119 
wars with which the kingdom has been harassed, they have incoms 
parably more ancient materials of that kind for their history, to 
which even their mythology is not unserviceable, than either the 
English or the French, or any other Kuropean nation, with whose 
manuscripts I have any acquaintance.”* 
Ogma, among the Irish, was a most ancient proper name, Ogma 
Griandn, or “ sun like,” was one of the oldest of our Damnonian 
kings, a learned man, whose queen was Eathnea, a famous poetess, 
perhaps Druidess. In Ireland, males and females, of royal lineage, 
were initiated in the Druidic mysteries, at which they regularly as- 
sisted. The annals of Tigernach mention the massacre, by order 
of Dunlang, king of Leinster, of thirty royal priestesses and their 
attendants, in their sacred retreat at Clonfert, near Tara, A. D. 
230.+ We have also a detailed account of the theological contro- 
versy between the young princesses, daughters of the Monarch 
Laoighre, and the chief Apostle of Ireland, at the eommencement 
of his mission. 
The offices, privileges, and power, of this priesthood were high 
and extensive. Matters of religion, law, equity, and the distribu- 
tion of rewards and punishment, were all under the control and final 
decision of the Druids. Whoever refused to submit to their decree 
was instantly visited with the terrible penalties of their excommuni- 
cation. He was interdicted from all participation in religious wor- 
ship, from all appeal to justice, and from all commerce with society, 
even with his nearest relatives ; he was liable to all sorts of insults, 
and rendered incapable of holding any place of trust or dignity ; he 
lived and died without honor or pity, or the common rites of sepul- 
VOL. XIV. , Ss 
* Hist. of the Druids, p. 82. - 
+ Codex Bodleianus, Rawlinson, fol. 6. col 1. 
