rev. G. Stanley Faber's well-known work, The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, will be of interest. He says
"In whatever mode the Mysteries were
celebrated,
we
invariably
door or gate viewed as being of primary importance.
find
was the door of the temple sometimes the door of the consecrated grotto sometimes the hatchway of the boat within which the aspirant was enclosed sometimes hole, either natural or artificial, through or between rocks gate in and sometimes the sun or the moon or the planets. Through this the initiated were born again, and from this the profane were excluded. The notion evidently originated from the door in the side of the Ark through which the primary epoptse were admitted, while the profane anteSometimes
it
diluvians were shut out.
who
This circumstance gave certainly bore
rise to
the appointment of an
officer,
conspicuous part in the British orgies, and
who
probably was not unknown to the Mysteries of other countries.
He was
styled
the door-keeper of the partial covering
and, since
DRUIDISM he was considered to be the mystic husband of Ceridwen, he was certainly th
representative of the great father
Hu
or Noe.
Hence
he must have sustained the same character as Janus, when viewed while Ceridwen similarly the god of the door as Thyreus, or corresponds with Venus or Ceres in her capacity of Prothyrea, or the goddess of the
what TaUesin,
door.'
in exact
This personage was stationed before
accordance with the prevaiHng ideas of the
Mysteries, denominates
the gates of hell
and he was armed with
whence he had the additional title of the sword bearer.' His office was at once to exclude the profane, who and to punish, might sacrilegiously attempt to gain admittance bright, gleaming sword,
even with death, such of the initiated as should impiousl
The same penalty, and
the awful secrets committed to them.
apprehend) from the hand of
reveal
similar officer, awaited those
(I
who
should too curiously pry into or divulge to the profane the wonders of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
could
be
taken,
Yet, notwithstanding every care that
an adventurous epopt, who risques rather than lose of
we repeatedly
find
was content to run all secret. communicating Whether the curiosity of the profane may be gratified at some similar disclosure of the portentous secret of future period by Freemasonry remains yet to be seen. have frequently been inclined to suspect that this whimsical institution, which some have deduced from the Mithras or Buddhic Manicheans through the fragment medium of the Knights Templar, is nothing more than of those orgies
which have prevailed
in
every part of the world
and the peculiar rites of the British Ceres, as their nature may be collected from the poems of the Bards, have served to strengthen can only my suspicion. Not being one of the initiated myself, but the Masonic sword-bearer, who is said to speak from report be the guardian of the door during the celebration of those wonderful Mysteries, seems nearly allied to the similar character in the Orgies
while the astronomical representations of the heavenly Ceridwen bodies, which are reported to decorate the cell of our modern epopts, of
bear
the parallel decorations of the ancient cell
close
The very
which they bear, when they throw aside the jargon respecting King Hiram and the temple of Solomon, affords no obscure intimation of their origin. As professed masons or artisans, they connec themselves with the old Cabiric Telchines, as described by Diodorus, with the metallurgical Pher\ilt or grotto or
adytum.
of the Druidical Mysteries,
title
with the architectural Cabir
of Phoenicia,
with the demiurgic Phtha of Egypt, and with the great artisan
Twashta
of
Hindostan.
All
the
most
remarkable
buildings
of
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
113
Egypt, and Asia Minor were ascribed to the Cabrean or and in the present day, the Freemasons, with Cyclopian masons Greece,
ail
pubHc
every
wont
are
their formalities,
to
at the
commencement
affectation
their
Finally,
edifice.
assist
of
of
mysterious
concealment closely resembles the system of the Epopts in
all
ages
and countries, particularly that of the Bards, when their religion These last are probably the real no longer remained paramount. founders of EngUsh Freemasonry." The early generation of historical man had neither temples nor Livy mentions statues for their gods, but worshipped in the open air. assemblies in
ancient Latines used to hold their
sacred
So deeply rooted was the opinion in the minds of the people that suppUcations to the Deity could not be made in any place so appropriately as from an eminence in the open air that down to the close of
grove.
numerous
the eighteenth century
sect existed in the south of Scotland
from their assembling on the hills to perform their devotional exercises under no canopy but that spread out by the hand Hill Folk,"
called
of nature.
can be so named from etymological point of view, and they taught that there were but
none
strict
two habitations
of the Druidic temples
of the
Deity
the soul, invisible
the Universe, the
The inne enclosur of Druidical circle always consisted Similarly, the Israelite, if he erected an altar rough, unhewn stones.
visible temple. of
was commanded (Exodus xx., 25, 26) that he should not build for if thou lift thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it of hewn stone This prohibition was repeated at the passage over Jordan it." (Deuteronomy xxvii., 5, 6). Distinct mention is also made of unhewn the Edipus at Colonus, of Sophocles. stones, as applied to sacred Pausanias says that unhewn stones had the honour of gods and were of Mercury worshipped among the Grecians, and that there were thirty large stones which the people worshipped and gave to of stone
of
them the name
Tyrius states that he scarcely
god.
of
knew what god the Arabians worshipped, for that which he saw amongst white stone. them was only The Druids elie ed that the Eterna coul not be locally limited house, the work of men's hands. to They beheved that the Universe was
filled
with His presence and they looked upwards to the heavens as
His throne.
Fergusson claims that
there
is
no passage
in
any
classical
author which connects the Druids, either directly or indirectly, with any stone temples or stones of any sort,"
many
but contested strongly by sugges
is
writers.
monuments
Dr. Stukeley was the
first
to
were erected as temples nothing in any of the ancient writers to support
that the rude stone
by the Druids, but there
view also adopted by Dr. Stuart, in Britain
DRUIDISM
114 the
suggestion.
religious rites
may, however, be regarded as certain that
It
were performe
within these
important part in Druidical w^orship, which
known
in
and distant parts of was never heard. Ouseley in Persia
circle
played an
the oldest form of reUgion
is
have been discovered in various the world, regions where probably the name of Druid Clarke observed them in Ida and the Lebanon Heber and Cox in Sweden and Norway and others
but similar
Britain,
The
circles.
their
and Africa. There was doubtless
circles
in Siberia
time when the Scandinavians worshipped
their divinities only in the
open
Norway,
find at this
in the
and
knew not
either
or
approved not
Mallet, in Northern Antiquities, says
of the use of confined temples.
We
air,
day here and there
middle of
Denmark, Sweden, and
in
plain, or
Httle
hill,
altars
they assembled to offer sacrifices and to assist at other religious ceremonies. raised
upon
little hiU,
The
greatest part of these altars are
Three long pieces great flat stone, which
either natural or artificial.
of rock set upright, serve for
forms the table of the
basis to
There
altar.
is
commonly
pretty large
which might be intended to receive the and they never fail to find stones for striking blood of th vi tims for no other fire as was struck fire scattered round it purpose. Sometimes flint, was pure enough for so holy with manner more these rural altars are in double range of enormous stones surround the altar and the little erected. In Zeeland we see one of this kind which hill on which cavity under this altar,
is
formed
of stones
now be
undertake such
assistance
wanted.
prodigious magnitude.
of
of
the
What
size are rarely to
mechanical
Men would even
work, notwithstanding
powers
which
redoubles the astonishment
in is
those
all
the
times they
that stones of that
be seen throughout the island and that they must
great distance." have been brought from formed the subject of an These engineering feats of address recently by Mr. George H. Pegram, President of the American Society of Engineers, from which the following is quoted from the Scientific American Supplement No works of modern times compare in magnitude with those of
the ancients.
Consider
reservoir,
to
impound the waters
the Nile, covering an area of 150 square miles, with
of
dam
30 feet The pyramids of Gizeh had granite blocks
high and 13 miles long. which were five feet square and thirty feet long, and were transported
One of the temples of Memphis was built of stones 500 miles. which were 13 feet square and 65 feet long, and laid with close joints.
The Appian
Way
from
Rome
to
Capua was
so well built
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
115
thousand years its roadway was in perfect condition, and even now, after two thousand years, with sHght repairs, is in The modern engineer would question th possibihty of such use. If one could imagine cessation work, without these great examples. that after
and our works subjected to the destructive thousand years, what evidences forces of time and nature for We look in vain for the application of civilization would remain of mechanical power by the ancients, whose works seem almost reliefs showing impossible without its assumption, but the movement of large weights by manual power indicate that of Hfe
on
this continent,
probably the other did not exist."
Haslam, in his book, The Cross and the Serpent, after referring to the Egyptian pyramids, the Babylonian walls, the city of Memphis, the Indian temples, the Chinese pagodas, and the American tescalli, says many mystery of human labour remains untold Even yet are constructed of gigantic have of the structures blocks of stone, varying from sixty to three hundred tons in weight. In Egypt single stones of this enormous weight have been traced to quarries five and six hundred miles from the pyramids into which they are built. and Our progenitors, the Cymry, were not much behind the other races in this respect. Their temples consisted of gigantic stones set on end, in circles on hills and mountains and their cromlechs were composed of even larger stones, three being usually fixed into the ground, and the fourth laid upon them in the form of table, pointing, and the surface, bowing little, towards the east." Stukeley divides the Druidic temples into three classes 1.
Rounds
2.
Circles in serpentine form, as at
3.
Circles with the
The remains
or Circles
of the first
Abury
forms of wings annexed. kind are most numerous.
The groves
of
oaks were generally selected on the tops of mountains or hills, while caves were chosen for the instruction of youth and for initiatory rites. Prince Hywel, in
who
died in 1171, was accustomed to invoke the Deity
the following words
grove, and whilst
Attend Thou
adore Thee, maintain
my
worship in the mystical
Thy own
jurisdiction."
According to Delta Evans, the following procedure was adopted at Meetings of the Circle the
huge
was placed
flat
stone, called Gorscdd
in the centre of
Beirdd, or
Cyclolith, or
circle of
The Bard's Throne," twelve smaller stones,
two forecourts or porches. Through one of these porches the Chief Bard entered the Circle. sky-blue gown and carry He would be robed in with three others placed outside towards the rising
represent
DRUIDISM
ii6 with him his Coelbren,
Bardic wood-memorial writing-frame.
or
entering the Circle he would recite th
followin
pra)'er to the
Most High,
of
On
which
an example Impart, God, Thy strength, is
And And And And And And
in that strength, reason in that reason,
knowledge, justice
in that
in that justice, the love of
it
in that love, the love of everything in the love of everything, the love of
God, Thy refuge.
Grant,
And And And And And And And
knowledge
God.
in refuge, strength
understanding
in strength,
knowledge
in understanding,
knowledge,
in
perception of rectitude
in the perception of rectitude, the love of it in that love, the love of all existences in the love of all existences, the love of
God and aU
goodness.
God, Thy refuge.
Grant,
And And And And And And And
reason in reason,
hght
in Hght, truth in truth, justice in justice, love in love,
God
of
in the love of
God,
all
God, impart Thy strength,
And And And And And And And For
power to the Truth
in strength, the
to suffer for
blessedness and
all
goodness.
suffer,
in truth. Light in Light, blessedness
blessedness, love
in
in love, in in
God,
Him
God all
all
goodness
terminates.
After the recital of the prayer an
weapon of war within the assembly the number present were invited to
had to be surrendered. Two of accompany the Chief Bard to within the Inner Circle to three primitive Bards of Britain. These were, according to tradition, as stated, Gwyddon Ganhebon, the first man in the world who composed poetry
Hu
Gadarn, who
records and materials
first
poetry to th
Tad Awen, who
preservation of
first
developed the
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
117
and the due disposition of thought. From the labours of these three personages sprang Bards and Bardism, and the regulation of their privileges anei the estabHshment of their discipline was accomplished by the three primary Bards, Plennydd, Alawn, and Alawn means Gwron. Plennydd is name for the sun, or Apollo energy." harmony The three representatives and Gwron means of the primitive Bards then addressed the assembly, after which followed the calling of the roll. This ceremony was known as Cynal Gorsedd, or art
and structure
holding
of poetry
throne."
Stonehenge. wondrous pyle of rugged mountaynes standes, dreare arraie, Plac'd on eche other in It ne could be the worke of human handes, It ne was reared up bie menne of claie. Here Britons adoration paye To the false god whom they did Tauran name, Dightynge hys altarre with greete fyres in Male, Roastynge theyr vyctualle round aboute the flame, 'Twas here that Hengist did the Brytons slee As they we et in council for to bee." Chatterton.
Of Stonehenge it has been asserted that nearly every prominent historical and mythical personage from the Devil onwards has, at one time or another, been credited with
its
erection.
Inigo Jones maintained
was erected by the Romans, and Dr. Charleton, with equal vigour, accredited it to the Danes, while, according to calculation made by that
Prof.
it
Norman Lockyer,
the circles are, at least, 3,600 years old.
His
some tangible confirmation in 1901 by the discoveries then made, when excavations were dug near the great monoliths, of rude flints, axes, hammers, and other tools of the pre-bronze age, Geoffrey of Monmouth asserts that Stonehenge was viz., 1500-2000 B.C. monument erected in the reign of Aurelius Ambrosius, by Ambrose Merhn, to perpetuate the treachery of Hengist, the Saxon general who, having desired meeting with Vortigern at the monastery of Amesbury, assassinated him with 460 of his barons and consuls. figures received
well-known Theosophist, Mr. A. P. Sinnett, asserts that Atlantean immigrants who came to the country good deal later than the migration to Egypt perhaps about 100,000 years ago were really the engineers of Stonehenge,
and they deliberately adopted the
of its design because they
devotion
to
luxury
and
stern,
rugged simplicity
were out of patience with the extravagant ornamentation then prevaiHng among the
degenerate Atlanteans themselves.
DRUIDISM
ii8
Forlong, in Rivers of Life, says It is generally acknowledged that this was
shrine to Apollo,
and younger than that of Abury, which is thought to be more the shrine of ophiolaters and fire-worshippers than Solarists. or Belenus,
The morticing
of the
Stonehenge
points to Phoenician art,
latterly set aside the ancient rules as to using only undressed
which
No
who has studied phallic and solar worship East could, think, make any mistake as to the purport confess the many accounts of it which shrine, although
stones.
one
in the of this
have
had not awakened my attention to the real facts, so misleading Here are many European writers on this, to them, unknown lore. read,
stand upright stones, forming, as
it
circular shaft within
were,
and there, to the eastward, the Os-Yoni, over whose apex the first ray of the
perfect argha, or spoon-like enclosure,
the holy rising
Pointer' in
god
of the
midsummer
the centre of the sacred
Solstice (21st June) shines, right into
His eastward path
circle.
is
denoted by
which diverges into two lines of wavy trench and embankment as it approaches the Lingam Pointer, around which and the circle it sweeps in an oval form. On all sides of this sacred
long avenue,
now
spot are to be seen, scattered over
bare, undulating country,
and small barrows or earthen mounds, the receptacles, no doubt, the ashes, if not bones, of the dead, who once worshipped at the
large of
clear the population of these days, like that
hallowed shrine, for of
our
fathers,
loved
be
to
were, perhaps, wiser than we,
buried first
around their church
burning the corpses, and only
collecting the innocuous ashes to repose
The occurrence
they
these cellular caskets.
in
round the temple, reminds us of the holy spots which surround the Hindoo shrines, and to which visits must be paid by every devotee, after he or she has worshipped at the of such, all
central holy place.
described, on hands
If
zealously pious, this
and knees, and under
is
done, as elsewhere
scorching mid-day sun,
and always with many offerings to each holy spot, for without In May, 1874, these, no priest can bestow his saintly blessing. made some very careful drawings of the Stonehenge shrine, and in the
Pointer
at once distinguished
faces towards the circle,
and
accidents of weather-wear,
in
etc.,
spite
the ever-anointed one.' of
He
every allowance for the
no one who has at
all
looked into
moment in pronouncing him veritable Swaik lore will hesitate for Maha-Deva." Stonehenge came into the market in 1915, when it was sold for fS.600 by Sir Charles Antrobus to Mr. C. H. E. Chubb, of Bemerton In 191 Lodge, Sahsbury. it had come under the Ancient Monuments date it was impossible that it could be injured or desAct,
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS troyed by neglect or design, or be removed from
its
119
place at the will of
any private owner.
These limitations materially reduced the price which In September, 1918, Mr. Chubb possession could command.
such
generously decided to present this historic this gift
of the
Government
bygone
remains of
w'ith the
utmost
monument
civilization
satisfaction.
to the nation,
and
was accepted by the
Mr. Chubb expressed
wish
that during the continuance of the war, the income from Stonehenge
handed over to the Red Cross Society, whose work at that time was of such great national value, in which suggestion the Treasury willingly concurred. The property was thereupon transferred to the Ancient Monuments Board. the origin and construction of Stonehenge are The conjectures many and varied. Mr. Herbert supposes that Stonehenge, Avebury, and other megalithic monuments of England were erected after the Romans had left the island. He supposes that the Bards and other adherents ancient religion returned from Ireland, whither they had been of driven by the influence of Roman civiUzation, and that Druidism for while regained its ascendancy and the enthusiasm awakened by the return to the old habits and feelings and by sense of recovered independence led to the erection of these mighty structures. With th exception, as Dr. Edwin Guest points out, in Origines Celticce, of Stonehenge, all
the larger Druidical temples are situated in places where blocks of stone
Edwin Guest is abound, or are known at one time to have abounded. of opinion that Stonehenge is of later date than Avebury and the other structures of later
unwrought stone
than 100
century or two
B.C.,
If
Christian era,
it
could not have been built
much
was not built more than its erection be fixed some eight or ten centuries it would be to advance any critical
and, in
earlier.
that
all
reasons against the hypothesis.
probability,
W.
S.
Blacker, in his Researches into
comes to the conclusion that the Apalachian Indians, with thei priest and medicine men, must have been the builders of Stonehenge, and that that grand and marvellous creation, therefore, attests the truthfulness of Plato when he brings into Western Europe great conquering people from beyond the Pillars of Hercules. Mr. Joseph Browne, who was for many curator of the Stones," used to expound his belief that Stonehenge stood before the Deluge, and would point out (to his own satisfaction) signs of the action of water upon the stones, even showing the direction in which the flood came rushing in. Langtoft's Chronicles assert that the Monument was framed according to the most exquisite rules of architecture, of which the pitiful, naked Britons had no knowledge at all. The following twelve conclusions are the Lost Histories of America,
arrived at I.
That Stonehenge was an old British monument
DRUIDISM
I20
monument of bloody battel foughten there was glorious Victorie This bloudy battel produced This victorie was wonne by the Cangi of Gladerhaf That
2. 3.
4.
it
The Cangi were Giants Commanded by the famous Stanenges of Honnicutt The Army conquered was King Divitiacus and his Belgae In this place, as soone as the Cangi had conquered, they
5.
6. 7. 8.
triumphed
Where they triumphed they
9.
erected this
monument
as
trophie
Temple
10.
This Trophie was
11.
This Temple was consecrated to Anaraith, their Goddess
of Victorie 12.
and
In this temple the said Victors sacrificed their Captives
Spoiles to their said Idoll of Victorie.
The Cangi
are said to have been
singers to instruments of Musick,"
Sir Thomas Elliott, in and the westernmost inhabitants of the island. About thirty years since, says Cigas his Dictionarie, on the word my self, being with my father. Sir Richard Elhott, at Monasterie of from Stonage) beheld the bones of Regular Canons (three or dead man found deep in the ground, which being joyned together, was in length thirteen foot and ten inches, whereof one of the teeth my father have written This great wallnut. quantity of had, which was of ng at is out of the compass of because some men will believe He gives the foregoing as reason for Stonehenge their own knowledge."
the Giants' Dance." known as Wood, in Stonehenge Explained, gives an
being
ing the stones.
He
interesting theory concern-
says
The two outward rows
of pillars are the
very emblems of the
for the colour of the Magian religion and the lines which these stones stones intimate good and evil form, being the perispheries of circles, or Hnes running into thempillars vary But the two inward rows selves, represent eternity. for, notwithstanding the by the former the principles colour of the stones intimate good and evil, yet the imperfection in the lines which these stones form, as they are partly curved and
two
first
principles of the
partly straight, without returning into themselves, denotes created things, and exhibits the reformation which Zoroaster made in the
Persian theology, by divesting the two
first
principles of
it
of eternity,
and making light and darkness works of the Supreme God." Stonehenge is supposed to have derived its name from The word In Yorkshire, hanging stones." the Anglo-Saxon and means literally Stonehenge was known formerly as pendulous rocks are called Henges.
-4
from an
Dniid,
old engraving.
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS Phcenician term meaning
Choir Gaur,
121
circular high place of the
Stowe, in his Britis Chronicle, says that assembly or congregation." that they were the Irish brought the stones with them from Africa taken to England by Merlin from Mount Clare, and erected upon Salisbury Plain by Aurelius Ambrosius. It
may
be taken for granted that the Druids were
ey
or builders of the circle, but that their ceremonies.
Sir
se
Norman Lockyer
originators for the purposes of
says
Stonehenge and the avenues on Dartmoor may be regarded as evidences that sacred processions formed part of the ceremonial on holy days, but sacrifices and sacred ceremonials
The cursus
were not alone
many
in question
authors have told us that feasts,
and races were not
games,
concerned,
henge
at
is
is
proved,
10,000 feet
so
by the facts long and 350 feet broad
far
racing
as
is
at Stone-
think,
that
it
occupies
two hills, thus permitting of the presence of thousands of spectators, and that our horses are still decked with gaudy trappings on May-day." In 1888 Sir Arthur Evans investigated he qu st on of the age of lecture given at the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, Stonehenge in which was printed in the Archceological Review for January, 1889, and below is given, by permission, Mr. Falconer Madan's summary, which he quotes as an example of historical method, in his admirable guide, The Bodleian Library at Oxford Many of the barrows, two of which are in obvious connec1. tion with the great stones, are shown by their forms and contents to be of the largest types of Bronze Age barrows, known as Round Barrows (for instance, gold relics, glass beads, ivory and cremated valley between
remains are signs of lateness). chippings of of
at least
so, it is significant that
brought from distance to Stonehenge are in undisturbed barrows of this kind, where the action
earthworms and rabbits
possible.
This being
in introducing foreign elements
It is clear, therefore, that the building of
begun
late
that period.
in
There
is
is
hardly
Stonehenge was also
that,
with the exception of two, the circumjacent barrows are not in any relation with the great circle, and ar therefor not later. 2.
The contents
of the
barrows
earlier
than Stonehenge have
which must have come from the Continent not before the fifth century B.C. One even is stated to have consocketed celt, pointing to the late fourth century. tained But late Celtic antiquities are wholly absent, which makes it hardly possible that the barrows ho ld as late as the second century B.C. The skilful hewing and fitting of the huge blocks of Wiltshire
some imported
articles
DRUIDISM
122
Sarsen stone are of the same stage in technical development as the Syria and Tripoli, and the great Doric temples of Segesta
triliths of
which
in Sicily,
From
latter
was constructed about 415 B.C.
and
these
On
He
B.C.
is
now
he
concludes
that
the
monument was probably between 300
gradual building of
and 150
indications
similar
inclined to place the date earlier.
an address to the Society of Antiquaries, after referring to the recent presentation of Stonehenge to 1st
May, 1919,
Sir
Arthur Evans,
in
subject of hearty congratulation, said he should continue
the nation,
monuments
which Stonehenge sepulchral grand scale put it out of belongs, grows out of the category of ordinary funereal monuments and there was every reason The bones of to believe that it was associated with the higher cult. deer and oxen dug up in the interior, moreover, certainly pointed to But that cult, he maintained should connection. sacrifices in such rather in the direction of the gods of the underworld than of any solar divinity. The stones seemed to him to have been set up gradually and might be taken also to include the commemoration of that bygone race. many individual missing eastern branch of the Stonehenge Avenue was In 1923 discovered by means of air photography, and afterwards proved conclusively through excavations, superintended by Mr. 0. C. S. Crawford, Archaeology Officer of the Ordnance Survey, and Mr. A. D. Passmore. measurements of Dr. William Stukeley It is interesting to note the butt of the ridicule of many of his contemporaries) were bser er Mr. Crawford, in an article in th proved absolutely accurate. of 23rd September, 1923, says that
It is
the
whole
class
of
testimony to the accuracy of Stukeley, the pioneer
archaeologist of the eighteenth
correct to
Several
to
foot
flints
we
en
ha
we found
his
field
figures
no unnecessary digging was required. nd which had been chipped by human agency.
Mr. Crawford, continuing, says
found by Colonel Hawley at Stonehenge ours were clearly contemporary with the making of the ditch, since they were found right at the bottom and although flint was chipped and flint implements were used during the Iron Age and even in Roman times, more likely that these flints belong to
They resemble the
an
flints
earlier epoch.
One
and one of the highest importance, of the discovery of racecourse this avenue, which splits into two branches, one leading to river (and neither branch straight) cannot, says and the other to result,
Mr. Crawford,
as oriented to the rising sun for purposes of
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS worship, so that
it
puts out
astronomical theories of Sir
Stonehenge in the
of
court
once and for
Norman Lockyer and
all
123
the
fanciful
others.
about two miles west of the village of Amesbury, hill and between six flat area, near the summit of
lies
middle of
and seven miles from Salisbury. The following description is adapted from the Ordnance Survey Report made by Sir Henry James The structure when complete consisted of an outer circle of thirty large stones, upon which thirty other stones were laid horizontally, so The diameter within the stones as to form perfect continuous circle. was one hundred feet. The stones in th uprights have each two tenons on their upper surfaces, which fit into mortices cut into the under surface of the horizontal stones and by this mode of construction the whole The average dimensions of the uprights in circle was braced together. this circle are 12 ft. ins. high out of the ground ft. broad and Those in the circle resting on the uprights are about ins. thick. ft. and ft. ins. wide 10 ft. long Within this circle ins. deep. ft. there
are
five
stupendously large
trilithons,
uprights with tenons on them, supporting
each
consisting
of
two
large horizontal lintel, in
which two mortices are cut to receive the tenons. These trilithons are arranged in the form of horseshoe, so that one of them is central as regards the other four. horizontal stone which is called the altarstone lies in front of the central trilithons and the axial line of the structure is from N.E. to S.W. All th stones in the outer circle and the trilithons are of an undulated tertiary sandstone, which is found upon the chalk in the neighbourhood, and particularly near Avebury and Marlborough, where they are known by the name of Sarsen stones and the Grey Wethers."
The dimensions
of the triUthons are nearly as follows
Breadth. A.
7'
6"
4'
o" 17' 2"
4'
6"
3'
o" 6"
7'
o'
4'
o"
3'
7"
4'
o"
2'
8"
4'
3"
3'
6"
4'
o"
22'
Lintel length
15'
D.
The
5"
Height of upright
B.
22' o"
altar stone
In addition to thes
is
circle
ft.
8'
long and
here was formerly
smaller upright stones about
between the outer
17
ft.
Thickness.
high, which
and the
five
%"
ft.
ins.
wide.
complete
circle of thirty
was intermediate trilithons. Within the
position trilithons
DRUIDISM
124 there was also
row
with the trilithons.
of smaller stones
about
ins.
ft.
In the opinion of Sir Henry
probably monumental stones
in
memory
high, parallel
James these were
of chieftains or priests.
Only seventeen of the thirty upright stones of the outer circle are now standing and only the thirty Hntels are now in their places. of th
triUthon
are perfect.
Monmouth
was not one stone at Stonehenge which had not some heahng virtue and that the water washed over the stones was efficacious in healing the sick and curing wounds. Dr. Charleton, who was royal physician, was the author of treatise advocating the Danish origin of Stonehenge, but this theory is overthrown by the fact that Stonehenge is mentioned by Nennius, who lived about a.d. 620, and the Danes did not visit Britain until two hundred years later. Thou, noblest monument of Albion's isle, Whether by Merhn's aid, from Scythia's shore To Amber's fata plain, Pendragon bore, Huge frame of giant hands the mighty pile, T'entomb his Britons, slain by Hengist's guile, Or Druid priests, sprinkled with human gore. Taught 'mid thy massy maze their mystic lore Or Danish chiefs, enrich'd with savage spoil. To Victory's idol vast, an unhewn shrine, Rear'd the rude heap or, in thy haUow'd round, Repose the King of Brutus' genuine line Or here those Kings in solemn state were crown'd Geoffrey of
states that there
Studious to trace thy pond'rous origin.
We
muse on many an ancient
Isle
renown'd."
T. WartoTi.
AVEBURY OR AbURY. Near Wilton sweet, huge heaps of stones are found, But so confus'd, that neither any tie Can count them just, nor reason try What force brought them unlikely ground." Sir Philip Sidney.
Avebury, which
is
situated about
mile from Beckhampton, on
the main road from London to Devizes and Bath,
when
perfect, consisted
an embankment three-quarters of in circumference, 12 ft. broad and averaging 15 ft. above the natural surface of the land and deep circular ditch, now 15 ft. deep, but originally not less than 30 ft. deep, containing an area of twenty-eight and half acres. Inside the of
ditch which, with the rampart, measured about 70 circle of
ft.
in height,
was
one hundred massive unhewn grey stones, generally about 20
ft.
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
125
and within tliis principal circle were two smaller concentric circles formed by double row of stones, each ft. in height, standing side by side, the outer circle consisting of twenty and the inner of twelve From the outer embankment started two long winding avenues stones. of stones, on each side at regular distances, one of which went in the direction of Beckhampton and the other in that of Kennet, where it ended in another double circle. In the centre of one of these was tall ins. in diameter and within the other phallus 21 ft. in height and ft. cell or adytum. Each avenue being on an inclined plane, was person advancing towards the temple would have on aU sides very fine view in
height,
of the site.
The temple formed the compound figure of snake transmitted through circle, an undisputed emblem of the Deity the circle representing the Demiurgus or Creator, while the serpent symbolised the divine emanation to whose wisdom the government of the universe was entrusted. Faber, in Pagan Idolatry, is of opinion that the re sented the ark of Ceridwen, while the snake was the Hu. In aU there were 650 stones in the circles and avenues, but now only about twenty are standing, though some others still remain buried in the ground.
Avebury must have been the most magnificent temple of its kind in the world. The name has been derived from the Cabiri and signifies the mighty ones." It was regarded holy that no reptiles could live there and if any were taken into the sacred precincts they immediately died. Celtic tradition affirms that it was within the circles of Abury that the institution of the Gorsedd had its In
origin,
its
pristine glory
national institution not
known
outside Britain.
John Aubrey, who was the first to examine Avebury with any care, expressed the opinion that Avebury doth so much exceed Stonehenge in grandeur as Cathedral doth an ordinary parish and Sir Richard Colt Hoare, in his work on Ancient Wiltshire, commences his chapter on Avebury with these words and diffidence enter the sacred precincts of this once hallowed sanctuary, the supposed parent of Stonehenge, the wonder of Britain, and the most ancient, as well as the most interesting relict which our island can produce." Stukeley considered the stones at Avebury to be at least twice the age of Stonehenge itself, and although it is perhaps the oldest monument of the British race in Britain, there is no record of it earlier than 1663, the year when Aubrey showed Charles II. over the site and afterwards, by royal command, wrote an account of the visit. William Long says that the object for which work at Abury was constructed will probably for ever
in
mystery.
We know
so
little
of
DRUIDISM
126
the Druids and their forms of worship that to more than conjectural
approximations to the truth we can hardly hope to attain. astronomical,
advocates.
civil,
The
erection,
been
ha nations,
and
An
have each had their stones like this and
religious purpose too,
of
circular
by
assigned
different
writers
to the Phoenicians, the ancient Britons,
to
different
the Romans, the
Saxons, and the Danes.
There can, however, be Uttle doubt that period long anterior to the Roman the temple at Abury dates from occupation of Britain and that it was much older work than Stonehenge."
When tion,
the site was excavated
by
committee
of the British Associa-
fragments of medieval pottery
two to three
feet
from the surface
three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half historic pottery, flint chips, scrapers
On
the ancient
Norman
font in
at
fragments of feet
from pottery from
depth
Roman
and, below that depth, pre-
and antlers of red deer. Abury Church there is
mutilated
figure dressed apparently in the Druidical priestly garb, holding in
of
crozier
one hand and clasping an open book to his breast with the other.
Two winged It
of
dragons or serpents are attacking this figure on either
has been conjectured that this was designed to represen Christianity over
Druidism, in which
there
th
side.
triumph
was much veneration
entertained for the serpent. long avenue of rude stones, Near Merrivale Bridge, on Dartmoor, sacred Druidic circle, whilst 1,140 ft. long, is terminated at each end by These circles consisted originally another circle stands in the centre. sacred number and indicated the nineteen being of nineteen stones meteoric or lunar circle, at whose completion the moon would resume her About one hundred yards to the east original position in the heavens. Somewhat to ft. wide. runs another avenue 800 ft. long and about rock pillar, 12 ft. in height and another sacred circle, the north stands b"] ft. in diameter, formed of ten stones. Druidical altar which, when it was At Vale Church in Guernsey, is perfect and with the original conformation, must have been one of the finest in existence. It was first disencumbered of the drifting sand which had covered it, in 181 1, but it was not until 1837 that it was thoroughly explored and exposed through the instrumentality of Dr. Lukis. The ft. in height at the cromlech is 45 ft. long by 13 ft. wide and nearly western end, where it contracts gradually on each side, as it does at the The space is covered by five larger and top towards the eastern end. two smaller blocks of granite, which are not in contact. The western block is computed to weigh about thirty tons, it being nearly 17 ft. long, thought tliat it was la ed here by 18 ft. wide, and \\ ft. thick, and means of rollers. The second block is 16 ft. long, the thir smaller, and
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS diminishing gradually until the seventh.
was opened
in 1837,
On
127
when it human bones,
the floor,
were found two layers,
of
masses of coarse red and black clay, stone armlets, beads, bone-pins, etc. The removal of some sand in the early part of the nineteenth century Druidical structure at L'Ancresse Bay, brought to light the remains of 32
ft.
greatest width of 12
in length with
The
ft.
largest stone
weighed
large stone closed the entrance to the temple, tons. about About 18 ft. descent over some steps. which was approached by away from the temple were the remains of circle of stones placed about ft. distant from each other. Another foot above the ground and about outer circle 42 ft. away from the temple, but of this fewer stones were The These are the finest Druidical remains in the island. remaining.
Close by is the formed of six huge capstones graduated in size. Both these temples were side chapels." De Tus dolmen with three explored by Dr. Lukis. traditional stone La Rocque dui Sonne, Near Vale Church was very portion of which, according to the general local belief, formed extensive circle, of which one of the capstones was actuallv dug out in It is stated that the owner of the field in which this stone was 1837. roof
is
situated began to build
and
lintels of the
him, but in
less
No immediate judgment
doors and windows.
than twelve months
his
house was burned down.
was burnt down
fell
He
upon then
With better cause he sold the stones and shipped them England, but the vessel containing the cargo foundered and all on
whereupon persistency worthy of rebuilt
to
house and broke up the stone for the supports
it,
it
similar manner.
in
board perished. Druidical temple was discovered in 1785 on the summit of near St. Heliers, Jersey. It was covered with earth until then,
hill
when
the Colonel of the St. Heliers Militia wanted to level the ground for the
The workmen soon lighted upon the stones of temple the temple when the ground was cleared. It wa assume was covered up by the Druids to prevent its profanation by the people. exercise of his corps.
of 45 large stones, averaging
It
and
ft.
in
thickness,
supposed entrance was
ft.
the whole being 56
in
in height, ft.
ft.
in breadth,
in circumference.
subterranean passage facing the east
The and
measuring 15 ft. in length, ft. 2^ ins. in breadth, and ft. in height. The medals were found in the passage, one being of the time of the Emperor Claudius, but the other was so worn as to be unidentifiable. Five graves were afterwards discovered on the same
from the temple.
Blindextre,
who
died in
about 170 ft. 1691, says that there were hill,
existing in the Isle of Jersey no fewer than fifty Druidical temples or altars,
but Falle, in his History of Jersey, published in 1695, only mentions
one Druidical
altar.
DRUIDISM
128
There are the remains to-day of at least ten circles in the Isle of Man. One of the most striking of these remains is at Glen Darragy the Vale of the Oaks." The name would, on first consideration, appear to misnomer, as, instead of being be glen in the general acceptance of that term, the circle
on the
is
situate several
mountain near the large oval lying due east and west. side of
hundred
above the sea
feet
village of Braid.
On
level,
It consists of
one
the western side there are two
most of which are from two to three feet high, is perfect. The other, on the southern side, which consists of about the same number of stones, is overgrown with brambles of the stones have apparently been thrown down, though it stiU preserves its circular form. Between the two appears to be what was formerly an avenue, the entrance to which was evidently at the eastern end. This also consists of twelve stones, two of which, namely, those at the entrance, are quite four feet broad and about three feet in height. WTien observed from the high road, about two hundred yards above the circle, the spectators cannot fail to be struck by the phaUicism conveyed. distinct circles, one of which, consisting of twelve stones,
About
mile the holy field."
chiarn, or
Sleau-chiarn, St.
stones in
Patrick's
underneath.
This
field is
field
on the side
known
as
Mager-y-
mountain
of
called
The stones are known locally as Chair, and at one time there was undoubtedly sedalia The centre stone is higher than those on either side. The the
or
holy hiU."
southernmost back slab has evidently been broken, as only portion remains, but th ce tr and northernmost stones are still intact and have crosses engraved upon them. The broken stone evidently also had cross engraved upon it, as the foot of cross is stiU plainly to be seen. According to popular tradition, first
St.
Patrick sat here and ordained the
bishop of the Isle of Man, and from here also blessed the people.
number
Inside the circle
of stones
have been gathered and heaped up
together.
In
of
Murray, the visitor
The circle composed
is
of
Marown, on the north
side of the estate of
Mount
perfect Druidical temple of large dimensions.
will
an unusually large diameter
of perpendicular stones.
Two
of forty-two feet,
and
is
terraces partially enclose the
temple.
On
the Mull HiUs, in the extreme south of the island, near the village
of Craighneich, there are tion,
two
circles.
One
is
at the
summit
of
an eleva-
almost directly over the popular watering-place of Port Erin.
consists of
two
N. and
50
S.,
It
one within the other, he ou side diameter being and E. and W., 57 ft., and made conformable to
circles,
ft.,
the four points of the compass, and at each poin
the centre of the
circle.
It is
disputed whether the
here site
is
an entrance to
marks
Druidical
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
129
number of stones and little below are burying place. mounds, which are apparently the remains of an ancient town, believed by some to be of the Stone Age. This is corroborated by the fact that
circle
or
farm near by were found
in
large
number
and other stone
of flint
implements, including several querns or ancient stone grinding mills. One of these querns, together with samples of arrow heads and other flint
small refreshment hut, not
be seen in
implements, ca
very great
Leon found few years since, Dr. possession. flint arrow not very far from this place, which he has stiU The other circle is near to Spanish Head and in close proximity to Chasms," where great clefts appear very interesting spot known as distance from the circle.
hundred feet. downwards to between three and caverns at the foot In connection with these chasms there thereof, facing the renowned Sugar Loaf Rock, concerning which many
in the rock extending
interesting legends are related.
Another interesting stone in the parish of Santon.
circle,
though
It is situate in
from the main road and not very
far
of smaller size,
field
from
about
can be seen yards
fifty
granite quarry.
It consists
of fifteen stones in circular form.
In the north-west part of the island, between Douglas and Laxey, there
the
stone circle called the
is
little village of
Lonan
They
or Cloven Stones.
short distance from the main road.
Baldrine,
are in
There
which seem to have been cleft asunder, and circle. There is an several smaller stones, and together they form are
two
large upright stones
interesting legend in connection with these stones.
Druids were actually in the act of making
It is said
that the
human
sacrifice of
being
when St. Maughold landed on the island from leathern boat. St. Maughold arrived in the middle of the ceremony, and, sprinkling holy water upon the sacrificial stone, extinguished the Maughold asunder, releasing the victim. fire and split himsel and said is said to have crosse Avaunt ye fiends." Some upon one
of these stones,
of the water sprinkled
upon the
on to the stone, th
ca sing
it
as
it
stands to the presen
been so astonished at victim behind.
St.
it
day.
worked through the
to split right
they
Maughold then cut the
fuel
down the
The Druidical
this miracle that
him and preached the
He was
fire
fled,
and dropped
centre, leaving
priests are said to
have
leaving their intended
prisoner's
bonds, released
Christian gospel to him, which faith he joyfuUy
Man, and he was baptized there and then, standing on the stone on which he was to have been sacrificed. He is have taken the name of Lonanus, become priest, and subsequently Bishop of the Isle of Man in succession to St. Maughold, and, after his death, canonised giving his of Lonan. name to after his conversion, It is accepted.
the
first
convert to Christianity in the
Isle of
DRUIDISM
130
Lonanus desired to build church upon the spot, but St. Maughold would not permit him to do so, saying it was better to let the stones remain as they were, in order that the Manx people might have always before their eyes the evidence of the miraculous power of holy water in the shape of the cloven stone, while the saint, at the same time, pronounced dreadful curs agains any one who should attempt to move those stones at any time thereafter.
Maughold Ireland, and as
captain of banditti have been formerly punishment crimes was boun hand and foot, in sent out in leathern boat, in which he was driven on shore at the north end of the Maughold spot which now bears his name Being delivered from his perilous situation, he retired into the Head. mountainous parts of the country and, devoting his life to religion, became so exemplary that, after the death of Germanus, whom St. Patrick had left in spiritual charge, prior to his departure for Ireland, he was elected bishop by the unanimous wish of the people. On the western side of the island, in bye road above Poor Town Quarry, is group of stones known as the Giant's which is apparently the remains of an avenue which once circle which is no longer in existence. Near Ballown or Crescent Cottage is remarkable Druidical temple. The circle is thirty diameter and is composed of irregular white quartz blocks. large table of granite Ues on the east side, which seems to have been removed from the interior of the circle and was probably St.
used for
Man
human
is
sacrifices.
Altogether there are about thirty-five distinct circles in the Isle of accredited to the Druids.
It is also interestin
to note that one of
the principal valleys running almost to the foot of Snaefell
by the name of Druidale. Buchanan, in his History of
Manx Druids
Scotland,
says
distinguished for their knowledge of
is still
known
So highly were the Astronomy, Astrology,
and Natural Philosophy, kings of Scotland sent their sons to be educated by them. About the year 76, Dothan, the eleventh king of Scotland, left his three sons to be educated by the Druids in the Isle of Man." On Rombald's Moor, close to Keighley, in Yorkshire, are some stones which are supposed to be Druidica remains. Brimham Rocks, in the vicinity of Harrogate, are credited by local tradition with having been the scene of Druidical worship. Brimham Rocks are scattered over an area of about forty acres and present at distance the appearance of ruined city. Three of them are rock on poised the application of the sHghtest force. The of these rocking stones is calculated to weigh one hundred tons. Some of the
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
131
perforated with singular regularity and have received from this circumstance the
name
twelve inches
in
The bore
Cannon Rocks."
of
diameter.
tumuli
Several
one
of
may
of the rocks
the
in
neighbourhood of these stones, the larger of them being about 150
The
in circumference.
place
called Graff-plain, or
is
is
ft.
the Plain of the
Graves."
The Bridestones
Levisham
at
in Yorkshire,
deep glen, have
fringing both
number
of
huge rocks
Druidical reputation.
Long Meg and her It consists, daughters," which stands near Little Salkeld in Durham. according to Grose and Astle's Antiquarian Re-pertory, of 61 massy stones, There
of various sorts
Some
monument, known
Druidical
is
and
ranged in
sizes,
as
circle of nearly
120 paces diameter.
some blue and grey limestone, and others them are ten feet high and fifteen or sixteen inches in
of these stones are granite,
Many
flint.
of
circumference
these are called
Long Meg's Daughters.
On
the southern
of the line and about seventeen or eighteen stands the stone called Long Meg, which is of that kind of red stone found round about Penrith. It is so placed that each of its angles faces one of the cardinal points of the compass. It measures upwards of eighteen feet in height and fifteen inches its figure being nearly of the square prism. that of It weighs about 16 tons. In square form, as circle most contiguous, four large stones are placed in if they had been intended to support an altar and towards the east, west, and north, two large stones stand greater distance from each
side of the circle
other than It is
seemingly to form the entrance into the
remarkable that no stone quarry
same
ridiculous story
Stonehenge, persons to
of the rest,
the
i.e.,
that
same number.
to be found hereabouts.
The
related concerning these stones as of those at
is it
who have made
is
circle.
is
impossible to count them, and that
many
make them amount mentioned by Camden, who
the trial could never twice
These stones are
number
was misinformed, unless, which seems improbable, some have since away. At Little Salkeld," he says, there is circle of stones, 77 in number, each 10 ft. high, and before these, at the entrance, is single one by itself, 15 ft. This the common people call Long Meg, and the rest her daughters, high. and within the circle are two heaps of stones, under which they say are bodies buried and, indeed, probable enough that this has been monument erected in memory of some grea victory. These circles are now generally admitted to have been temples and places of judgment and not sepulchral monuments. Indeed, the editor of Camden has rectified the statement by making th followin comment But as to the heaps in he iddle, they are no part of the monument, but have been gathered off the plowed lands adjoining, and (as in many either
miscalculated their
or
DRUIDISM
132
other parts of the country) thrown up here in
waste corner of the
and the Rollright Stones in Oxfordshire, are supposed by many to have been monuments erected at the solemn investiture of some Danish kings, and of the same kind as the Kingstolen in Denmark, and Moresteen in Sweden, concerning which One tradition, by the way, several large discourses have been written." Druid seat of learning and that the Bards states that Oxford itself was held their mystic rites in the oak woods which still the field
and
both
this
neighbourhood.
Keswick is an alleged Druidical monument, not mentioned by Camden and Httle known. It is said to have been discovered some It years ago by Dr. Brownrigge, who resided in the neighbourhood. hill, close under mountain known as stands on the flat summit of Saddleback, about two miles from Keswick and near to the Penrith road. It is composed of stones, mosth' granite, of divers shapes and sizes, evidently collected from the surface of the earth, being rude and untouched circle, some standing by any instrument. They are ranged nearly in west is about thirty yards and others lying. The diameter from and that from north to south measures nearly thirty-two yards. The stones at the north end are the largest, being nearly eight feet in height small enclosure At th easter end and fifteen feet in circumference. the is formed by ten stones, in connection with those of that It is supposed to have been the Adytum, or Sanctum Sanctorum, circle.
Near
to
any but the Druids to enter. On the inside it measures about seven yards from east to west and three in On the east breadth, and here, in all probability, the altar was placed. single stone lies about three paces out of side, opposite the Adytum, The entire monument consists of fifty stones, forty of which the circle. form the circle and the remainder are employed in the Adytum. circle, near to Moseley HiU, known At Liverpool there is into which
it
was not lawful
as Calder Stones.
It
has
for
diameter of thirty
feet.
Four Druidical circles, each of nineteen stones, are to be seen in Maurice thinks that they refer to the vicinity of Penweth in Cornwall. the cycle of nineteen years, supposed to be of Druidical invention. twenty comSt. Patrick is believed to have visited Cornwall monastery. On panions, when he preached to the people and founded elevations near the sea and on inland hills and tors, where bel-fires had long existed, churches and chapels were dedicated to St.
conqueror of the dragon.
Each rocky spire Of the vast mountain stood on fire. Though now for ever gone the days When God was worshipped in the blaze."
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS. On
Mabe Road,
133
from Penryn, st od fo er the bleak, bare steep, 690 ft. above the sea. Tolmen or Holed Stone, on This interesting memorial was 33 ft. long, 14 ft. deep, and 18 ft. broad. the
five
miles
manner that upon two deeply embedded stones, in such man might crawl under it and superstition long prevailed that person so crawhng, upon certain holy days, could obtain instant relief from any malady ro wh ch he might be suffering. It was blown up some years At Land's End, there is neighbouring quarry. ago by the owner of said Druids were wont to the Carn Leskez, or Carn of Light, where sacred indl he sacred fire and the Boxhednan Ring at Penzance is The Druidical arch, 68 ft. in diameter and composed of eleven stones. It
rested
Hurlers at Liskeard are said to be the remains of three extensive Druidical local which one only is now in tolerable preservation. legend, however, runs that the pillars represent the figures of some Cornish ball game Sabbath breakers, who, while engaged in hurling holed stone in the Vale of Lamorna, There is were smitten into stone. near to St. Paul, which is locally believed to have been used by the circles,
of
Druids for tying down their human sacrifices. The Sacred Circle at Scorhill Down, above the confluence of the W'allabrook and North Teign, is by far the finest example of the shrines worship in Devonshire.
of Druidical
The two
stand at nearly opposite points of the
principal columnar masses rising nearly
circle,
and the other standing upwards of six feet the lowest are about three feet high and the whole area is about 100 ft. in diameter. The whole of the enclosed area has been industriously eight feet from the surface
cleared of stones.
The Grey Wethers, sheep at
little
in diameter.
so called from
distance, are
They
their being easily
two Druidical
circles,
mistaken for
each about 60
ft.
are on the higher part of Dartmoor, above Ladle
Bottom, and directly under Sittaford Tor, and adjoin each other. They consist of thirty stones each, varying from ft. to ft. in height and are from ft. to ft. apart. Dr. Stukeley surmises that they were spewed out of the chalk by the centrifugal forces of the earth. Quarnell Down contains number of columns or circles, one enclosing kistvaen or sepulchral chest.
On Buckland Down
small circle of the same kind and there
is
is
another between Quarnell Tor and Shapitor.
There
is
the bottom of
Druidical circle near Winterbourne Abbas, situated at
deep valley
unwrought and vary circle
about 27
The
by many
ft.
calle
in height
by 25
ft.
the
from ins. in
Nine Stones," which are perfectly ft.
to
ft.
The
stones
mark out
diameter.
Stanton Drew, in Somersetshire, which are supposed the to be of older date than that of Abury, are known as
circles at
DRUIDISM
134
wedding," from
tradition that
bride and her attendants were changed
Another legend says that they represent serpents converted into stones by Keyna, holy virgin of the fifth century. There is also here the local tradition about the difficulty of numbering the stones and the danger of drawing them. similar circle in Staffordshire has the same name. Giant's Chair, where, At Port Hellick, in the Scilly Isles, there is
into these
stones.
according to tradition, Sat the Arch-Druid, in his lonely pomp.
With wistful eyes fixed on the sun." There are also some rock-piUars, said to have been of Druidical origin, nine height, at St. Agnes, Inangen Point. Tolmen Point, at Old Town, in the Scilly Islands, is so named from th perforated stone or Tolmen on its summit. At Fountain Dale in Nottingham is curious object, known as the Druid's Stone,
cloven rock, 14 ft. in height and 84 ft. in circumference, valley. Another similar stone national platform in
which crowns few yards distant. stands Both are regarded with veneration. Stanton Moor There are several Druidical remains in Derbyshire. appears to have been here there place much frequented by the Druids are temples, caves, rock-basins, rocking stones, and cairns. Bateman, in his Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire, says
At the south end is
close to
of
remarkable
of
gritstone
the village of rocks,
extends in length between seventy and eighty yards and height of about forty or fifty yards.
which
rises to
the
This massive ridge would afford
great facilities to the Druids for practising their deceptions
upon the
and cavernous hollows in various parts of the rocks, some large masses of which would require but Uttle art and labour to convert them into moving or rocking stones in fact, oracles delivered from this ridge of rocks would be as much calculated to inspire awe in the breasts of the superstitious Britons, as those did from the temple of Apollo at Delphus, to the more polished but equally credulous Greeks and Romans." Considerable excitement was caused among archaeologists few years since by the announcement in the public press that the Druidical circle known as Harborough Rocks, near Matlock, had been sold to company with ^75,000 capital, to be worked for its value as dolomite stone. The Harborough Rocks were at owned by the late Sir Joseph Whitworth, the founder of the firm of Armstrong, Whitworth, and he had intended to erect mansion there, but changed his mind in favour of Stancliffe, at Darley Dale. Druid's chair, cut in The rocks include short time stone, where, believed, the ritual was carried out. people, there being natural passages
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS prior to the sale
who excavated
antiquaries,
the
home
some notable
at
Harborough by
cave in the rocks, formerly
the floor of
Thev included
of cave-dwellers.
made
discoveries were
135
the bones of animals long
and an ancient CorneUan ring. About seven miles from Buxton, near to Middleton-by-Youlgrave, Druidical temple known as Arbor-Low, may be found the remains of or Arbe Lowe, w-hich recently was sold, much to the regret of archaeolo-
since extinct,
It consists of 38 stones, all in their
gists.
proper order, but
all
prostrate
on the ground, the stones inchned towards the centre and covering an deep ditch Round it is area of from forty to fifty yards diameter. It is the most striking bounded by high earthen bank turfed over. The temple is said to remains of antiquity in any part of Derbyshire. correspond more nearly than any other in character and features, though
monument
far inferior in size, with the gigantic
says concerning this that
it
is
in Wiltshire.
Bateman
the most important, as well as the most edifices of the early religion
uninjured, remains of
of the
Britons to be found in the Midland counties. It
lies
on the
left
of
the
turnpike
road
from Buxton to
Ashbourne, and its situation, though elevated, is not so high as some eminences in the neighbouring county, but it commands an extensive view. The solitude of the place and the boundless view
an uncultivated country are such as almost carry the observer back through multitude of centuries, and make him believe that he sees the same view and the same state of things as existed in the of
days of the architects of this once holy fane."
Arbor
Low
also
changed hands shortl
monument is The fact that
Rocks, though that
from destruction.
Monuments Protection Act
of
before the sale of
Harborough
and therefore protected
scheduled,
scheduled under
the
Ancient
1882 diminished interest in the result of
the auction.
About
quarter of
mile from Arbor-Low, in
known
westerly direction,
which is connected with the vallum of the temple by rampire of earth, running in serpentine direction, not dissimilar to the avenue through the celebrated temple of Abury. large conical tumulus,
is
as
Gib
Hill,
At Bradley Ross there is small circle of nine stones known as the Nine Ladies." It is eleven yards in diameter, th stones being ins. ft. high. At Hartle Moor there are the remains of temple which presumably consisted formerly of nine stones, as the adjoining field is known by the name of the Nine Stone Close. The height of the tallest stone is is
17
ft.
Upon
Harthill Moor, near to the
small Druidical
circle,
from Bakewell to Winster,
about thirteen yards
in
diameter.
Circles
DRUIDISM
136 also exist at Brassington
Moor, Abney Moor,
Eyam
Moor, Froggat Edge,
and Hathersage Moor. After the retreat from Anglesey the Druids are believed to have
on the eminence known as part of the Forest of Cannock, Coldfield was once At the north of the most extensive in the kingdom.
settled at Great Barr, near to Sutton Coldfield,
Barr at that time one of
Sutton Coldfield
lies
the village of Aldridge, and near here
to this day retains the
name
of
small
common
Druidheath.
As might be expected, there abound numerous monumental remains In the vicinity of Harlech, on the ascent of of Druidism in Wales. precipitous hill, as well as on the summit, there are several circles formed of loos
one
stones
circle
each
second
being inscribed within
other,
Some
placed at intervals.
forming nearly an
are single, others concentric, in other places
They do
ellipse.
not,
they intersect however,
bear
comparison with either Stonehenge or Avebur}-, either in magnitude or The largest is found at St. Nicholas, Glamorgan, regularity of design. and there are other important cromlechs at Newchurch, Monmouthshire
and Arthur's Stone, Glamorganshire. circle, described as At Meini Hirion, near Penmaenmawr, there is There consisting of twelve stones, some 2| yards above the ground. is also an inner circle consisting of eleven large stones, some eight feet Createn Arthur, Pembrokeshire
betw-een them. is
much
weathered, with smaller stones placed The outer circle is much broken in, but the inner one
high and three feet square,
nearly complete, and within this, again, there
is
the trace of
smaller circle, not concentric, but touching the inner circumference,
had been the foundation of Wynn, an ancien baronet, whose Falls near by, said that there was if
it
as
John spirit is said to haunt the Swallow wall round the circle at the time circular dweUing-house.
Sir
One of the largest stones he wTote, early in the seventeenth century. human figure and has been dubbed the Deity Stone, with represents the result that innumerable visitors have carved their initials upon
The most remarkable Druidical remains
in
it.
Scotland are those of
and Stennis in Orkney. The late Archdeacon John Sinclair, in Old Times and Distant Places, gives the following interesting account of an old Druidical temple in Orkney The two most notable objects, however, on the mainland of One of them Orkney are not in Kirkwall itself, but few miles off. Callernish in Lewis,
is
the Orcadian Stonehenge, or Stones of Stennis.
seven in number, surrounded by
trench,
two-and-a-half acres, in the midst of
They
are thirty-
and enclosing an area
vast barren moor.
of
Sixteen
them still stand erect, varying in height from three to fourteen feet. They must now have encountered the storms of more than thousand years. The general opinion is that the circle was erected of
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
137
Orkney and name of Steinness, or the promontory of it is remarkable the stones,' was applied to the adjoining headland by the earliest Scandinavian settlers, implying that the stones had existed in still When older times. was at Steinness, an obelisk sixteen feet in as
place of sacrifice
height, called the It
had
by the early
Stone of Odin,' stood apart from the great
hole cut through
intended for
it
by means
of
circle.
which the victims
were tied with cords, but in modern times it very different purpose. For lovers were in the
sacrifice
was devoted to
habit of plighting their troth,
through
Celtic inhabitants of
either
to
other,
and the vow to sacred as the most solemn oath.
by joining hands held to be an
aperture,
this
obligation as
hear with regret
that this curious relic of the olden time has since been wantonly
destroyed."
who wrote the Antiquities of the North of Scotland, to Thomas Pennant, speaking of the neighbourhood
Charles Cordiner, in of
series of letters
Dunadeer, says
Remains of Druidical circles frequently attract one's attention on these hills, though the uniformity of their appearance yields but small recompense for encountering the rough ways that lead to will only add one remark to the many you have made on them. that the church of
the subject of these ancient places of worship
Benachie Scotland.
is
included in one of them, which
is
not unfrequent in
This seems the effect of choice, not chance, and designed
by the founders to tempt the pagan inhabitants to attend on the doctrine of revelation by building the churches on on which they were wont to celebrate their ancient rites." Near to the Hill of the Seven Towers in the neighbourhood of Ardmucknage, is Druidical circle 26 ft. in diameter. About ten feet distant from the outside
is
an erect
pillar
ft.
high.
In the opinion
Arch Druid may have stood there to command silence among the people, or some other person versed in the ceremonies may have acted as prompter by warning the officiating priest should part of the ceremonial escape his memory. Near Callernish is group of old, grey, moss-grown stones which form perfect Druidical They are great boulders of gneiss, arranged in the form of cross. circle. the limits of the cross are thrown out contains The circle fourteen stones and is fourteen feet in diameter. The limits of the cross, running north and south, and formed by double row of stones, extend while those which run east and west are formed by to 392 ft. single row, and extend to 141 ft. In th centre of the circle there is an immense boulder about 15 ft. high and, in front of it, the remains of an altar, centre and conduit. of Dr. Borlase, the officers of the
DRUIDISM
138
The
structure at Turusachan
the place of the pilgrimage
Stornawa low upright stones, standing upon the 143 ft. above the main
an
thirteen miles due west of
hill,
is
consists of fort)'-eight large
the highest point of which
is
The temple is cruciform in circle at the intersection of the shaft and arms, but with plan, with The circle an additional row of stones on the east side of the shaft. stands about 80 ft. above the level of the sea and is about 42 ft. in The circle itself is comprised of thirteen stones, the most diameter. prominent one
and
ins.
5ft.
in the centre being 17
ti
ft.
in height
From
broad at the base.
south of
114
circle
above the ground
level,
the centre stone to the northern
of the shaft, the cross
extremity he
sea.
ft.,
is
distance of 294
measured from the
while
ft.,
the
circle
The extremity of the eastern arm is 408 ft. The total breadth 73 ft., and that of the western 57 ft. from the centre. The stones are all of unwrought gneiss, of the cross, therefore, is 130 ft. In October, 1857, of which rock almost the whole island is formed. total length, therefore,
is
James Matheson, Bart., the proprietor of the island, cleared away the peat which had grown and accumulated round the stones to an Sir
extent of five or six
This brought to light th
feet.
existenc
of
cruci-
and west, and so placed that the centre stone is head stone. The grave is built of small stones made to serve as excepting at the four internal angles, which are formed by large single had fallen in. stones. It had been covered with flat stones, It was built upon the natural surface of the ground, but the walls are bank of earth around them. Nothing was found in it supported by name in the island, means Druidean," Clach when opened. form grave, lyin
east
the stone of the Druids."
There are twenty-five
circles
within the watershed of the Nairn and
some twelve or fourteen between that and the River Ness, extending Loch Ness. The principal stone circles and remains are at as Tordarroch, Gask, Clava, Newton of Petty, Druid Temple, and Dorres. Another interesting series of stone circles exist in Badenoch and Upper Strathspey. The principal circles are at Delfoor, Ballinluig, Aviemore, and Tullochgorm. Hood's Burns,
To
is
this
Hill,
Tarbolton, the scene of
have been,
day the Baal
The
fire
in
is
many
former times,
lighted there on
incidents in the
life
of
Druidical place of worship.
Midsummer Eve.
Druninich.
by the natives Titian After the Druidical period they became the abodes or cells
of Christian
anchorites.
in
the
Isles
are
called
In the island of Lewis, one of the Hebrides,
huge stone, called the Thorshel, about 20 ft. high and almost as many broad. On the north side of Loch Carlvay similar stones, 12 ft. high, and there are many such throughout the there stands
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
139
but the most remarkable piece of antiquity of the kind
island
is
group of pyramidal stones near the village of Classerness, 39 in number, height, which are all supposed to have been from six to seven the erection of the Druids.
Burns made the following memorandum on Glenlyon the Druids' temple, three circles of stones, the outermost sunk second has thirteen stones remaining, the innermost eight, two large detached ones Hke
say prayers in
gate to the south-east
Mona was known
it."
Tnys the dark The isle," because of the dark shade caused by its umbrageous oaks. earliest name borne by lona, so far as is known, was Innas-nan-Druidneath, Isle of the Druids," thus indicating that lona was the scat of or "The According to the Rev. W. Lindsay Alexander Druidical college. Druids retained their predominance in lona and over the adjacent isles and mainland until A.D. 563 or 564, when they were supplanted and their superstitions overturned by the arrival of St. Columba, the apostle of the Highlands, by whom the inhabitants of that district were first led The sacred
to profes
isle of
as
Christianity."
when
In the Highlands one often hears the expression
Am bheil thu doc
go to church
don chlachan, or "Are
Have ye been
and, on returning from church
invited to ye go to the stones ?"
The
at the stones
beUef prevails in Scotland to this day that no one
who
ever meddled
with Druids' stones ever prospered in this world.
The remains
many
of
many
The tomb
parts of Ireland.
the form of
cross,
is
alleged Druidical temples are to be found in of
claimed as the
OUamh
site of
Fodhla, which
former Druidical temple.
In the parish of Donoughmore, by Carmeen, there
on the top of
The remains
hill,
and, at the base, there
is
built in
is
is
grove
still
standing
lake of considerable size.
of Druidical groves or temples are invariably
found
in close
proximity to lakes, which figure largely in the initiatory ceremonies.
The
Druids was at Tara, the residence of the chief
chief seat of the Irish
Moorna,
kings of Ireland.
district in the
south of Ireland, once famous
as the residence of an Arch-Druid, possessed
been haunted by the
cavern supposed to have
spirits of the Firbolg chiefs.
Londonderry
is
said
famous grove and school of the Druids. The claimed to have been derived from Doire, which, in
to have been originally
word
Derry
is
grove of oaks."
Erse, signifies
The Giant's Ring
at
Belfast
it
is
greater altitude
sufficiently high to
outside centre
it is
huge
mound than it now
enclosing an area of 60 acres by originally of
is
580 ft. in diameter, about 80 ft. broad. It was
prevent an ordinary
circle,
but in
its
presen
man from
condition
seeing anything
except the summit of the neighbouring mountains.
ve
ro
In the
cromlech of more than ordinary dimensions.
DRUIDISM
I40
known
as the Druids' Altar.
It
number
consists of
of
rude
pillars
In 1841 Viscount long by 6| ft. broad. Dungannon, the then owner of the land in the neighbourhood, erected supporting
top stone
ft.
substantial wall around
it.
At Ardpatrick, Limerick, are the remains, 11 ft. in height, of hill round tower, which is mentioned in an ancient Life of St. Patrick as of cattle holy well efficacious in Near by is sacred to the sun. Druidical circle, near the church and disease. On Scattery Island is Our holv well, now known as tower, and immediately adjoining is Lady's Well."
On
the
Druidica
stands set
summit
Baltony, about two miles from Raphoe,
of
temple
perfect circle of large stones,
It consists of
perpendicularly, varying from eight to nine
many
The circumference
same breadth.
instances, of the
height, and, in of the circle
On 150 yards, comprised of 6"/ stones placed at irregular intervals. the east side is an open space of seven yards, bounded by two large
is
and on the which probably formed the entrance to the temple opposite side are two of the largest, tallest, and broadest stones, filling Baltony, space of equal breadth, against which the altar stood. up which is not an uncommon name in Ireland, is supposed to be corruption stones,
of
Baal
tinne, or
the
fire of
Baal."
Between Galway and Outerard, and nearer to the latter, which for about two miles is covered with the stone remains Druidic temple of such dimensions that
and Mrs. circles of
it
space
is
of
an old
has been designated by Mr.
number of The City of the Druids." There are various sizes, some very small, but others so large as to be
S. C.
Hall
apparently half-a-mile in circumference. Knock-a-dun, an island in Lough Gar, Limerick, has an extensive
assemblage
of
Dr id ca
abounds with mighty vestiges of works extends into the county
On
the
nort er
The eastern shore of the Lough chain of Druidical Druidical power, and
remains.
of Tipperary.
extremit
Druid's altar, consisting of six larg
of
island
stones
Magee,
Co.
Antrim,
is
standing upright and forming
Four of two rows, about two feet asunder, extending east and west. on the south, each being fully the stones are on the north side large flat slab upwards On these rest three feet above the ground. of six feet in length, fairly smooth on both sides, and nearly two feet The breadth is unequal, its west end being nearly six feet, but thick. In ploughing up the field about half that breadth. sloping to the in
which
eleven
this altar stands,
inches in
length,
several detached parts of
in
1817,
spiral
instrument of pure gold,
few years afterwards was discovered, and In gold collar were dug up near the altar.
March, 1824, several spiral golden ornaments, supposed to be armlets
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS
141
or bracelets, were found, the largest weighing 526 grains and the smallest
188 grains.
magnificent At Broadstone, Finvoy, Co. Antrim, are the ruins of temple. The principal stone is ten feet in length, nine feet in breadth, Beneath it there is said to have been formerly and one foot thick. chamber communicating with two smaller compartments extending large stone northward and covered with stone. On the south is detached from its supporters, and on the opposite side stood formerly
Adjoining on the north-west are the
another of similar dimensions.
erection are seen on
stone circle, and vestiges of
remains of
been encompassed by
diameter.
circle of large stones
Near to the Rath
of
Mullinmast
43 stone
is
It
and the
local tradition runs that
it
was
known
seven
eleven-and-a-half feet long,
Altar.
is
appear formerly to have
well as the altar,
These,
the south-east.
circumference,
from
rolled
as the Druid's
place about seven
miles away. Caillin,
ber,
Bishop, whose festival
King
erection
of
observed in Ireland on 13th Novem-
famous miracle on the Druids, when Fergna, son
performed
Fergus,
is
of
Breitne,
against
sent
of
him when he commenced the
Fiodhnach, on which occasion he turned the Druids into
stones and as standing stones they are said
still
According
to remain.
swallowed up King Fergna. in some form or another Druid
to the legend the earth
The name the names of several places in Ireland, Knockadroon, old Druids Lake Druids
Druids' Point
These
preserved in
Loughnashandree,
e.g.,
the
the
the
Druids
Loughnadroon, the Lake the Druids' Wood the Gobnadruy,
Killadroy,
and Derrydruee,
circles are,
British Isles,
still
the Well of the Druids
Tobernadree, of the
is
and even
the Druids'
Oak Wood."
however, to be found elsewhere than within the in countries
where
not
that the Druidical religion was established.
known with
certitude
Wayside Pictures,
Bell, in
says that
The
finest
Celtic
monument, the
within the limits of Brittany or Anjou, of
Bagneux, about
rectangular form,
mile
raised
is
largest
of
regular,
to be seen near the village
from Saumur.
on the side
and most
This hill
monument
is
of
and composed
of
enormous blocks of sandstone. It is 58 feet long, 21 feet and feet high from the ground. The disposition of the stones is perfectly uniform, four on each side for the walls, four for the roof, one on the left side near the entrance, and one on the west closing up th tr ct re at There are altogether seventeen of these immense blocks, all unhewn, and in thickness they vary from eighteen inches to two-and-a-half feet. On the top of
DRUIDISM
142 the
hill,
not far from the neighbouring village of Riou,
monument,
smaller
is
great stones, also set to the east, and
consisting
The
equally regular in form.
interior of the larger structure has
vast subterranean sepulchre."
the appearance of
Diary, pubhshed in 1854, mentions two sites quarter of of curious ruins at Crendi, in the island of Malta, about
Lord
Carlisle, in his
mile from each other.
He
says
some Phoenician place of worship, consisting of very large stones, of which the lowest are upright, or five Above them are and what may be called Druidical. portion of them being as if tattooed with horizontal layers, The timbers There is no vestige of any roof. circular pattern. are of different sizes, with the apertures and large seats round Two or three altars seem to be in thei places the outer thresholds. very long flat slab of stone, which might and one of them has
They
have served
are probably those of
for
human
sacrifices.
Near, another opening indicates
second chamber, large enough to admit the body of
that
which again may have served
for
man,
oracular responses.
At Barozza, Spain, the stones known
as Druidic,
and similar
in
every respect to other Druidic memorials, are visited by every peasant girl for fifty miles
around on her bethrothal.
good luck, and wishes made
in the
shadow
among
the
how much nations, who
relates
first
the residences of the gods. to erect temples, objects,
the cavern
When
visit is said to
of the stone are
be ensured of fulfilment.
Porphyry
Such
mode
of
bring
supposed to
worship prevailed
caverns and hollows were in
the process of time
they determined the
sites
which they included, wherever
by the
possible,
men began
vicinity
of
these
within the limits of
sacred
fountain sacred to Hermes, near At Pherae, in Achaia, there was tones, each of which was looked upon as the which were thirty larg Pausanias remarks that instead of images representative of some deity. the Greeks in ancient times universally paid their adoration to rude,
unwrought
stones.
Miss Ellwood, in her 'Journey
to the
East, says
There
is
sacred
perforated stone at Malabar, through which penitents squeezed themselves in order to obtain
remission of their sins."
Peter della Valle, in his Travels in India, mentions that there was
famous temple at Ahmedabad, wherein was no other image but pyramidal form, which they call Mahaden, column of stone, after signifying in their language God. Clements Markham, covered
large area.
It
also, states that
was
built
city of the Incas
by highly-skilled masons, and with
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS of
enormous
stones.
One by 16
stone
is
36 feet long, by
by
143
feet,
weighing
Apart from the monoliths of ancient Egypt, there is nothing to equal this in any other part of such monoliths point The movement and of the world. dense population, to an organised government, and consequently to to large area under cultivation, with arrangements for the conveyance There must, he says, have from various directions. supplies of been an organization combining skill and intelligence with power and another 26 feet
170 tons
feet
feet.
administrative ability.
The explorations
of the
Ordnance Survey
proved the existence nearly identical in character with of 1869
and Arabia of circles those which in England and Scotland are commonly called Druidical in Palestine circles."
an interesting paper on "Stone Circles in the Gambia" was read at the Royal Anthropological Institute by Messrs. J. L. Tolbach and G. B. Wolbach, in the course of which they said (quoting from Man In 191
of
November, 191
1)
The stone circles which have been seen in the Gambia by ourselves and by Mr. Ozanne occur principally on the north bank of the river. M. Lanzerac, the French resident at Maka, states
many
an area extending from the district of Saloum in the west to the Faleme river, an affluent of the Senegal On the north side of the river we have seen them river, in the east. from Maka in the east to N'Jau in the west, and in 1903 one circle few detached stones were seen on the south bank of the river and that there are
circles in
near Kudang.
During our recent expedition to the Gambia we asked in every town which we visited if there were circles in the neighbourPlaces in which circles existed, or where natives knew of hood. any, are mentioned below. In the district of Sandugu circles are exist at Changali, near Misera, in the territory of circles exist
near them at Dasilimi.
several circles
we opened one
yards to the south-west of the
Gimmamang other Near Lammin Koto there are
chief called
of the largest of these. circle
excavated by us
About 600 is
another
opened by Mr. Ozanne some years ago. Circles are said to exist at Kaleng, not far from McCarthy's Island, and single stones occur at Jamarli and also near Kai-ai. We saw two circles in the bush about half mile to the north of Gassan. There are two stone circles not far from Jallokunda. Others are said to exist at Buntung, while there are said to be odd stones near Kussassa. Others again are said to be near Nianimaru and near Ballangar. circle
which
DRUIDISM
144
The
circles at
in that there
Maka were
were more single stones ou
M. Lanzerac has opened two
usual.
amongst those seen by
peculiar
us,
he circles than was
de
and has found
of these circles
them only traces of bone. None of the natives know anything of the origin of the stones. The Mandingo, who now inhabit the territory where they occur, Mandingo first say that the stones were in the country when came to it. There is no special name for the circles they are that is, Bero. called by the ordinary Mandingo name for stones At present the circles and stones have absolutely no significance. The natives do not use them as places for praying nor for landmarks in
neither do they generally believe that they were used for tombs.
Some
persons,
beUeve those
who
with
their
most them
of
died
among Portuguese made in the Gambia are
the
particularly
belongings. say,
When God
better
educated that
the circles,
people,
some
of
them, together
questioned concerning
the
circles,
put
or the people of the
there.
were cut and placed by seems probable some race which held the land long before the Mandingo appeared. who placed had more knowledge It is certain It
stoneworking than the Mandingo have at present.
of
They
also
had considerable aptitude in transporting heavy weights, for, as at Lammin, it must have been necessary for those who built the composing them least distance circles to bring two miles. Suntokomo, the paramount chief of Lammin, told us that the people who preceded the Mandingo in the country often made Jalang
sacrifices
cattle, before
animals in
made In
of
black animals of goats, sheep, horses, or
going to war, and that years ago the Mandingo sacrificed
much
the same way.
near, or on, one of th
many
These
stones of
sacrifices
circle."
parts of the British Isles are to be found
Stones, but seldom far
removed from
were sometimes
stone circle.
Logan or Rocking These consist
of
one immense stone poised so nicely on the top of some othe ston that the slightest touch or pressure of the hand will cause it to move or rock, the same time, it is almost impossible to move it from its station. hi e,
There
few instances of fallen rocks which, in
poised in this manner on some projecting
mass,
falling,
have become
but there are
many
These deliberate manner. more which appear to have been formed in Logan Stones have been found, amongst other places, particularly in At Walton, Cornwall, Wales, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. in Lancashire, there are five of these stones, so contiguous
one to another
:;^:
V.
^:5r^ .j£^?G^^^^^.
.:.-:.
:^^!^
-^
Aerial
Viev.'
of Sionehenge,
shoxving the outer ring.
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS that,
one
if
There
is
is
touched, the motion
are
given
ancient
in
of such wonderful nature that
could not be
it
to the remainder.
they were instinct with
if
writers
if
moved from
many
of
town
Pliny says that at Harpasa,
stones.
but
communicated
legend that Uranus contrived stones called Betulia, which
possessed the power of motion as
accounts
is
145
and
rocking-
was rock would shake,
of Asia, there
touched with its
these
of
life,
finger
it
place with the whole force of the
mentions Ptolemy Hephaestio gygonian near which was agitated when struck by the stalk of an asphodel, but could The word gygonius appear great exertion of force. not be removed by body.
to be Celtic, for
signifies
motion.
xpla ne by the Cornish or The term Logan Stone cannot Welsh language, although the name is still retained in Cornwall. Logh, however, was the Irish for divine essence," and the Druids claimed
descended into the Logh-onn, or stone. Stones which possessed the power of motion, as if instinct with life, Sanchoniatho,
says
patriarchal It
name
were
known
for sacred
as
Beth-el
was the usual
structures of this character.
has been conjectured, and with
Stone was
Betulia.
much
probability, that the
Logan
by which the Druid who, in conformity with the patriarchal custom, was also the judge of the people, of ordeal or test
determined the innocence or those persons brought before him. his Caractacus, supposes two young men brought before the Mason, Druidic tribunal on charge of treason, when the Arch-Druid addresses
them
as
follows
Thither, youths,
"Turn your astonished eyes behold yon huge And unhewn sphere of living adamant, Which, pois'd by magic, rests its central weight On yonder pointed rock firm as it seems. Such is its strange and virtuous property, It moves, obsequious to the gentlest touch Of him whose breast is pure but, to traitor, Tho' ev'n giant's prowess nerv'd his arm. It
stands as
fixt as
Snowdon.
No
reply
The gods command that one of you must now Approach and try it In your snowy vests Ye priests, involve the lots, and to the younger, As is our wont, tender of Fate." The result of an appeal of this nature was frequently guilty person confess his crime. If it became necessary the ordeal, the insertion of socket in which the pivot
to
make
to
resort
the to
or even of
small pebble in the
moved and on which
was poised
DRUIDISM
146
was
immovable, and thus resist th pressure of the hand. In that case the accused would be adjudged guilty and condemned, and the credit of the test would be vindicated. At Rudston there is ins. in height Logan Stone 25 ft. its width varies from ins. in the west to ft. and its thickft. in. in the east ness from ins. in the south to ins. in the north. This stone ft. ft. sufficient to render the stone
almost overgrown with moss from top to bottom, but, in 1773, More Bosville, of Thorpe Hall, ordered small cap of lead to be placed on the
is
how this stone was The question placed was partly solved in the autumn of 1869, when the Rev. Canon Greenwall opened various barrows in the parish and several stone hammers, axes and flint implements were dug out, by which the stone could have been hewn into shape and placed into position. The fact that this stone and other similar stones are found close to churches may, perhaps, be accounted for by supposing that, in order to facihtate top in order to preserve
he intr ductio
of
it.
Christianity,
the
early
missionaries
erected
their
churches on the spot where the people had been accustomed to worship.
The
which Pope Gregory sent to the Abbot Miletus when he was setting out for Britain contained the following instructions That the temples of the idols of the nations ought not to be destroyed let let altars be holy water be made and sprinkled in the said temples erected and relics placed." This custom of erecting churches on the sites of heathen temples continued in Scotland until the tenth century. Patrick, Bishop of the Hebrides, desired Orlygiis to found church wherever he should find letter
upright stones.
At Treryn Castle, near to St. Buryan, is the celebrated Logan-rock mass of granite weighing nearly sixty-five and half tons, being 17 ft. long and 30 ft. in circumference, which was formerly so poised upon its axis that it could easily be shaken and yet regain its equihbrium nephew quickly. In 1824 it was overthrown by Lieutenan Goldsmith of the poet, and some sailors under his command, by way of disproving the assertion of Borlase, the antiquarian, that no mechanical force could
Great and many were the complaints raised against this rash seaman, and the Admiralty ordered him to
remove
it
from
its
replace the stone in
situation. its
former position,
task which he accompHshed
and at an outlay which It crippled the Ueutenant's limite resource to the day of his death. logged with the same ease since it was replaced. Logan Stone 15 ft. long, 12 ft. broad, and At Rowtor there is ft. in thickness, which is easily shaken. Logan Stone At the Giant's Castle, in the Scilly Islands, there is 45 tons in weight, but so finely balanced that it will obey the motion
by the
aid of powerful capstans
and
scaffolding,
DRUIDICAL TEMPLES AND REMAINS by the way, Islands was Sulleh,
Borlase,
slightest touch.
of
British appellation of the Scilly
147
asserts that the old
or Sylkh, signifying
rocks consecrated to the sun."
remarkable rocking stone in the island of St. Agnes in ins. high, 47 ft. round the middle, The under rock is 10 ft. The upper touches the ground with not more than half its base.
There Sicily.
and
it
is
rock rests on one point only and
men with
pole can
II ins. in
ft.
From
deep.
move
it.
is
On
th
bason
is
part of this upper stone
gl bula
art,
it
In
the top there
two or three out
diameter at the medium, but wide at the brim, and
was rounded by human pedestal by human strength.
that
so nicely balanced that
it
is
ft.
highly probable
and perhaps even placed on the
Stithney parish, near Helston, in Cornwall, stood the famous
ft. ins. high Logan Stone, Men-an-Bar, or the Topstone. It was and 4ft. broad, and so nicely poised upon another stone that little child could move it. Shrubsal, Cromwell's governor of Pendennis,
caused
it
to be undermined.
There
is
rocking stone near Balvaird Castle, in the Ochill Hills.
One near Rippen
and nearly same in breadth, is called the Nutcrackers, but its rocking power has long since disappeared. The whooping rock, near North Bovey, is so called from the noise it made in tempestuous weather. This was originally Logan Stone, but many years ago it was wantonly removed from its balance. Mr. Rock, in Archaeology, gives the following description of the logan stone at
Tor, 16^
Brimham
It rests
upon
ft.
in length,
4^
ft.
in thickness,
Craggs, in Yorkshire
kind of pedestal and
one hundred tons in weight.
On
supposed to be about examining the stone it appears is
have been shaped to small knob at the bottom to give it motion, though my guide, who was about seventy years old, born on the moors, and well acquainted with these rocks, assured me that the stone had never been known to rock however, upon my making trial round it, when came to the middle of one side, found it to
moved with
The astonishing increases of the motion, with the little force gave it, made me very apprehensive that the equilibrium might be destroyed, but on examining it found it was so nicely balanced that there was no danger of it falhng. The construction of this equipoised stone must have been by artists great ease.
well skilled in the
power
of
In Wales logan stones are Stones.
mechanics."
known
as
Maer
Sigll,
or the
Shaking
Vallancey takes the word from the Irish logh, meaning divine
power or spirit, which the Druids claimed was infused into the stone, which caused them to consult it as an oracle.
DRUIDISM
148 1808 Mr.
Joshua Gosselin discovered L'Ancresse Bay, Guernsey, which could In
It
Logan Stone at easily by child.
large
was afterwards destroyed.
Some
Druidical remains near
Hahfax were discovered some years
ago by the rocking John Watson, then rector of Stockport. stone forms the boundary mark between the two townships of Golcar and Slaightwait, on Golcar Hill, and gives the name of Hole Stone
Moor to the adjoining grounds. It is 10 ft. ins. long, ins. broad, ft. and 5ft. It has been damaged somewhat by some masons ins. thick. who endeavoured to discover the principle on which so heavy weight could move so easily. lofty hill at the Gap of Dunloe, in Kerry, is On the side of Logan Stone about 24 ft. in circumference, called by the peasants the Balance Rock." Moore Hkens it to the poet's heart, which The slightest touch alone sets moving But all earth's power could not shake it from its base."
on Stonehenge, and Routes by which some may have been brought to the spot.
Hill ranges converging
of the Stones
CHAPTER
VII
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS
AND CUSTOMS
Druidism, in in each in
week
addition,
common
with most other religions, set aside one day
for the special
observance of religious ceremonies, while,
they
Midsummer Day,
four great
festivals,
viz..
May Day,
November, and the tenth of March, this last-named being New Year's Day, although some writers accord that May. The Gaelic name for the month of May to the first the first month of time." is still ceituin, or ceuduin, or Vallancey, in his Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis, cites Cormac, Archbishop that
the
first
of
of Cashel in the tenth century, as saying in his Irish Glossary
were lighted up on the four great February, May, August and November."
In his time four great
festivals of the Druids, viz., in
Many
hills
were used
fires
in those
days for beacons, and
telegraphic
Intelligence was consystem was carried to considerable perfection. and on urgent veyed by means of fire at night and smoke by day occasions by the simple expedient of shouting to each other from the
summit of these beacon hills, which frequently were dedicated to Teut. Many, indeed, are called Teut, or Toob hills to this day. There is hill with this name at Little Coates, near Grimsby. consists of magnificent mound thrown up on the summit of lofty eminence, which
commands
very extensive view of the surrounding country.
Cssar
noted the practice and referred to it in the fifth book of De Bella Gallico. the system was carried to such perfection that on urgent He occasions
the people
tract of country
May Day,
might be raised within twelve hours through
i6o miles in extent.
the day on which the sun entered Taurus, was ushered
festival commencing on the eve, which was instituted in comby memoration of the exit of Hu, the Mighty, and his family from the Ark. It was the principal time of the year for the initiation of aspirants for the priesthood. Maurice says he has little doubt that May Day, or, at least, the day ch the sun entered Taurus, has been immemorially kept as sacred festival from the creation of earth and man, originally
in
DRUIDISM
I50
memorial
intended as
May
of
that
The ceremonial preparations
event.
commenced
midnight on the 29th of April, and when the initiation ceremonies had been concluded on May eve, fires were kindled on all the cairns and beacon hiUs throughout the
for the
festivities
really
at
kingdom, and were kept ahght throughout the night as an introduction They were hghted in to the sports and festivities of the following day. name Latinised by the Roman authors honour of Beal, or Bealan, comBeal is into Belenus, by which name the Gauls knew the sun. pound word formed from Be, is, and Jll, universal, that is, the Universal The other gods and even all visible things Is, or the Universal Being. Another name were regarded as mere emanations of this great spirit. of Beal in the Celtic is Alia, or Allah, which seems to be formed from vocal inflection of Ta, is, meaning again the and Hca, The name Beal, or Bealan, corresponds with the Phoenician Universal Is. The Baal, the Indian Bhole, the Chaldean Bel, and the Hebrew Bahal. Irish and Scottish Druids knew the day by the name of La Bealtine, May Day is known in the Manx language the day of Belen's fire." or The day is still regarded in the Isle of Man as Shenn Laa Boaldyn. as an unlucky one on which to lend anything and especially to give fire.
Jll, universal,
So, even to-day, in the remote district
of Ireland
if
the
fire
goes out in
peasant before the morning of the first of May, the tenant lighted turf to re-kindle repairs to the priest's house in order to beg the house of
Man
made
mountain ash, which is kept throughout the year behind the door and renewed belief there that no evil thing can pass in where It is every ^May Day.
it.
The
crosh cuirn
the ""crosh cuirn
is
many titles by which Prof. or Men of May. writes very
in the Isle of
kept.
It
is
is
cross
of
note that one of the
nteres in
the Druids were formerly
known was Maysons,
Veitch, in History and Poetry of the Scottish Border, Beltane Day being the second day of May
and not the first, as is generally supposed. The Royal Charter granted fair or market on Beltane Day is to the Burgh of Peebles for holding "As also of given in the Burgh Records of Peebles, p. 85, as follows holding, using, enjoying, and exercising within the aforesaid Burgh weekly market days, according to the use and custom of the said Burgh, together with three
fairs, thrice in
the year, the
first
thereof beginning
yearly upon the third day of May, called Beltane Day, the same to be In held and continued for the space of forty-eight houre thereafter."
book
of
Scotch proverbs, pubUshed in 1721 by James Kelly, occurs
the following
In
all
"You have skill of man and You was born between th
beast Beltans.
countries in which Druidism was the prevaiUng religion the
observances of the day included ch ra
danc s, performed in honour of
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS the deliverance of Hu.
by many
May Day
the highlanders of
of
known by the name of To this day, also, Scotland.
Bealtine
is still
parts of Ireland the custom prevails of kindling
yard on
151
May Day, when men, women and
fire
in
some
in the milking-
children pass through or leap
drawn through flames of burning straw, which custom is held to be an efficacious means of preserving them from of May. accidents that would otherwise befall them before to call over the coals," meaning to reprimand severely, The expression had its probable origin in this passing through Bel's fire. This passing between two fires was not remnant of any sacrificial practice, but was Leaping over the fire is regarded merely as means of purification. mentioned in Ovid's Fasti as among the superstitious rites in vogue at the PaHlia, or the feasts instituted in honour of Pales, the goddess of shepherds, on the calends of May. lengthy Pennant, in his Tour in Scotland, published in 1771, gives over
it,
and
cattle are
account of the Druidical festival of Beltine, in
or,
as he calls
it,
Bel-tein,
which he says
They cut the middle
square trench in the ground, leaving
on that day they make
fire of
turf in
wood on which they
and milk, and bring, beer and whiskey, besides the ingredients of the caudle, plenty The rites for each of the company must contribute something. begin with spilling some of the caudle on to the ground, by way of libation cake of oatmeal, upon which on that, every one takes are raised nine square knobs, each dedicated to some particular being, the supposed preservers of their flocks and herds, or to some Each person then particular animal, the real destroyer of them. large caudle of eggs, butter, oatmeal,
turns his face to the his shoulder, says
or
fire,
This
breaks
off
knob, and, flinging
give to thee, preserve thou
This to thee, preserve thou
my
sheep,'
and so on.
they use the same ceremony to the noxious animals fox, spare thou my lambs,' or This to thee, crow,'
or
This to thee,
eagle.'
When
my
it
over
horses,'
After this,
This
give
horrid
the ceremony
is
over,
what that purpose, but on
they dine on the caudle, and, after the feast
by two persons deputed for next Sunday they reassemble and finish the
left
is
finished,
reliques
is
the
first
festival
and
of
entertainment." EUis also gives
ceremonies
in
account of the
May Day
Scotland, in the course of which he says
That the Caledonians paid superstitious respect to the sun, as was the practice among other nations, is evident, not only by the sacrifice at Baltein, but upon many other occasions. When Highlander goes to bathe, or to drink water out of
consecrated
DRUIDISM
152
must always approach by going round the place from east to west on the south side in imitation of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun. This is called in Gaelic, going round the right affect person's meat or drink were to And if or lucky way. the windpipe, or come against his breath, they instantly cry out disheal,' which is an ejaculation pra)'ing that it may go the right way." Beiltin, it may be added, is still the Gaelic name for Whitsunday. fountain, he
Dr.
Norman Macleod,
in Reminiscences of
Highland, Parish, states
boy in his father's manse in the Highlands, the parishioners all came to it on New Year's Day and performed deas-iul round the house to bring good luck to the minister and his family for the ensuing year. Miss Constance F. Gordon Gumming, in From the Hebrides to the Himalayas says that one place where the deisul is still kept up is at Kilbar, in the Isle of Barra, where, on St. Barr's Day (25th September), all the Roman Catholic population attend Mass in the chapel in honour of their titular Kilbur, the ancient burial-place saint, and then ride across the of the M'Neils. Each rough pony carries not only his rough unkempt that
master, but also his master's sweetheart or wife, who, in her turn, carries
bunch
This quaint procession marches thrice round
of wild carrots.
the ruins to secure luck for the island for the coming year.
The
extracted from the Survey of the South of Ireland, where the customs were very similar to those of Scotland following account
is
one was The sun was propitiated here by sacrifices of fire The first of blessing on the seed sown. on the first of May, for May is called in the Irish language. La Bealtine, that is, the day Vossius says it is well known that Apollo was called of Baal's fire. Belinus, and for this he quotes Herodian and an inscription at Aquileia, Sir
John
Apolini Sinclair,
Belino. in
his
Statistical
Account of Scotland, published Baal custom
in 1794, gives the following account of The people of this district (Callander, Perthshire), have
two
customs, which are fast wearing out, not only here, but
over
all
and therefore ought to be taken notice of while they remain. Upon the first of May, which is called Beltan, or township or hamlet meet on the moors. Baltein Day, the boys in round figure, by casting table in the green sod, of They cut hold the whole trench in the ground of such circumference repast of eggs and milk company. They kindle fire, and custard. They knead in the consistence of cake of oatmeal, stone. which is toasted at the embers against After the custard the Highlands,
is
eaten up, they divide the cake to one another in size
many
portions, as similar
and shape, as there are persons
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS. in
They daub one
the company.
charcoal until
cake into
He who
it
be perfectly black.
bonnet
the
draws the black
these
portions
They put
all
all
bit
entitled
is
to
the devoted person
is
the
last
who
is
over with
the bits of the
Every one, bhndfolded, draws out
bonnet. holds
of
153
bit.
portion.
Whoever
to be sacrificed
whose favour they mean to implore, in rendering the year There is little productive of the sustenance of man and beast. doubt of these inhuman sacrifices having once been offered in this country as well as in the East, although they now pass from the to Baal,
act of sacrificing,
and only
the devoted person to leap three
times through the flames, with which the ceremonies of the festival are closed."
In the same volume th
May Day
concerning the
On here.
It
the is
first
chiefly
of
er of Logierait, in Perthshire, writes
ni
festival as follows
May
festival called Beltan
and
annually held
by the cowherds, who assemble
celebrated
scores in the fields to dress
is
in
dinner for themselves of boiled milk
sort of cake, baked for These dishes they eat with the occasion, and having small lumps, in the form of nipples, raised all
eggs.
over the surface.
some deity
in the
The cake might, perhaps, be an
offering to
days of Druidism."
For many centuries subsequent to Druidic times the Welsh were accustomed to hold festival on May Day morning, in commemoration of the Deluge.
Oxen were placed near
lake, in the centre of
which
This was an island, regarded as holy, where ark was kept. was drawn through the shallow water on to dry ground by the oxen, whilst the best singers in the district sang by means of chant known as Cainc yr Tchain Banazvg, melody said to resemble the lowing of kine and the rattling of chains. The principal character in the procession which was formed after the ark had been drawn safely to land was supposed to represent the Arch Druid bearing his magical wand, after which came about Druids and Bards, the latter carrying harps, followed by the ark of Ceridwen, borne upon the shoulders of Ovates and discipuli. Immediately in front of the ark went the hierophant, who represented the Supreme Creator torch-bearer, who represented the sun and the herald-bard, who was regarded as the special official of the moon. large body of The rear was made singers and dancers, who, wit wreath of ivy upon their heads, surrounded the car of the diluvial god.
double pateras, while
many
Some
blew horns, others carried clashed their shields with crooked swords.
Ultimately the procession entered grove of oaks.
of these
temple erected in the centre of
DRUIDISM
154
by Tuathal, king of Ireland, general conA.D. 79 to 100, was in the province of Connaught, where vocation of all inhabitants of the kingdom was summoned each year It was known as the convocation of Visneach, and on 1st of May. sacrifices were offered to the god Beul, in whose honour two fires were solemn ceremony It was kindled in every territory of the kingdom. number of cattle between the fires. at this time to drive Cormac's Glossary mentions an annual convention which took place at Uisneach, in Meath, in the month of May, where the men of Ireland were wont to exchange their goods and their wares and jewels. sacrifice to the Arch "And at it they were wont to make It was likewise God, whom they adored, whose name was Bel. their usage to light two fires to Bel in every district in Ireland at that the pair of each herd this season, and to drive preservative, to district contained between these two fires, as It is from that guard them against all the diseases of that year. the apostles, fire thus made that the day on which the noble Peter and James, is held has been called Bealtine, i.e., Bel's Fire. The origin of the proverb between two fires is also ascribed to the passing of beasts about to be sacrificed between these two
One
of
the
royal
sacrificial fires.
palaces
erected
many
This deity, however, according to
authorities,
appears to have been the principal deity in the Druidical calendar, and not the fourth in point of importance, as claimed by some." Fire ceremonies, however,
are not
the exclusive property of
any
they belonged to many, and, even at the present one nation or reHgion day, they may be witnessed frequently in India, Japan, and other festival on May Day known as Hindoos also hold Oriental countries.
Bhavani profit.
kept by
it is
May Day was
all
Hindoos who possess horned
also
observed formerly as
cattle for use or
phallic
festival
in
somewhat similar festival is kept by the Persians The domestic fires are everywhere extinguished, towards the end of April. taper lighted at rekindle them save by nor would any true similar custom also exists at Jerusalem, the dwelling of the priests. Egypt and
India.
where, annually, at the time of Easter,
sacred
fire is
supposed to descend
done by priests with Until recently it was the custom of the poor tapers lighted at its flame. people in the counties of Somersetshire and Devonshire to beg fire at the doors of the rich on the last day of October.
into the holy sepulchre,
Stubbs in celebrations
his
in
considerable traffic
is
Anatomie of Abuses, declaims against the
May Day
the following language
"Against themselves,
and
Maie-day,
every parish,
town,
both men, women, and children
or
village
and
assemble
either
gether, or dividing themselves into companies, they goe
all
to-
some to the
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS
155
woods and groves, some to the hills and mountains, some to one place and some to another, where they spend all the night in pleasant pastimes, and in the morning they return bringing with them birch trees to deck their assemblies withal. But boughs and branches their chief est jewel they bring from thence is the maie-pole, which they have twen they bring home with great veneration, as thus sweet nosegaie of flowers or fourty yoke of oxen, every one having tied to the tip of his horns, and these oxen drawe home the maypole, which they cover all over with flowers and hearbes, bound round with strings from the top to the bottome, and sometimes it is hundred men, painted with variable colours, having two women, and children following it with great devotion. And thus equipped is reared with handkerchiefs and flaggs streaming on the they strawe the ground round about it, they bind green boughs top about it, thev set up summer halles, bowers, and arbours hard by it, and then fall they to banquetting and feasting, to leaping and dancing about
it
as the heathen did at the dedication of their idols.
have heard it credebelie reported, by men of great gravity, credite hundred maides and reputation, that of fourtie, threescore, or going to the wood, there have scarcelie the third parte of them returned home again as they went." of Parliament The maypole was denounced in England by passed in 1644, but tall maypole still stands at Slingsby, and at Cawood, memorial of old customs in Yorkshire, the maypole is still preserved as that have passed
Square, at
now enclosed, was formerly midsummer night frolics. Isles,
Hugh Town
in
the Scilly
the scene of the Maypole dance and of
maypole was once no trumpery matter, for it was the symbol of the Lord of Life." It was called the Column of May, the great standard of justice, term only applied to Toths or Jupiterstators. The maypole marked the boundary of the year, the confines of summer and winter, and around it contended two troops of youths, one in winter and the other in spring costume, the latter, of course, winning with their triumphal branches of May flowers. As the fires of love had to be renewed every Midsummer by ray from Sol himself, young men and maidens had to see that their Maypole was so firmly its place that it would stand there immoveable and upright throughout the whole year. Some insisted that it should be as high as the mast of vessel of one hundred tons and be worshipped with garlands and dancings round it by the youths of both It equally had its place, and was sexes every day throughout May. aris church or the parish stocks as important as th and if anj^where one was wanting, the people selected suitable tree, fashioned it, and Forlong,
in
Rivers of Life,
says
DRUIDISM
156 brought
it
triumphantly and erected
it
from maypoles
in the proper place, there
London was very famous for its Andrew-under-Shaft set up every May morning
year to year to remain. the
of St.
was higher than the church steeple, and after the usual observances put it carefully away under the eaves of the houses, which The Puritans cut this to pieces, as they were built so as to protect it. did all other maypoles they could discover. We are not without remnants of the old Nature-worship amongst shaft that
us, says
On
Forlong.
the
ist
of
May
in every year all the choristers
meet on the summit of their tower, Latin hymn as the sun rises whilst the fine 150 feet high, and sing peal of ten bells simultaneously welcomes In former days High Mass was held here, and the rector of Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire, it appears, has still to pay j^io yearly for the due pera.m. on the top of this formance of sundry pieces of choir music at
at
Magdalen
This
tower.
College, Oxford,
May
still
music, Christian priests explain,
the souls of kings and others, which, of course,
is
is
for the repose of
quite an afterthought.
Early Mass used also to be held in the College chapel, but
it
is
now
explained that this having been forbidden at the Reformation, music has
Formerly after the tower singing of the hymn the choristers used to throw down eggs upon the crowd beneath and blow long loud blasts to Sol through bright new tin since
been performed
horns.
Long
at
the
top
of
the
before daybreak, also, the youths of both sexes used to
go to great distances to gather boughs and flowers, reaching home at sunrise to deck all doors, windows and selected spots. This May fete is be the most ancient of all and formerly to have been accompanied with all manner of obscenity and lewdness.
The festivities of the second great festival of the Druidical year Midsummer Day also commenced on the preceding eve, and also was observed principally in the lighting of country.
These
Cornwall,
Cambridgeshire
fires
parts of England.
Human
were
fires
particularly
Devonshire
Mr. Samuel Laing,
on eminences
numerous Lancashire,
in
all
over the
Gloucestershire,
and the northern
who was born
in
18 10,
relates
when he was young these fires were lighted on the highest hills of Orkney and the Scottish mainland. "As boy," have rushed with my playmates the smoke of these says, suspicion that we were repe ting th bonfires without homage paid to Baal in the Valley of Hinnom." In many country villages and even in
Origins that
towns and cities, it was the custom, until quite recently, for old and young to meet together and make merry over large fire kindled in the open street, over which they would frequently leap, the younger members in
playing at various games, such as wrestling, running, and dancing."
The
ancient custom of lighting Baal
fires
on
St.
John's
Day
is still
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS
157
modern writer, the Rev. J. Walker, Northumberland. has described the custom which is observed in the remote hamlet of Whalton, in Northumberland, in the following words maintained
in
"As Midsummer approaches, much wood
marked out
is
for
When sometimes with the consent of the local farmers. certain amount this has been cut it is brought into the village with cart is borrowed and of formalit%-. On the evening of 4th July, bonfire,
loaded with branches of faggots, some of the
men
get
into
the
more are hooked on by means of long ropes, and then, with good deal of shouting and horn-blowing, the lumbersome vehicle
shafts,
is
run down into the village.
On Midsummer Day
time immemorial
at Pelynt, in Cornwall,
lighted on the evening of that day.
of
Midsummer Day
Bonfires were also formerly lighted fisher-folk of the
Penzance have transferred the observance
of the fire festival
of
Midsummer Eve
saint,
bonfire has been
The
on the evening villages near
pleasure fair was held annually
until recently
to the
at Penzance. St.
but the Cornish townsfolk
celebrate the night with bonfires
still
the fisherman's
Peter,
patron
adhere to Midsummer Eve and
and fireworks.
To-day, on Midsummer Eve, people in the West Country betake sight of the themselves to some high ground where they watch for first fire
lighted.
If first
beheld in the east
it is
regarded as
good
sign.
was in Cornwall stone at Escals, known as the Garrick Zans, which was about nine diameter, three feet high, level top. and with upon it and danced around When petty offences were committed by unknown at Midsummer. persons, those who wished to prove their innocence and to discover the guilty were accustomed to Hght Each furze fire on the Garrick Zans. person who assisted took stick of fire from the pile and those who could extinguish the fire in their sticks by spitting on them were deemed innocent if any handling fire-stick failed to do this they were declared Until rece tl
ther
guilty-
Wirt
an elaborate description of the festival, as observed in his time, in the following words Midsummer Eve, or St. John's Eve (23rd June) is still one of the ancient Druidic festivals, still liberally honoured in Wales. The custom of fighting bonfires survives in some of the villages, and at Pontypridd there are ceremonies of solemn sort. Midsummer Eve in 1878 fell on Sunday. Upon that day the Druids and Bards at Pontypridd usual feast of the summer solstice in the face of the sun. breezy common on the top of There is high hill overlooking the town where stands logan stone and circle
Britis
of
upright
Goblins, published in 1880, gave
stones
constituting
the
temple
of
the
Druids.
DRUIDISM
158
the custom of the present day adherents of the ancient
Here rites
beside which Christianity
an infant, to celebrate their circle marked with the within the folds of the serpent,'
religion,
signs of the zodiac.
is
The venerable Arch Druid, Myfyr Morganwg,
stands on the logan stone, with
mistletoe sprig in his buttonhole
Creator of sun, moon, stars, and and prays to the god Kali, discourse, universe.' Then the white-bearded old man delivers and new members are initiated into the Mysteries.' Occasionally over the sea, and these new members are include both sexes. Large crowds gather to itness th impressive shadow of the ancient rites when from Belenian heights spectacle former belief that fires It was flamed high the sacrificial fires. within their light from the machinations of protected sorcery, so that good crops would follow and that their ashes were medicinal charm." valuable as yearly pilgrimage to Stonehenge by To the present day there is many who journey thither to watch the sun rise above the Friar's Hill Stone, which many contend was erected by the Druids to assist them in locating the seasons.
In the old Cornish dialect
Midsummer was known
as Goluan,
or
and the Druidical festival became transformed ultimately into Christian festival, the day being dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the herald of the Christ. bright and shining The Midsummer Day festival was to implore the friendly influence of heaven on the fields and that on the eve of the ist of November was to return thanks for the favourable season and the fruits of the year. At one time the annual festival of the Grand Lodge of English that Freemasons was always held on St. John the Baptist's day is stiU reserved by many Lodges in all Constitutions as the day for It will be remembered that the Grand the installation of Masters. Lodge of England the Mother Grand Lodge of the World was founded St. John's Day in Summer." 1717. on Archdeacon John Williams, in his Essay on the Non-Hellenic Portion of the Latin Language, says that the Cambrian or Welsh form of Fates derivative of is Ovid, and suggests that probably the name Ovidius is light,"
this.
ceremony was undoubtedly of Aryan origin, since it The countries other than those in which Druidism prevailed.
The
in
fire
is
found
festivals
One of the festivals has the summer solstice, whilst
are continued to-day in the Christian Church.
become the
John the Baptist, Noel, the festival of the the winter solstice has become the Thus bishops and archbishops were enjoined by birth of the Saviour. Diocletian to have no scruple in preserving the festivals and almost all festival of St.
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS the rites which they found, transforming
them
and customs. greatest festival of the year,
In Ir land th
159
into Christian practices
when
all
the kings paid
supreme king, was the festival of Beltene, which was Then assembled the five held triennally at Tara on the 24th June. provincial kings and three or four hundred chiefs of clans representative sacred The fire of Beltene was regarded as of the elite of the nation. duty to kindle the home fire fire. Every Irishman looked upon it as
homage
to the
from
for the year
was
it
in order to secure the protection of the gods.
assembHes at Tara that the laws were revised. religious but also political and social.
at the triennial
gathering was
It
The
the Life of St. Patrick we learn that he found this custom established in the court of King Laogaire, whose hospitality he accepted,
From
although he knew that he was
He
pagan.
still
arrived on the eve of
the festival, and, according to his custom, lighted the candles in his oratory, for which he
little
existed throughout
was taken severely to
Ireland extinguishing
severe penalties, and
fires
all
royal decree
task.
fires
that day under very
were only to be re-kindled from the sacred
of Tara.
fires
The Celts,
full
story
is
told
by Patrick Kennedy,
Fiction of the Irish
as
"At the moment when the high pile of brushwood, crowned with flowers, was about to be Ughted by the hands of the chief Druid, the king's eyes sparkled with rage, for eastward weak Who,' said he, has but steady light was beheld glimmering. We know not,' was the dared to commit that sacrilege answer from many voices in the assembly. King,' said the Chief Druid,
be quenched. has enkindled
if
this fire
It will it
Erinn to the end
will
be not extinguished at once,
put out our sacred
fires,
overcome thee, and he and
of time.'
Go
it
will
never
and the man who his successors rule
then,' said Leoghaire,
quench
his
and bring him hither.' We go,' was the answer, but let all in the assembly turn their backs towards the magic blaze. Meanwhile, let our own sacred fires be kindled, and all the dwellers this light. When we have brought this stranger in Erinn into the presence, let no one rise to do him homage.' So saying, the Chief Druid set fire to the pile, and, accompanied by two other Druids and some guards, proceeded till he came to where the saint and his assistants, in their white robes, were chanting their hymns. What mean these incantations light,
cried the Druid,
curiously glancing at
wooden staves and Bealteine,
tablets
and why
so unlike their this
contrary to the orders of the Ard
flame on the eve of the Arch
DRUIDISM
i6o
Druid Accompany me to the assembly at Tara, and account for your disobedience but first extinguish that ill-boding light.' Of all that sat or stood in the presence of the King, no one stood to show respect to the newly-arrived, but Dubthach, an aged Druid, and the young poet, Fiech, who thus braved the King's displeasure. He, fixing his eyes stern on the saint and his followers, sharply addressed them Know ye not the law of this land, that whosoever on the eve of Bealteine kindles fire before the blaze is seen from Tara is devoted to death Patrick then commenced by declaring the unity of the Trinity of Pe sons th Creation and the Fall of Man, Godhead in the necessity of Mediator, the Incarnation of the Son of God, necessity of true Christia belief, and our redemption and the rejection of all creature worship, not excepting that of the genial
life-cherishin
tivity
and the object
Baal.
He
then alluded to his former cap-
and besought the king the good impulses which would be vouch-
of his present mission,
and people not to resist safed by God's goodness to every one who did not
wilfully offer
opposition to them.
The hearts
of the
king and the greater part of the Druids
remained obdurate, but such persuasive strength was vouchsafed words of the saint that very many hung on his lips with
and enthusiasm. Righ observed this with regret, but his power was much restricted, and he did not venture He ordered apartments to be to express open dissatisfaction. reserved for Patrick and his companions, and appointed him to argue with his Druids on the morrow. Thousands were assembled next day on the wide plain, and veneration
the stern-looking Druids, for the
disputants.
filled
the greater part of the space enclosed
After some explanations and arguments were
adduced by the missionary which told heavily on the priests, the Chief cried out in an arrogant tone If the Son of God has redeemed the human race, and if you are sent by Him, work miracle to prove your mission.' will not seek to disturb the order of Providence to gratify mere curiosity,' modestly answered the saint. Then will approve the truth of Druidic worship by effecting what you fear to attempt,' cried the infuriated pagan and beginning to describe lines in the air with his wand, and to chant spells, thick veil of snow shut out the light and heat of the sun, and covering the ground for several feet. An intense cold was felt, and the teeth of everyone in the assembly chattered. Cries of discontent arose, and the saint addressed the Druid You see how the assembly suffers banish this snow and cold, and admit the warm sunshine.' cannot do
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS to-morrow.'
so until this
Very
not for good.
different
is
i6i
you are powerful for evil, the gift bestowed on me by the 'Ah,
messenger of the Giver of All Good.'
He made
the sign of the
invoked the aid of the Holy Trinity, and the snow sank in the soil, the grass again emerged green and dry, and the blue air again appeared warmed by the bright and comforting sunbeams. Cross,
All
invoked
people
the
on the head of the beneficent
blessings
apostle.
To convince you
all,'
cried the Druid,
am empowered
that of our gods, behold what
of
our power and
to do.'
few
In
on the Again was the assembly, and they groped about and murmured. thick dispersed by the prayer of the apostle, and thousands of tongues blessed him." Fiech, the poet mentioned in this narrative, was converted, and was afterwards canonised seconds
darkness
such as seldom shrouds the
fell
formerly observed at
similar fire-lighting
day
earth
March, which was at one time the
Rome
day of the year. like custom that prevailed Philostratus {Heroica, I, p. 40) refers to on the isle of Lemnos. In the Highlands of Scotland, and in Sweden The kings of France also, the sacred fire was lighted in the same manner. did not disdain to kindle the fires of St. John. It is on record that Louis XI. kindled the fire at Paris in 1471 and that Louis XIV. once, at least, assisted at the ceremony. As these fires are to be found in countries where Druidism was not the prevailing religion in all probability unknown, it is possible that they were the outcome of Aryan teaching anterior to th introduction or development of Druidism. The following is an extract from Bossuet's Catechism Why does the Church exhibit such joy at the birth of Q. St. John the Baptist She only perpetuates the joy which the angel foretold. A. on the
first
Q. A.
first
How
The angel Gabriel predicted
he woiJd his
of
rejoice at the birth
name John, and he
shall
be
why
to
Zacharias, that
son, saying,
Thou
shalt call
joy.'
Q.
Is
A.
Yes.
Q.
Does the Church take part
A.
Yes, because in several dioceses, and particularly in
severa
reason
parishes
make
the
fire
fires of rejoicing
in
are kindled
in these festivities
what
is
termed an
this,
ecclesiastical
manner. Q.
manner
What
is
the reason for making this
fire in
an
ecclesiastical
DRUIDISM
i62
In order to banish the superstition attached to th
A. of the
kindling
fire.
Q.
What
A.
Dancing around the
are these superstitions fire,
placing,
feasting,
singing songs,
behaving indecentl}', throwing herbs into the fire, and preserving brands, cinders, and other things drawn from the fire throughout the year following. Charlotte Elizabeth, in Personal Recollections,
after describing the
blazing bonfires which take place in Ireland on St. John's Eve, goes on to say for
which was to puzzle me not some hours, and got low, the
indispensable part of the ceremony
one present
But something was
When
little.
the
fire
to follow
burned
were thrown and several embers, while across th parkli wooden frame of some eight feet long, with large white horse's head affixed to one end, and sheet thrown over it, concealing the wood and the man on whose head it was carried, made its appearance. This was greeted with loud shouts of the white horse Oh and having been safely carried by the skill of its bearer several times through the fire with leap, it pursued the people, who ran screaming and laughing in every direction. asked what the horse was meant for, and was the peasantry passed through
told that
In
Tom
it
represented
it,
cattle.'
all
Taylor's translation of Hersart de la Villemarque'
and Songs of Brittany (published
in
1865)
we
Ballad
are told that at that date
the festival of St. John, the Christian substitute for the Druidic sen-feast,
was
still
celebrated.
the peasants danced
Beal-fires all
blazed on every hillside,
night, in their holiday clothes, to the sounds of
and the shepherd's horn, or of rude music drawn out of reeds fixed across copper basin. The girl who danced around nine St. John's fires before midnight was marry within the year. In many parishes the cur6 himself went in procession with banner and cross to light brand from fire, branch of which was preserved with reverence and placed between box blessed on Palm Sunday and piece of Twelfth Night cake, and this was supposed to preserve the cottage from evil by thunder. The flowers of the nosegay which crowned the fire heap were powerful talismans the biniou
against bodily
many
kind
hautboy
ills.
was the practice to throw into the fire of St. John hampers and of wickerwork containing animals cats, dogs, foxes, and wolves. In several French villages even in the eighteenth century, the mayor or someone else in authority would cause dozen or two dozen be sent in basket to be burnt in the In
places in France
it
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS
163
This custom existed even at Paris and was not suppressed until the reign of Louis XIV.
John Joy Fire."
St.
In remote parts of Brittany
festival, evidently of
Druidical origin,
every June. The youths and maidens from the surrounding country over the age of sixteen and still unmarried assemble around held
is
moss-grown dolmen. The youths decorate their hats with green ears of corn and the maidens wear in their bosoms posies of the flowers of flax. These are deposited on the dolmen in the superstitious belief that so long as of thei affections remain faithful, the ears of corn and the flowers of flax wiU remain unwithered. The festival is opened by youth who is generally chosen for his beauty, commanding height, dress. He wears buttonhole favour of blue, green and white ribbons. He selects partner, on whose finger he sHps ring, and with her opens the dance round the dolmen, song meanwhile being sung. In former times the dance was opened by the parish priest, who wore tri-coloured vestment of blue, green and white, and
was opened by the
tradition that in Druidical times the dance
local
Arch Druid himself. In several parts of the country huge bonfires ar
on
John's Eve, as the holy flame
St.
every year
lighte
essential to the cattle
is
preservative from contagious disorders.
as
In the South Harz and in Thuringia the so-called are
common.
John's
In Edersleben, near Sangerhausen, the proceeding
high pole
follows
St.
is
set up,
on which
tar barrel
is
fires is
as
placed, having
which reaches to the ground. When it is on fire they swing the barrel round the pole amid great rejoicing. In this neighbourhood of Baruth, down to recent times, St. John's fires were chain drawn through
lighted, as well as in th
it
Catholic parts of Westphalia.
In heathen mythology the to the sun,
summer
solstice
was
day
believed to be
day dedicated
witches held their
John's Wort was their symbolical plant, and people were wont to judge from it whether their future would be lucky or festivities.
unlucky
The
St.
as
it
grew they read
in its progressive character their future
Christians dedicated this festive period to St.
John the Baptist, and plant was named St. John's Wort, or toor, and became talisman against evil. In one of the old romantic ballads, young lady falls in love with demon, who tells her lot.
Gin you wish to be Leman mine
Lay
When hung up of houses
on
St.
it
on
aside the St. John's St.
John's
Day
Wort and
together with
kept out the devil and other evil
John's
Day morning
the vervain."
at sunrise,
cross over the doors
To gather
spirits.
and retain
it
the root
in the house,
gave
DRUIDISM
64
luck to the family in their undertakings, especially to those begun on that day.
The most important
of all Druidical festivals,
however, was held
on the eve of the ist of November, when all the people throughout the family was obliged country extinguished their fires and every master of portion of the consecrated fire and kindle with to take home with him This sacred fire was lighted as house. it the fire thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest. If any man had not paid his tithes by the last day of October in each year, he was to have even spark from the holy fires, nor dare any neighbour give him portion punishment worse than death. under the pain of excommunication, At the Hallowe'en festival, which, in many parts of the Highlands, still retains its GaeHc name of Samh-in, or the fire of peace," tlie Druids met annually to adjust all disputes and to decide controversies. Miss atherine Sinclair, in Hill and P' alley, says The same animated celebration of All Saints' Eve takes place among the Welsh peasantry that Burns describes poem on Hallowe'en, and all superstitious ceremonies seem exactly similar to those in Scotland. Apples and tallow candles are hung alternately from the cottage ceiling so close together who leap up to catch them in their mouths can scarcely touch the one without tasting the other, though the greatest proof of skill and good fortune is
to succeed in doing so."
MacLauchlan,
in
The Early
Scottish
Church,
work published
in
memory
of
1865, says
There are places living
men
in
Scotland where within the
the teine eigin, or
forced
fire,'
was lighted once every
year by the rubbing of two pieces of wood together, while every fire in
the neighbourhood was extinguished in order that they might
be lighted anew from this sacred source." It
w-as
not
until
1220
that
Loundres,
Archbishop
of
Dublin
which was kept in small cell near the church of Kildare, but so firmly rooted was the veneration for this fire that it was relighted in few years and actually kept burning until the suppression of the monasteries. writer in the Gentleman's Magazine, day before Midsummer he was 1795, says that being in told that in the evening he should see the lighting of fires in honour of the sun at midnight. Tuathal ordered fire to be kindled annually on the eve of 1st of extinguished the perpetual
November
fire
at his royal seat at Tiachtga for the purpose of
summoning
the priests, augurs, and Druids in order that they might consume the
which were offered to the gods. It was established under the penalty of heavy fine that no other fire should be kindled upon that
sacrifices
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS night throughout the kingdom, so that the
fire
the country was to be derived from this holy the people were to pay
Scroball,
that was to be used in
fire
amounting
165
for
which privilege
to threepence each year
King of Munster. feature of Irish Druidism, although the Irish These fires were Druids had no particular veneration for the oak, and the mistletoe was
to the
unknown called
in Ireland until the nineteenth century.
Dinnseanchus,
Brath, son of Detha,
there
who
is
is
ancient tract
In
legendary account of Midhe,
son of
said to have been the first to light
fire
Uisnech in Westmeath, which continued to burn for seven years, and from this fire every chief fire in of the Milesians
for
Erin used to be lighted. of
wine and
pig from
on the
The
hill of
successor of
Midhe was
entitled to
every house in Erin every year.
The
sack Irish
them to have this fire ignited in the country, and all the Druids of Erin came into the house to take council, but Midhe had all their tongues cut out, and he buried the tongues in the earth of Uisnech and then sat over them, upon which It is uisnech (i.e., proudly) you sit up there his mother exclaimed Druids, however, said that
it
was an
insult to
this night."
The third day of the Feis, or Convention, of Tara, instituted by Ollamh Fodhla, was devoted to the Saman, or the moon. Saman, or Samhen, has also been rendered heaven." At the conclusion of the festival the fire of Saman was lighted and the tutelary divinities invoked.
Vallancey
La Samhna,
that
among the Irish Hallowmas Day is known as November was the month of mourning, being the season
appointed by the Druids for the solemn intercession of the quick for the
who had departed this life within the space of the year. The first day of November was dedicated to the angel presiding over fruits, seeds, etc., and was therefore named La Mas
souls of
Ushal, or
or those
the day of the apple fruit," and being pronounced Lamasool,
Lambswool," the name given to composition made on this eve, of roasted apples, sugar, and ale. The festival lasted until the beginning of December, which month was named Mi Nolagh, or the month of the new born, from the Hebrew word Nolah, to bring forth young," whence the French word Noel and the Irish Nolagh, or Christmas Day. Murdad, the angel of the ancient Persians, The who presided over fruit, fell also on ist November, and not imhas been corrupted into
possible, says Vallancey, that the Irish
may have
name
for
agrimony,
viz.,
murdrad,
been derived from this source.
So great was the hold of these ceremonies upon the people that the Christian priests were unable to abolish them and therefore transferred
them
to Christian observances.
Thus
St.
John the Baptist's Day came
DRUIDISM
66
which bones formed part of the constituents, while the customs of driving cattle through the flames and of people leaping over them were still retained. The cattle were driven through the flames in substitution for the actual sacrifice and the bones were, in all probability, burned as substitutes for th actual bone fire," corrupted into From this custom sprang the term cattle. to be observed
by the building up
of large fires of
bonfire."
These held in
were interdicted at the sixth Council of Constantinople, A.D. 680, in the following words These Bonefires that are kindled by certain people on New fires
Moones before their shops and houses, over which also they are certain ancient custome, ridiculously and follishly to leape, by we command from henceforth to cease. Whoever therefore shall clergyman, let him be deposed if doe any such thing if he be lavman, let him be excommunicated for in the fourth book of the Kings thus written 'And Manasseh built an altar to all of heaven, in the two courts of the Lord's house, and made his children to pass
Prynne, originall
fire.'
Bonefires therefore had their
Histriomastix, says
from
defined
through the
idolatrous custome, as
this
therefore all Christians
this
General Councill hath
should avoid them."
They were further interdicted by the Synodus Francisca under Pope Zachary when the sacrilegious fires which they call Nedri (or Bonefires)
and
all
other observations of the Pagans whatsoever
further interdicted.
The observance was
also
of the Druidical
New Year
accompanied by the usual Hghting
were
on the loth of March
of fires
on the elevations
of
the country.
The
festival of the
25th of December also was celebrated by the
Druids, both in Great Britain and Ireland, with great
on the tops of hills which were re-lighted twelve days afterwards on what is known as the feast of the Epiphany. The mistletoe was honoured by the Druids as divine plant. It was known to them as the Ollyach, or the all-heal," and the tree on which it grew, frequently, in Britain, the oak, was called the pren azvyr, or The cutting the celestial tree." of the mistletoe, with golden knife, was the occasion of special religious fires
lighted
function.
The oak was reverenced by the Druids leaves were used in of mistletoe
many
of their
upon an oak was,
as
most solemn
therefore, to the
sacred tree, and oak services.
Druid
The growth sign that the
was particularly sacred, for mistletoe commonly grow upon the oak, and its presence enhanced the sanctity and mystery of the tree. There is an oak tree in Lord Henry Somerset's park at Eastnor, tree
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS near Ledbury, at the western base of the Malvern mistletoe grows, and at Rosenau, Datchct, on the mistletoe
could,
quite
until
recently, be
on which the
Hills,
bank
167
of the
Thames,
seen growing on an acacaia.
Pliny refers to the Druidical belief that whatever grew on an oak was sign that the tree had been chosen by the Heaven and was Hence, when cut, it was not allowed to fall to the ground and
sent from
gods.
become profane and thus lose its marvellous virtue. famous physician, was the author Sir John Colbatch,
of
Disser-
most wonderful specific remedy for the cure lingerin of convulsive distempers, and in some country places there is still belief in the magical powers of the mistletoe, particularly in curing tation concerning Mistletoe,
I.
it
In the reign was once known as omnia sanane. was called lignum sanctae crucis. There are several
to
It
in
animals of diseases. of
George
references
believed
to
It
English literature.
confer the
power
Glastonbury, once possibly ta
to tradition,
th
In
Holstein,
of ghost-seeing
upon
the
its
mistletoe
possessor.
is
At
stronghold of Druidism, which, according
tomb
of
British hero.
King Arthur,
the mistletoe hangs in thick clusters.
The Druids had
remarkable veneration for the number three, and
have been regarded by them as sacred because not only its berries, but its leaves also, grew in clusters of three united character so holy that The mistletoe was invested with to one stock. The Arch profanation to touch it with fingers. it was considered Druid alone was deemed worthy to pluck the mistletoe, and he first The golden hook carefully purified himself with consecrated water. Some doubt held in his left hand must never have been used before. has been cast by Dr. Lort as to whether gold really formed the substance the word instead of aurea, of the sickle, whether aerea and Virgil, in the Aeneii, iv, 513, expressly herbs for magical were cut with sickles. the mistletoe
is
The following catechism is
relating to the gathering of the mistletoe
taken from C. Mclntyre North's The Book of
landers
Q.
When
is
the
Club of True High-
the sacred plant gathered
At the new moon next the winter solstice, they thus gather Having made all due preparation for the sacrifice and the banquet beneath the trees, they bring thither two white Clad bulls, the horns of which are bound then for the first time. white robe the priest in tree, and cuts the mistletoe golden sickle, which is received by others in white cloak. with golden The chief Druid then says The gift in the golden horn in the hand, the hand on the knife, the knife on the leader of worship thee, Beli, giver of good, and Manhogan the A.
DRUIDISM
i68 the king,
who
honour
They then immolate
Bel,
of
the Island of
the victims, offering up their prayer that
will render this gift of his propitious to those to
granted
whom
BeU
he has so
it.
Name some
Q.
Hu
Beh.'
The
A.
of the other sacred feasts.
feast of Belteine,
and Ked, when lord of the manor or the great
October)
fire
to
is
the faithful offer sacrifices to
king receives
horse and arms from each
chieftains of the lands.
The day on which
kindled (according to O'Curry this was
summon
and every other use only
faithful
when
fire
31st
of
the priest to consume the offered sacrifice the
in
the sacred
country extinguished fire
rekindle
to
so
the house
that fire,
the
and
screpall. And the great feast which is held which each pays days after Samhain, in every third year three days before crime during this period, the penalty when, if any person commits
for
is
instant
death.
The oak has always and
the tree
of the gods.
In the North the oak was under the special protection of Thor, the hammer-wielding god, whose name is handed down to us in the word
The oaks
thunder."
Aubrey,
of
Dodona.
Zeus belted his
in his History of Surrey, says
It
unfortunate.
been usually observed that to cut oakwood There was at Norwood one oak that had mistletoe,
is
about 1657. Some persons cut this quantity mistletoe for some apothecaries in London, and sold them for ten shilUngs each time, and left only one branch remaining for more to sprout out. One fell lame shortly after; soon after each of timber
tree,
which was
felled
and he that
the others lost an eye
felled the tree,
though warned
men, would, notwithstanding, adventure to do it, and shortly after broke his leg, as if the Hamadryades had resolved to take an ample revenge for the injury ca no mi here taking done to this sacred and venerable oak. of
these
misfortunes
of
the
other
notice of the great misfortunes in the family of the Earl of Winchelsea,
who, at Eastwell,
Kent, felled down
most curious grove of oaks, near his own noble seat, and gave the first blow with his own hands. Shortly after his countess died in her bed suddenly, and his eldest son, the Lord Maidstone, was killed at sea by cannon ball." in
Towards the end of the eighteenth century Mr. Philip Rashleigh found at the bottom of mine near the River Powey, ten fathoms below the surface of the earth, brass hook corresponding to the description given of the Druidical hook.
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS bas-relief
in
Autun has been described bv Aubrey,
discovered at
his Antiquities of
169
Druid
Autun, in which
is
crowned
represented
Another Druid, by his side, has in his hand crescent rule among the Druids resembUng the moon at six days old. It was part except not to celebrate any ceremony in which mistletoe formed began on the sixth day of the moon. The Britons, according to Pliny, their months and years when the moon was six days old, because then she is thought to be of great power and force sufficient, but is not yet come to her half light and the end of her first quarter." The power of the mistletoe, contended the Druids, made women with oaken leaves."
fruitful.
Sir
Walter Scott, in Marmion, refers to the mistletoe Forth to the woods did merry men go
To gather Gay,
in
in the mistletoe."
in Trivia, writes
Now
with bright holly
With
laurel green
all
the temple strew
and sacred mistletoe."
while Herrick in Hesperides, says
Down with the rosemary and Down with the mistletoe Instead of holly
now
The greener box
days,
upraise for
show."
Shakespeare has only one allusion to the mistletoe, and that an uncomplimentary one
summer, yet forlorn and lean, O'er come with moss and baleful mistletoe."
Trees, though
Watts thus apostrophies the plant Hail, Hail to its leaves of rich green,
With
pearls that are
fit
for
Pliny, in his Natural History, gives
the
mode
of gathering
The Druids,
it.
He
queen." description of the plant
says (Book xvi,
for so call
c.
44)
they their Magi, have nothing more
sacred than the mistletoe, and the tree on which it
be the oak.
They
select
and
it
grows, provided
particular grove of oaks
and perform custom they
no sacred rites without oak leaves, so that from this may seem to have been called Druids (Oakites), according to the interpretation of that word. They reckon whatever grow on these trees is sent down from Heaven and proof that the tree itself is chosen by Deity. But the mistletoe is very rarely found and when found is sought after with the greatest religious ardour, and principally in the sixth moon, which is the beginning of their months and years, and when the tree is thirty years old it is then not half-grown only but has attained
its
full
vigour.
They
call it
DRUIDISM
ijo All-heal
(UU-ice)
proper sacrifices
word
by and
feasts
own
their
in
under the
and having
language,
with great solemnity
trees
bring up two white buUs, whose horns are then
white surpHce, ascends the tree and cuts
priest, clothed in
The
bound.
first
it
off
Then they sacrifice the victims and pray that God would render his own gift prosperous whom He has bestowed it. They reckon those potion can impart fecundity to any the mistletoe administered as remedy against all kinds of poision." barren animal and that golden knife, and
with
The
mistletoe
was,
and
it is
is,
more rare even
England, where any variety of the plant the
Statistical
Account
On two
in
the
Damonium
this mysterious rite.
approached
fruit-bearing tree,
the Germans.
may
be included th
urning
of
The numerous round monu-
times of worship.
are said to have been formed for the purpose of
In several of the Scottish
Druids turned sun-ways
On
standard
of
in the writings
the fire-haUowed kurne
way when
in
There are references
withou
times from east to west in accordance wit opposite
Kiltarility,
grows, which
or sprigs cut from
the Druidical ceremonies
the body during
ments
tallies
In
{sic)
standard apple trees here mistltoe
Bards to the use of custom which Tacitus
than in
rarity.
number
In Lovat's garden are
of the
Among
regarded as of
rare plant in this country."
is
is
Scotland
in
of
Inverness-shire, writes trees.
white sheet.
received in
in
isles
the people never
walkin
round
it
three
the course of the sun.
The
order to bless and worship the gods, and the
they wished to curse and destroy their enemies.
the point of facing the east in religious ceremonial,
Hurd,
Ceremonies and Rites, says This ceremony wa lived
westward
peculiar to
of the Hellespont,
and although they had
all
those heathen nations
who
as well as the ancient Britons
formed the most unworthy notions of the Divine Being, yet the hope of being born in the great East seems to have prevailed everywhere among them. This undoubtedly was handed down to them by tradition and there is great reason to beheve that they expected (like Socrates in Plato) he would rectify all the abuses that had crept into their rehgion, and that he would reign for ever among men. Thus in every nation we meet with something of traditional hope of the coming of the all
Messiah, although some are ignorant of the character he
Plutarch says that the Druids observed
in
is
to assume."
honour
of
Saturn
every thirty years, the time taken by the planet Saturn to complete its course round the sun and festival took place on its entrance into the second sign of the zodiac. Taurus
DRUIDICAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS At
St.
Maughold's Well, in the
Isle of
Man, there was formerly resorting thither on the
custom, believed to be of Druidical
Sunday
first
in
171
August to drink of the water to which medicinal virtues
were ascribed.
At
St.
Ives,
held round the
in
Cornwall, once every five years pubhc games are
monument
who caused own memory.
79 1, and to his
of one,
John KeriU,
pyramid
to be erected in his lifetime
band
of four
who
barrister,
died in
of granite
matrons and ten virgins dressed
hill, accompanied by walk in pairs to the summit of merry measure, after which they chant musicians. They dance psalm in imitation of the Druids round the cromlechs of the departed brave." Then the Mayor of St. Ives appears in his official robes, and wrestling, racing and rowing are duly accomplished by athletic com-
in white
silk
petitors, the winners receiving appropriate rewards.
In 1792 an eflPort was made to revive the annual meetings of the On 2nd September of that year, the day of the autumnal equinox, Bards.
some
Bards resident
when
Hill,
in
London assembled
on Primrose
in congress
the wonted ceremonies were observed.
circle
of stones
was formed, in the middle of which was the Maen Gorsedd, on which naked sword being placed, all the Bards assisting to sheathe it. This proclamation that the Bards of the island of Britain was attended by were th herald and ministers of peace and never bore naked weapon in the presence of any one nor was it lawful for any person to bear one, on any pretence, in their presence. community, was an unwritten law of the that, as whole life and actions were to be governed by the principle that what be wrong in private, and the proverb that is wrong in governed the doings of their circles was In the face of the sun and the eye of Light." Hence one reason for holding their meetings in the open air and in broad daylight. It
In Switzerland the most important day of the
Day,
24th
of
June.
gathered on that date
Certain in
herbs
only
bunch
John's
Day
acquire
is
virtue
St.
it.
being is
then
bath on the night of
has curative properties though in some places
to be dangerous, as St. John's night might claim
John's
from
of nine different plants
picked and fastened to the house to protect St.
summer
victim.
it
is
On
held this
day three persons must perish, one in the air, one by fire, and one by Bonfires on the hills are restricted to French Switzerland. water." In the Border counties on Hallowe'en, New Year's Day, and Midsummer Eve, and in Ireland on May Day Eve, the fire is not permitted to go out, for, if extinguished, none would be given or good luck would disappear.
DRUIDISM
172
James Napier, in Folk Lore, quotes from Train' descriptio of ceremony witnessed in village of Perthshire, while at Balnaguard, charm to ward ofi the Black Haunch," an infectious cattle disease. as
He
says
between the two nearest rivers, and all the eopl within that boundary convene in convenient machine, as above described place, where they erect and after until they have they have commenced, they continue night forced fire by the friction of two sticks. Every person must perform portion of this labour, or touch the machine in order not to break During the continuance of the ceremony, they appear the charm. melancholy and dejected, but when the fire, which they say is brought from heaven by an angel, blazes in the tow, they resume their wonted gaiety and while one part of the company is employed "All
fires
are
extinguished
in feeding the flame,
bourhood over cure complete
it.
extinguished."
When
this
ceremonv
all
the cattle in the neigh-
is
ended, they consider the
which they drink whisky, and dance to the round the celestial fire till the last spark is
after
bagpipe or fiddle
the others drive
CHAPTER
VIII
THE AFFINITY OF DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS The Druidical religion and philosophy were so like to the Pythagorean system that some writers have arrived at the conclusion that the one was borrowed from the other, but the borrower is assumed generally to be Dr. Abraham Rees, in his Cyclopaedia, Pythagoras, and not the Druids. is of opinion that Pythagoras himself learned and adopted some of the opinions of the Bards, and imparted to these some of his own thoughts
The studies of learning in the deepest sciences have been so eminent among us that writers of good antiquity have been persuaded that even the school of Pythagoras and the Persian wisdom took beginning from the philosophy of this island."
and
discoveries.
Borlase,
before
in his
Milton states that
Antiquities
of Cornwall,
expressed the belief that long
Greece could boast of her wise men,
Britain
was famous
for
Greek philosophers were and wisdom, and really beholden to our Bards whom they copied in many particulars. In the opinion of Toland, no heathen priesthood ever ttaine th perfar more exquisite fection of the Druidical, which he describes as being than any other system, as having been much better calculated to beget ignorance and an implicit disposition in the people, no less than to procure power and profit to the priests." Both the Druidic and Pythagorean alphabets were Etruscan in character. The three Orders of Druidism correspond to the three orders Each cultivated the of Pythagorics, Pythagoreans, and Pythagorists. study of theosoph)', metaphysics, ethics, physics, the magnitude and form of the earth, the motions of the heavens and stars, medicine, and Pythagoras enjoined the rule of conceaUng philosophy from the magic. uninitiated and forbade it to be written down. The points of resemblance between Druidism and Brahmanism are great In ancient times, according to Brahmanical lore, very striking. intercourse existed between India and the countries in the West, and the British Isles are said to have been described in the Puranas as Breta-
learning, philosophy,
DRUIDISM
174
The Place
Duty." Faber, in his Cabiri, gives expression to the opinion that the undoubted resemblance which existed between Brahmanism and Druidism originated probably from the Asiatic extraction of the Druids. The various Japhetic tribes which peopled Europe all came out of the widely-extended regions of Tartary and many of them, among whom were doubtless the Celtic Druids, came from the neighbourhood of the Indian Caucasus. The Brahmans made sfhan, or
it
of Religious
rule never to reveal to the uninitiated the secret doctrine of their
religion and, in like
manner, the Druids concealed from strangers and
the uninitiated, even of their
own
country, the sacred mysteries of their
There was throughout India veneration for the serpent, and amongst the Druids there was superstitious reverence for the religion.
Anguinum,
or serpents' egg,
and many
were constructed as unlawful to eat ducks,
of their temples
The Druids regarded it hens, and other winged animals. The Brahmans, of course, looked upon of any live animal as unlawful and abstained from eating anything that had been killed. The Brahmans carried sacred consecrated wand or magic rod was carried by every Druid staff and as initiation. Brahma is generally represented as holding wheel or circle, and the circle was regarded by the Druids in his hand symbol both of the sun and of eternity. Each had as veneration for white horses and for vast pyramidical heaps of stones. The Indian in serpentine form.
stone temples were, for the most part, uncovered or in the open, like
Stonehenge, Abury and in
initiation
many
other
Each had solemn rites of wore tiaras and white robes, the Brahmans were the most
sites.
each religion the priests
not unlike the Persian Mithra. Just as venerated caste in India, so the Druids were regarded as superior even to the nobility of Britain.
Belief in the immortality of the soul
the basic article in each creed,
Each had
migration.
Maurice
is
in
both with the
was
belief in trans-
and penitential exercises. impossible to doubt that at some
severities of discipline
of the opinion that
remote period the two orders were united, or, at least, were educated in the same grand school with the Magi of Persia and the seers of Babylon," while Sir
W.
Jones contends
of
"'
anciently sat on
Volume II. of Asiatic Researches, That the Druids were Brahmans is beyond the least shadow Barrow,
the throne says
race of
doubt, but that they were
out of aU bounds of probability schoolmasters.
in
their sciences lost,
all it is
much more
Freemasons, and fortune-tellers
of their sciences
likely that
is
they turned
and, in this way, part
might easily descend to posterity, as we
find
they have
done." Francklin, in his Tenets and Doctrines of the Jeynes and Boodhists, sums up the striking similarity in the following words
AFFINITY OF DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS
175
The similarity of the laws and customs of the Druids and variety of writers, and ancient Brahmans has been remarked by beyond doubt that the hierarchy the worship of the Hindoos were of
of the
Druids was
their ofhces
privileges
similar nature, they administered all the religious ceremonies,
they managed the
sacrifices,
to the present day,
among the Hindoos, they were
and
oracles
and
rami-
depositaries
of
and inst uc ed th everything
which belonged to the times
who
above
all,
by
people,
whom
considered as the
learned
and
instructive
Abaris, or Bladud, the
have instructed Pythagoras, the Samian philosopher, was, in fact, no other than the Puttee Cooroo (lord of priests) of Hindoostan, and the Archimagus, or Peer-i-Moghaun of the Persians." striking resemblance betwee Druidism and Judaism. There is also Not only did each religion inculcate belief in Supreme Being, but the name given to that Supreme by each is akin. The Jewish name for the Supreme Being, Jehovah, means The Self-Existent," or, to adopt the term employed by Maimonides, The Eternal." Among the Druids, Bel was the name given to the Supreme, the meaning of which is He that is." The name Ptah, also, it may out, means am all that has been, is, or shall be." The Hebrews were accustomed to worship the Eternal under the name of Baal. Thus we read in Hosea ii., high priest of the Druids,
15
me
"And
shall
it
be at
is
said to
saith the Lord, that thou shalt call
and shalt call me no more Baal." This was because the Israelites ha be me idolaters and served other deities under the name of BaaUm. priest vested with supreme authority, and had three Each possessed classes or orders of sacred men. The Jews had their priests or judges, prophets, and scribes, while among the adherents of th Druidica faith there were the Druids, Bards, and Vates. Each measured time by night and day. Grove worship was common to both Israelite and Druid, and it is clear from the many references to the oak in the Old Testament that it was regarded as sacred tree. The same Hebrew word which signifies oak also means an oath," and the root of this word is mighty," or strong," the root of the name given to the Deity in Ishi,
many
languages.
under the oak at (Judges
vi.,
11).
The angel (or messenger) of the Eternal came and sat Ophrah when sent to deliver message to Gideon similar incident
is
recorded in
I.
Kings
xiii.,
14.
and Hosea iv., 13, reference is made to the practice up incense under the oak. It was at the oak of Moreh (Genesis xii., 6, R.V.) that the Eternal appeared to Abram, and it was there that Abram built an altar. Joshua (xxiv., 26) wrote particulars of the covenant in book of the law of God and took great stone and set it up under an oak tree, by the sanctuary of the Eternal. Amongst
in Ezekiel vi.,
13,
DRUIDISM
176
the Jews the oak was occasionally
burying-place.
Deborah, Rebekah's
was buried beneath Bethel, under (Genesis xxxv., 8), and Saul and his sons were buried under an oak (I. Chronicles x., 12). grove of trees as retreat of silence and solitude Abraham planted and prayer, but, times, the denunciations of heaven were launched against groves, because they were used by idolaters, or the different religion. The May Day festival was in honour followers of of Spring, when the sun entered the sign of Taurus, the bull. Hence the bulls adored by the Israelites were golden, because gold fitting representation of the benign sun, then beginning to shed was his glittering beauties at the approach of Spring. By the ancient Britons, says Faber, in his Pagan Idolatry, the bull was not onl reverenced very high degree, in was likewise exhibited by them exactly in the same manner as he was by the Egyptians, the Hindoos, and the Greeks. He was the symbol of their great god, Hu, the whole of whose character and attributes prove him to be one with Osiris, Siva, and Bacchus, all of which deities were represented by living bulls. The oak also has ever been held in veneration by all nations and peoples. In Rome an oaken garland or crown was called corona civica, citizen's life, though in process bestowed only upon him who had saved of time it came to be bestowed upon an official if he spared Roman citizen when he had power to kill him. In Ovid's time the Emperor had always standing before his gates an oak tree, in the midst of two laurels, as an emblem denoting two worthy virtues, required in all first, such whereby the enemy might be conemperors and princes secondly, such whereby the citizens might be saved. quered In in reverence and awe the sacred ie nh bi nt el Sweden, the groves and trees, becaus they regarded them as given by the Supreme ornaments to his noble creation, afford protection to the husbandman and cattle against the scorching heat of the midday sun. The Dryopes, who lived near to Thibet, are have been named from drus, an oak, and ops, the voice, and Pococke claims that they nurse,
are identical with
Abraham
the Druids.
Dr.
Stukeley,
as
already noted, calls
Druid," in reference to the grove at Beersheba. Although Dr. Stukeley has been vindicated so amply by Mr Crawford care must be exercised in accepting some theories, which arc the
first
rather fanciful.
The
between Druidism and the religion of he si is also strongly marked. The Druids held that the Supreme Being was too exalted to be confined within temples made with hands. Their open-air temples were circular in form, and in their worship they made affinity
use of the circle to intimate that
God was
to be found in every direction.
Cyrus, in Xenophon, sacrifices to Jupiter, the sun, and the rest of the
AFFINITY OF DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS
177
as the Persians were wont to upon the summits of mountains, The Persians taught that the celestial expanse was their sacrifice." In like manner to the Jupiter, whom they worshipped in the open air.
gods,
Druids, the Persians forbade the introduction of images into their temples,
they held that the Supreme was too refined to be represented by any figure, belief also taught by Mohammed and held firmly by all Moslems for
The Druids were not idol worshippers, and they setting up of any image or statue, although rough as taken from the quarry and consecrated according
to the present day.
would not certain stones,
have been erected in retired spots to represent Isis, or Ceridwen, British divinities whose merits were eulogised by the Some of the Persian temples were caverns in rocks, either natural Bards. They had likewise Puratheia, or open temples, for the or artificial. to ritual,
are
celebration of their rites of
fire.
The Persians
also venerated the serpent,
god Mithras, who, from The Druids had according to their teaching, was their sacred fires and the Persians had their holy flame, to which they paid divine honours, and they, like the Druids, lighted festal fires at The Druids considered their the return of the consecrated season. fires to be antidotes against the diseases of cattle, and extended their powerful influence to the human body, placing their sick within the range of the gentle heat of the fire, in order that they might recover the more quickly. The Druids compelled the Britons at certain season of the year, to extinguish all their fires and to re-kindle toll being exacted, and, with some trifling them from the sacred fire, In variations, similar custom prevails in Persia to the present day. the art of divination both the Druids and the Persians are said to have been proficient both also regarded the mistletoe as sacred plant. sacrilege to cut the mistletoe The Druids regarded it as unlawful and golden scythe, and the Persians used conwith anything but Both knew the power secrated and set aside for that special purpose. of excommunication and cast out and expelled from their communion the abandoned and impenitent transgressors of their holy laws. In Mithraic worship there were ceremonial bull fights annually on the first of May, but the maypole festival was common to all ancient countries and is generally believed to have had origin. Cicero says that none was qualified to be king of Persia who had not first learned the The Persians, even in ages when doctrine and science of the Magi. temples were common in all other countries, had no temples made with human skill, which was the reason, some think, why Xerxes burned and demolished the temples of Greece. Borlase, as did Strabo, saw much similarity between the Magi and the Druids each carried in the hand which they regarded as
representation
during the celebration of sacred
rites,
of
their
bunch
of plants
that of the
DRUIDISM
178
the Horn, or Barsum, which closely resembled the mistletoe.
Dr. Stukeley in
Isaiah
of opinion that this parasite
is
vi.,
It
13.
is
generally
is
the same as that mentioned
agreed by commentators that
the translators should be
tiel
of sacred lime, in bunches, It will
having purple flowers,
with
fruit of
be noticed that
it
is
oak," or
like
ruddy purple, the
existed, into the History of Scotland,
and Sammes remarks that There are of Greece.
Jupiter, in
both
in
shall
many
Briton
"As an oak, whose be eaten," so that
all-heal, or
belief
religion of the Phoenicians.
dignities of the ancien
berry.
winter time with this tree, and Dr. Stukeley
alive
Druidism and the
juniper
size of
upon it," which, says Isaiah, here we have the same idea in regard to the was the case with the Hom. is
species
those of the vine, growing
maintains that the passage should be translated plant
the
and
mistletoe, as
practice,
Pinkarton,
between Enquiry
Druidism was palpably Phoenician, the customs, religion, idols, offices, and are all clearly Phoenician."
points of affinity betwee
Druidism and the
religion
of mountains. The Greeks worshipped their gods upon Homer, commends Hector for the many sacrifices he had offered
upon the top
of Ida.
My
heart partakes the generous Hector's pain
Hector, whose zeal whole hecatombs has slain,
Whose grateful fumes the gods received with From Ida's summits and the towers of Troy.
joy,
Pope.
They
also
worshipped
and looked upon the oak as erect altars and temples in groves,
in groves of trees,
was so common to and to dedicate them to religious uses, that all sacred places, as we trees were to be seen, were learn from Strabo, even those The solitude of groves was regarded as creative of religious called groves. awe and reverence in the minds of the people. Pliny says that in groves la became th object of adoration. Ovid says the very silenc of th darksome grove of oak was spread out near. Whose gloom oppressive said 'A god dwells here.' The number three was commonly observed in the rehgious ceremonies Thus, in Ovid of the Greeks. Jerque senem flamma, ter aqua, ter sulphure It was customary for the Greeks on some occasions to dance round the altars while they sang their sacred hymns, which consisted of three stanzas or parts, the first of which, called strophe, was sung in turning the other, named antistrophe, in returning from west from east to west then they stood before the altar and sang the epode, which was to east the last part of the song. The Greeks practised divination by the entrails the oldest tree.
It
DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS of animals slain.
If
179
the entrails were whole and sound, had their natural
but if any part was and proportion, then all was well decayed, or wanting, if anything was out of order or no accordin to very The palpitation of the entrails was Nature, evil was portended. P)thagoras, the soothsayer, is said to have foretold unfortunate omen. Among the death of Alexander because his victim's liver had no lobes. the Greeks the oak of Dodona was the seat of the oldest Hellenic oracle, whose priests sent forth their declarations on its leaves. Carte, in his History of England, says that the Druids agreed so much with the Curetes of Greece in the rites and ceremonies of their religion, to raise the wonder and veneration of the in the methods as well as in their manner of people in the nature of their studies life, customs, and institutions, that Pezron makes no difficulty in pronouncing the Druids to be the immediate descendants of those Curetes, being admitted into their society, initiated or, at least, their successors into their mysteries, and charged with the care of rehgion in the Gomarian place, colour
colonies settled in the western parts of Europe.
The Egyptians worshipped the sun and th serpen was sacred among ty At the temple them as representing the eternal existence of th procession of men and of Isis at Dendera there is representation of women bringing to Isis and Osiris, who stands behind her, globes surrounded with bulls, horns, and mitred snakes. The Egyptians had They were Tauric festival and even went so far as to embalm cattle. firm believers in the doctrine of metempsychosis. They also offered up both human and animal sacrifices. If not Druidism, it was very similar character which rehgion of was followed by the inhabitants of The considerable part of Italy. Sabin country Ues about twenty miles to the north of Rome, on the west side of the Tiber. On the top of the mountain Soracte, in that country, Hirpins was the the grov temple and cam of Apollo. name given to the race of people inhabitating that district, and they held annually It is
sacrifice similar in
every respect to that of the Druids.
thus referred to in Dryden's version of Virgil's Aeneid
Patron of Soracte's high abodes, Phoebus, the ruling pow'r
Whom
we
among
the gods
whole woods of unctuous pine Burnt on thy heap, and to thy glory shine By thee protected, with our naked soles first
serve,
Thro' flames unsinged we pass, and tread the kindi'd coals.
Give me, propitious pow'r, to wash away
The honour
The
stain of this dishonourable day.
Moloch of their god.
also
walked through the
fires
they lighted
in
DRUIDISM
i8o
John Keeson,
in
The Cross and
Franciscan missionaries
the
Dragon, relates
when they reached
Batou, situated on the Volga, had
first
how
that the
the court of the Prince of
to pass through
two
fires in
order
any malign influence they might have brought with them. Two lances erected by the side of these fires supported stretched cord, and, beneath this from whic depended several pieces of rag be purified, had to pass men, beasts and goods. Two females, one on each side, sprinkled them with water at the same time, reciting certain words in performing the act. people to erect It was the custom among many ancien stone in commemoration or remembrance of any benefit received at the of the Supreme. Such practice was particularly observed among the rose up early in the morning Jacob, after his wonderful vision, Jews. pillow and set it up as and took the stone that he had put pillar (Genesis xxxviii., i8). and poured oil upon the top of it He covenant with Laban (Genesis same thing when he entered into have talked with God at Bethel xxxi., 45), and when he is (Genesis xxxv., 14). Joshua built at Gilgal (a word which means temple composed of twelve stones, and when he had assembled the circle) children of Israel within this temple he told them that when their children should ask them the meaning of the stones they were to make answer that it was the acknowledgment of the power of the Eternal. The custom of venerating baetyla, or consecrated stones, and worshipping under oaks was diffused over both hemispheres in the remotest periods. The existence of stone monuments, whose antiquity is undoubted by archaeologists, is proof that learning and cultur existe in Britain long to destroy
the
Roman invasion, before even are common in America, in the
prior
to
Stone
circles
India,
and over
all
the
foundation of Rome.
province of Coimbatoor in
northern Europe, as well as in several of the islands
of the Mediterranean.
Sir
John Chardin says that he saw
in
Media
which the traditions of the people living near, in singular conformity with Grecian and Celtic customs, ascribed to Caous, or giants, council respecting some matter, brought who wishing once to hold wonder each his official seat and left it, when the meeting broke up, as The explorations of the Ordnance Survey of 1869 proved the to men. nearly identical in character existence in Palestine and Arabia of circles with those which in England and Scotland are called Druidical In Germany, as in England, the oak was long regarded as circles." sacred tree solemn assemblies were held beneath it, and decrees were often dated sub qucrcibus or sub annosa quercu. Scandinavian folk-lore ascribed man's origin to the oak or ash, myth also prevalent among circle of stones
the Romans.
The Arcadians believed
they became men.
their ancestors
were oaks before
AFFINITY OF DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS Whenever their services of
the
were chosen by the Druids
of hills
possible
and worship
sacred
rites
for
and
their temples of initiation
performance of their secret and
Mountain worship
i8i
being in
caves.
frequently in the Old
is
as
was adopted by nonThe Persians also worshipped on mountain tops. Israelitish nations. When Philip II. made war against the Spartans he sacrificed on the Cyrus sacrificed to the gods on the mountains of Olympus and Eva. So, in China, 2,300 years before the mountain just before his death. Christian era, sacrifices were offered to the Supreme and Cicero tells us that when the four great mountains with the four Yo. Xerxes made his expedition into Greece, the Magi commanded that being
it
because the Grecians
the
all
were so impious all
afterwards
patriarchal practice,
things round
enclose those gods within walls
them open and
who ought
to
have
their temples being the universal
free
world."
The
human
principal deity of the
victims,
nights instead of
last-named practice was has been
common
groves and
by days, and
this
to all the northern nations of Europe.
immemorial to build temples in The crux ansata of the Egyptians was the hiero-
practice from time
the form glyphic of
they sacrificed
they had open temples, they consecrate
venerated oaks, and It
Germans
serpent joined to the cross symbolises the immortality
life.
of the soul.
The
close
affinity
between the doctrines
Christian faith, as taught
by the
of
the newly-established
early missionaries,
and the
Druidism, will warrant the assertions of several writers of the doctrines of the old religion
were without
beliefs
of
followers
difficulty
persuaded to
question embrace Christianity. It was merging of beliefs, rather than an entire change of faith. O'Donovan, in his Annals oj Nothing is clearer than that Patrick enthe Four Masters, says grafted Christianity on the pagan superstition with so much skiU that he won the people over to the Christian religion before they understood the exact difference between the two systems of belief, and much of this
half-Pagan, half-Christian rehgion will be found, not only in the
Irish stories of the
Middle Ages, but in the superstitions of the peasantry
of the present day."
by the Druids, and
The
cross, as
mode
symbol, was known to and revered
an oak tree was first to fasten cross beam upon it if the two main horizontal arms were not sufficiently prominent. Upon this right branch they cut in the bark, in fair characters, the word Hesus "; upon the middle or upright stem the word Taramis and upon the left branch the word "Belenus."
Over
all,
their
of consecrating
and above the branching out
of the arms,
they inscribed the
DRUIDISM
82
Thau
word tree
so
summer
(see
inscribed,
Ezekiel
ix.,
4),
and, according to Schedius,
This
they make their Kebla in the grove cathedral,
or
church, towards which they direct their faces in the offices of
religion, as to the
ambre-stone or the cove in the temple of Abury,
like
St. Columb, any svmbol or picture at the altar." when in Deacon's Orders, is said to have placed himself under the instrucmiracle wrought by St. Brigit tion of an aged Bard named Gemman.
as the Christians do to
in the production of butter
becoming
Christian.
is
given as the cause of he
Druidica
Poems Lyric and
Richards,
master Pastoral,
published in 1794, says in the preface ancient Britain, called Druidism, The patriarchal but by the Welsh most commonlv called Barddas, Bardism although they speak of Dirwydditacth, Druidism, is no more inimical to Christianity than the religion of Noah, Job, or Abraham it has never, the Welsh Bards as some imagine, been quite extinct in Britain There all ages down to the present, kept it alive. have, manuscript synopsis of it by Llewellyn Sim, is in my possession Bard, written in the year 1560; its beliefs are corroborated by innumerable notices and allusions in our Bardic manuscripts of every age up to Taliesin in the sixth century, whose poems exhibit
complete system of Druidism.
By
these (undoubted authentic)
was The old Welsh Bards kept up strongly tinctured with Druidism. perpetual war with the Church of Rome and therefore experienced much persecution. Narrow understandings might conceive that The doctrine they were the less Christian for having been Druids. of the metempsychosis is that which of all others most clearly It is safely countenanced by vindicated the ways of God to man. believed in by many many passages in the New Testament of the primitive Christians and the Essenes amongst the Jews."
writings
it
will
appear
British Christianity
and Christianity were great identical. It is clear that Christianity assimilated Druidism to extent, but it is difficult to say how much the newer faith was indebted to the older religion. There is no evidence that hearty welcome to the gave other than welcome, and, it may be, in fact, Christian historians state that exponents of the newer creed the Britons embraced the new teachings with more alacrity than any There is, indeed, legend to the effect that Edwin was other nation. the chief of the persuaded to embrace the Christian faith by Druids. At that time, also, it must be remembered, the Christian religion had not developed many of the corruptions and sacerdotal times. elements whic have afflicted it Dr. Stukeley boldly
at Druidism
AFFINITY OF DRUIDISM WITH OTHER RELIGIONS of
Hu, whether considered have which
as the god of Arabia, is
Greece,
183 all
described as having been the
and enter into societies, and also and Grecian mythology also represents him to have given them laws as having been exposed in an ark at sea, and miraculously preserved. Similar characteristics are also ascribed to Menu, first
to teach his people to build, plant,
of Hindustan,
as
also
to Vishnu, in his
ninth incarnation, under the
Buddha. Buddha was worshipped in Japan under the name of Hudso, and Sir William Jones is of opinion that this deity was also Buddha the Odin or Woden of Scandinavia and the Fo-Hi of China. and Woden are likewise to be identified with the Mercury of the Romans are and Greeks. Hence Bhood-War, Wednesday, and Hu is re or ed ot merely used to denote the same say of the week. as having colonized Britain, but as having colonized it in equity and peace, This praiseworthy of bloodshed and violence. rather than distinction is also ascribed alike to Vishnu, Fo-Hi, and Manco Capac, while Phoroneus is also described by Bryant, in his Ancient Mythology, in the following words
name
of
He first
he
lived in the time of the fiood, he first erected altars, he
collected
first
men
together and formed
gave laws and distributed
them
justice,
into petty communities,
he divided mankind by
and nations over the face of the earth." The same term was used in the Hebrew as one of the Divine names. He and Hu are also used in the Arabic version of the Scriptures, once for El (Psalm xcix., 2), and another time (Genesis xlix., 10) for their families
Shiloh.
Jxemainina uprioi
cf Grsaf
Tnltfk
ujitn tenon
Lintel
Great
Trilithon
on top
NW.Trllifhon
Jell
in
1791
Fallen upright
The hifar'
Stone
Mustcru
forcion stone
Usual
direction cf
will?
mllows.posmlu
approachjrom
once
capstone
turnstiles
Otanaing Sarsen Stone Fallen
CD
Standing Foreign Fallen to
BuaRoivc
gs
CO
DIAGRAMMATIC PLAN OF STONEHENGE.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Adamnan Anonymous
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do.
Conjectures on Stonehenge, 1821.
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its
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Sir
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its
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its
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La
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DRUIDISM
88 Oliver, Dr. George
O'Reilly, E.
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do.
Stokes, Dr. Whitley Stone, Gilbert
Stothard Stukeley,
the Druids.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Trevelyan, Marie
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Turner, Sharon
VaUancey, Charles do.
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do.
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Villemarque
Walker,
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Cooper
J.
do.
Ware, Sir James Weaver, Robert
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Memoirs of
Irish Bards.
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Monianenla
ntiqua.
Wilde,
Lady Williams, Edward
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Williams, J.
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do.
Wilson, Daniel
Wise, T. A.
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Woodward, E. H.
Traces of Elder Faiths of Ireland. History of Wales.
Yeowell
Chronicles of Ancient British Church.
do.
Zeitschrift
fiir
celtique philologie
INDEX Abaris
INDEX
191
192
