A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 243 



nied them with their harps. They fang 

 the offence and immortality of the foul ; 

 the works of nature ; the courfe of ce- 

 leftial bodies; the order and harmony 

 of the fpheres; and the encomiums on 

 the virtues of eminent men.* In later 

 periods, they kept an account of the de- 

 fcent of families, emblazoned their arms, 

 and compofed fongs on the valiant ac- 

 tions of illuftrious warriors, in heroic 

 verfe, which they chanted to their harps, 

 and confequently were the national hif- 

 torians ; and from them much of the an- 

 cient hiftory of this country has been 

 collected. > . 



The Druids were accounted the firft 

 and nioft diftinguiflied order of the na- 

 tion : they were frequently chofen from 

 the mod refpeclable families: and the ho- 

 nors of their birth, aided by thole of their 

 funclion, procured them the higheft ve- 

 aieration amongft the people. The au- 



* Cjpfar, Lib. VI. f. 14. 



S 2 thority 



