^68 DFant "bore, "bege"?^/, and. "b^ric/. 



form of a cross beside the main stem. If the two horizontal arms 

 were not sufficiently adapted to the figure, they fastened a cross- 

 beam to it. Then they consecrated it by cutting upon the right 

 branch the word Hesus, upon the middle stem Taranis, and upon 

 the left branch Belenus, and over them the word Thati. The tree 

 thus inscribed was deemed peculiarly sacred, and to it they diredted 

 their faces when offering prayer. 



It was beneath the shade of the Oak that Druidic criminal 

 trials were held — the judge and jury being seated under the 

 branches, and the prisoner placed in a circle traced by the wand of 

 the chief Druid. With the Saxons, the Oak retained its sacred 

 charadter, and their national meetings were held beneath its shelter. 

 It was below the Oaks of Dartmoor that they held their conference 

 with the Britons, whose land they were invading. 



In Great Britain, the Oak remained an obje(5l of veneration 

 long after the establishment of Christianity. It was under an aged 

 Oak that St. Brigid of Ireland established her retreat for holy 

 women, whence called Kildara, or cell of the Oak. Here had been 

 burning for many centuries the sacred fire of the Druids, but by the 

 piety of St. Brigid the light of Christianity was henceforth to emit 

 its flame from beneath 



•' The Oak of St. Bride, which demon nor Dane, 



Nor Saxon, nor Dutchman could rend from her fane." 



Many of the Druidical sacred Oaks were utilised by the early 

 preachers of the Christian faith, who from beneath their boughs 

 preached the gospel of Christ to the pagan inhabitants. Hence 

 these trees became noted throughout the country as Gospel Oaks, 

 a name which still appertains to many ancient trees existing at the 

 present time in England. It is right to say, however, that other 

 authorities consider the origin of the name to have been the custom 

 of reading the Gospel of the day at a certain tree, when the priest 

 went round the fields to bless the crops. 



The Sclavonians worshipped Oaks, which they enclosed in a 

 consecrated court. This spot was the sancftuary of all the country, 

 and had its priest, its festivals, and its sacrifices. The inner 

 san(5luary, where grew the sacred Oak, was reserved especially for 

 the priests, sacrificers, and people in danger of their life, who had 

 sought of the priests an asylum. It is said that the ancient 

 Russians, upon arriving at the Isle of St. George, off"ered up 

 sacrifices beneath a great Oak, before which the people and priests 

 chanted a TeDeum. After the ceremony, the priest distributed the 

 branches of the Oak among the people. 



It is curious to note how the old Grecian belief in the sacred 

 and supernatural character of the Oak has lingered in Italy. Prof, 

 de Gubernatis tells us that in the Campagna of Rome, about 

 seventeen years ago, a young shepherdess, during a storm, sought 

 shelter under an Oak, and prayed to the Madonna. Whilst she 



