EARLY RECORDS, &c.

CHAPTER I.

RELIGION OF BRITAIN BEFORE CHRISTIANITY.

DRUIDISM is the term usually employed to designate the primitive religion of the ancient Gauls, and the first inhabitants of the British isles. As far as we can now ascertain, that system of worship existed from the earliest occupation of the island, to the times in which it was more connected with other nations. The form of government was patriarchal, that is, all were subject to the control of the heads of their respective families, who, as was the case also in the East, were likewise the ministers of religion, to those who were so placed under their authority. These Patriarch Priests were in the habit of instructing their people, and celebrating their religious rites in groves, and especially under the oak. They performed no sacred rites without branches of that tree, and hence they were called by a name which in their own language signified "Priests of the oak:" that name was

A

Der-wyddon, which some writers think has by gradual abbreviation and change been rendered into the word now in use "Druid." It is however a more probable origin which has also been given by writers of authority, that the name druid is derived from the Greek word Agus (Drus) which signifies an oak.

While in worshipping in groves and under the oak there is a resemblance to patriarchal worship, the religious principles and opinions of the Druids of Ancient Britain appear to have been much more in conformity with those of Abraham and the other Patriarchs, than any other system of heathenism was. They probably were the first occupiers of this land, we know not when or from whence they reached the British isles: Scripture has not recorded it; and it was in times beyond the reach of other history. The first inhabitants of Britain were unquestionably the descendants of Japheth, and there is reason to believe they brought with them some glimmerings of patriarchal faith, and some traditional knowledge of patriarchal history. Their priests are said to have retained the belief of one supreme God, all-wise, almighty, and allmerciful, from whom all things which have life proceed; they held also the immortality of the soul: whatever else they taught was deceit and

CHAP. 1.]

DRUIDS.

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vanity-nay worse than these, for they were guilty of great abominations, they were notorious above the priests of other idolatries for the practice of pretended magic: they made the people pass through the fire in honour of Beal: they offered up the life of man in sacrifice.

Cæsar relates that they were held in high veneration, and were greatly followed by the young men for the sake of their instructions. They decided almost all public and private controversies, and determined disputes relative to inheritance or the boundaries of lands. They decreed rewards and punishments, and enforced their decisions by an exclusion from the sacrifices, which was deemed a very severe punishment. They also believed that at some future time the power of evil would be utterly annihilated, and all animated beings brought within "the circle of felicity:" this seems to refer to the restoration of the golden age which the heathen expected, and which was really fulfilled when "the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil." They believed also that celestial beings occasionally revisited the earth to inform man of his duty, and to reveal to him the knowledge of that future state of happiness which should be attained by virtue. Hence it has been thought they might be pre

pared to receive the scriptural doctrine of Christ coming into the world "to tell us of heavenly things;" and finally to translate us to his kingdom of everlasting glory. Though it cannot be admitted that the religion of the Druids was in its nature likely to prepare men to receive the Gospel, it is historically proved that the Druidical priests easily embraced Christianity, on its first introduction into the island.

We might find much that is interesting in the accounts which are handed down of their rites and ceremonies; their stately and gigantic temples and altars, the discipline, dress and privileges of their bards; but these must necessarily be passed over, that we may proceed to what is more immediately the subject before us. And we shall find that this system of heathenism was at a very early period broken in upon, and the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ was caused to shine through the darkness that hung over our land. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light, and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light was sprung up."

It is not necessary to add much more respecting the early history of the island, especially as it is involved in great obscurity. It was at first named Albion by the ancients, probably on account of its

CHAP. I.] BEDE, AND OTHER HISTORIANS.

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white cliffs on the southern coast, and afterwards in the language of the natives, Britain, hence it and the adjacent islands were denominated the British isles. According to Cæsar the country was at the time of his arrival extremely populous, and contained numerous buildings not unlike those of the Gauls, it was rich in cattle; the inhabitants of the southern parts were the most civilized, and in their customs differed little from their opposite neighbours the Gauls, those of the more distant parts did not raise corn, but lived on milk and flesh.

Almost the only source of information to which the student of early British History could apply, was at one time the Chronicle of Geoffrey of Monmouth, afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph, who lived in the 12th century; his work contains much that is fabulous. We have also the writings of Bede, Gildas, Nennius, Richard of Cirencester, William of Malmesbury, and some others. The Welsh were also possessed of records of another kind; these were a collection of poems, triads, and genealogies, preserved by the bards, and written in the national tongue. The Triads were so called from their peculiar form, conveying instruction on various subjects in three divisions-as "The three Blessed kings of Britain;" "The three chief benefactors of