HISTOHY OP THE DRUIDS, 



Martin's Dissert, of West. Isles. From their idea 

 that nothing but the life of man could atone for 

 the life of man, their altars streamed with human 

 blood, they sacrificed their victims at the eve of 

 a dangerous war, or in a time of national calamity. 



When a person was afflicted with a dangerous 

 disease, to gain the favour of the Gods, they au- 

 gured on the event of the sacrifice by the manner 

 in which the blood gushed out of the victim's 

 wounds. They had daily sacrifices in their most 

 famous places of devotion ; mid-summer-day and 

 November were annual festivals, one to implore the 

 friendly influence of the heavens upon their fields, 

 and the other to return thanks for their fruits. Af- 

 ter their sacrifices and acts of devotion were finish- 

 ed, the rest of the time was spent in feasting, sing- 

 ing, dancing, and all kinds of diversion. In the 

 druidical creed it was an article that it was unlawful 

 to build temples to the gods or worship them with- 

 in walls or under roofs ; all their places of worship 

 were therefore in the open air, and generally on 

 eminences, from whence they had a full view of the 

 heavenly bodies to whom much of their adoration 

 was directed. The druids had a considerble influ- 

 ence ; whoever refused obedience to them was con- 

 sidered accursed. It appears among the British 

 tribes and nations they explained and executed the 

 laws, which were considered as commands of their 

 gods and not of their princes. 



They were the only persons of allowed know- 

 ledge of the crimes that were committed against 

 heaven, and of which they took vengeance. All 

 controversies were determined by them, iuhenian- 



