THE

Monumental Antiquities,

&c.

PART I.

CHAP. 1.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.- --BRITISH DRUIDS.--FIRST POPULATION OF BRITAIN.-RELIGION.-HUMAN SA

CRIFICES.-BRITISH MONUMENTS.

THE primitive inhabitants of Britain are described as being little superior to savages; living in woods or marshes, and subsisting on berries, acorns, nuts, or the roots which nature produced spontaneously from the earth. This description is only true to a certain extent. It may, perhaps, designate the rudeness of the peasantry, who were confessedly uninformed and barbarous; but it cannot be applied universally; for this country did possess an order of men, even in those early times, who rose superior to the description, and actually acquired a high degree

B

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