of reputation amongst the wisest inhabitants of other countries, for the extent of their religious and philosophical knowledge; being versed in all the sciences then known in the most enlightened parts of the world.

These were the Druids; a race of priests who had advanced rapidly towards civilization. Amongst naked savages they appeared with all the splendour of sovereign princes, and supported their authority by every expedient which was calculated to excite feelings of veneration and respect in the uninformed minds of their votaries. They clothed themselves in rich white garments; adorned their persons with gems, and chains of gold; and wore sumptuous amulets and jewels. These princely ecclesiastics were resorted to, by the chiefs and monarchs of Gaul, for instruction in the abstruse principles of religion and civil government, as well as for scientific information on all the arts which dignify the soul, and give a zest to social life. Cæsar tells us this expressly; and he received his information from Divitiacus, the Prince and Arch Druid of Gaul, who was his intimate friend and companion.

The first settlers on this island came from the East, very early after the great dispersion from the plains of Shinar, which took place about 150 years after, the flood; probably under the command of Gomer, the son of Japheth himself; and, settling first in Gaul, proceeded to Britain, which was hence

* Bochart.

peopled by a primitive race, who practised the patriarchal religion-deteriorated, in some degree, by the pollutions which were, even at this early period, rapidly spreading abroad amongst mankind. Their altars were of earth and unhewn stone;* and they worshipped the omnipresent God in uncovered temples; for they considered it absurd to suppose that the Deity could be confined within the area of a building made with hands. Their manners were simple, and their habits uncontaminated by excess. They did not, however, long retain this purity.— Power soon became exercised with tyrannical violence; and the weak were thus bound in an unnatural thraldom, which had a tendency to vitiate their minds and render them dissatisfied, and even savage. The splendours of an imposing idolatry succeeded to the simple rites of worship; and superstition gave to the priest the attributes of God himself. Hence sprang a multitude of attributes, each of which, being venerated, was elevated into a distinct object of devotion; until the Druid was confounded by the ignorant rabble with the Divinity they worshipped. Mistaken notions generated false principles, and these soon became confirmed errors; which, being cemented by prejudice and passion, ultimately brought on a complete change in their civil and religious polity, and ended in producing a correspondent alteration in the character of the people,

* Vid. Ex. xx. 24, 25,

If the Druid was believed to participate in celestial secrets,* this persuasion would soon invest him with a portion of divinity; and when he was exalted into a God, the people, by the same process, degenerated into slaves; and the horrible practice of human sacrifices, with its attendant influence, stamped the druidical order with the seal of absolute authority. They succeeded in persuading the people that those things which a man most highly esteemed during his life, were expected by the Gods to be offered on his funeral pile. And this observance extended not only to his horses, dogs, accoutrements and jewels, but even to his favourite servants, who were thus obliged to an act of voluntary immolation, to grace the funeral obsequies of their deceased Lord.† Nay, this belief became at length so firmly seated in their minds, that Cæsart informs us, the dearest friends of the deceased would often throw themselves voluntarily upon the blazing pile, that they might accompany him into the unexplored regions beyond the grave. But the Druids imposed a still more horrible and enslaving tenet. From some obscure tradition of the Atonement, they held that man's prosperity here, and his redemption hereafter, could only be secured by an offering most acceptable to the Gods; and this was the LIFE BLOOD OF MAN. Hence they

were exceedingly lavish of human blood; and the most trifling calamity was sufficient to justify the immolation of a fellow-creature; and the selection of a proper victim was entrusted to the Druids; who were thus invested with such a complete and uncontrollable power over the lives as well as the consciences of their wretched votaries, that, as Strutt very justly observes, in his Chronicle of England, "all the ancient records of the known world cannot furnish a more striking view of the prevalence of superstition in the people, or the arbitrary government of the priests, than we shall find amongst the deluded Britons." Hence religion degenerated into the very worst species of idolatry; and hence arose a system which placed an effectual bar to the progress of civilization. The Druids monopolized all the learning and science of the land; and left the people in ignorance, firmly rivetted by superstition; to which fatal source may be traced the destruction of all records, and our consequent want of ability to ascertain, with the necessary degree of perfect accuracy, the history and antiquities of Britain before the time of the Romans. And hence, also, arose that confusion of appellations with which the British monuments are distinguished; some being of Roman, some of Saxon, some of Danish, or even Norman derivation; while few retain their primitive names, unadulterated by modern alterations. It remains with the antiquary to sift these etymologies to the bottom, and to determine from the best evidence he

can procure, the names and design of the places which come under his inspection. And it is humbly hoped, that the etymologies given in the succeeding pages will have some claim to public credence, and be sufficient to throw a light on the very ancient History of Grimsby.

The Druids possessed few written records; and none have descended to our times; a deficiency of positive evidence which has been frequently lamented by our early historians. Gildas* says, that if the Britons ever had any written books, they were either destroyed by the enemy, in our own country, or taken abroad by the exiles who were forcibly driven from their native land by the violence of an invading foe. And Leland† adds, that "the Bookes of the Britons were lossid, burnid, and many caried owt of Britaine." We must, therefore, seek for evidence under a different form. And here we are abundantly supplied; for the Druids left behind them documents which will exist, notwithstanding the efforts of ancient fanaticism and modern barbarity, which have laid waste and destroyed some of the most august monuments which the art and ingenuity of man ever created, in the stupendous fabrics of earth and stone, which served our ancestors for temples, cemeteries, and places of defence and habitation. Many of them still contain within their bowels, testimonials of British manners and customs, which demand

* Apud Camden. Introd.

+ Collectan. vol. 2. p. 511.