88 



sixth century, (chap. 37,) and Patricius, jun. (chap. 34,) in the same 

 age repeat, as does Elevanus Sapiens in the eighth, (chaps. 39, 40,) 

 Probus in the tenth, (chap. 32,) and Jocehn in the twelfth.* And 

 that last of all, as the Druids of Britain ("genus vatum mendicorum- 

 que,") are recorded by Pliny, to have exercised the gift of prophecy, 

 to such perfection that they might seem to have communicated it to 

 the Persia7is,-f and as those of Gaul are said by Mela, " to profess 

 the knowledge of what the gods wish,'*|. so the heathen priests of Ire- 

 land vaunted similar revelations, as Jocelin and others notice, and 

 Evinus, more particularly when referring to Saint Patrick in the fol- 

 lowing passage : "At that time Lochra and Lochadh-Moel were 

 esteemed the chief of the Magi ; these, sometime previous, predicted 

 that a perverse and obstinate prophet would come from parts beyond 

 the sea, to preach a new doctrine, that many would lend him their 

 attention, and few resist his progress, &c."§ 



A perfect knowledge of their tenets and discipline, can now per- 

 haps never be obtained. For ages they were veiled in mysticism and 

 sybilline secrecy, and although, in the middle of the second century, 

 the Magi of Ireland, strengthened by the accession of the Druids that 

 had fled from Britain and Anglesea, did begin, as is recorded in the 



rum extrueretur ; et quicunque banc legem in aliquo transgrederetur non alia multa quam 

 capitis supplicio commissi delicti poenam luebat." — Trias Thanm. p. 125. 



* Cited O'Conor. Her. Hib. Script, v. 2. p. 149. 



f "Britannia hodieque eam atlonite celebrat tantis ceremoniis, ut dedisse Persis videri 

 posset"— Nat. Hist. 1. 30. c. 4. 



X "Quid dei velint, scire piofitentur." — De Situ Orbis, lib. 3, c. 2. 



§ "Magorum eo tempore principes habebantur Lochra et Lochadh-Moel; hi aliquanto 

 antea tempore praedixerunt, ex transmarinis partibus adventurum quendam taediosum et perver- 

 sum prophetam novam professurum doctrinam, cui tamen multi aures et animam accommo- 

 darent et jjerpauci resjsterent, &c." — Trias Thaum. p. 123. 



