THE HUMAN SPECIES. 409 



457 to support the Emperor (Marjoriam ?), stripped the island 

 of its trained defenders, at the time the great Saxon invasion 

 was in progress;* and, lastly, we find the name of Sawel ben 

 Uchel, with his supporters, probably Belgse, taking part with 

 the Saxons in the overthrow of their own race. 



Language and religious doctrines were likewise different in 

 the three great national divisions of the Celta?. In the north, 

 the name of Druids, or rather Drotne*, was a title of civil 

 authority, perhaps even more than religious; the Belgas had no 

 Druids, but Seghers, speakers (sacerdotes of Tacitus); nor was 

 the order known in Cisalpine Gaul, nor in the Iberian posses- 

 sions of the race. Druidism seems to have been evolved on 

 the banks of the Loire, and acquired the higher doctrines in 

 the mining districts of Britain, by intercourse with the Phoeni- 

 cian traders, until it was ready to accept a modified Christian- 

 ity, like that Aurelius Ambrosius entertained, when he assumed 

 the civil and military authority, with the office of chief Druid 

 and that of Christian Bishop ! 



Though the French nation of the present time is in its vast 

 majority of Celtic origin, there remain only the Bas Bretons 

 who claim something of a pure descent. The Waldenses of 

 the Alps are less distinct. The south-eastern Irish have a just 

 claim to a Belgic origin, and the Cymraeg of Wales to a true 

 southern Celtic parentage ; while the Gael of the Scottish 

 Highlands are probably Finnic Celts, who resided in Erin, till 

 they were obliged to retire before the superior numbers of the 

 Fir-bolg.t 



*This expedition may have given rise to the fabulous wars of Arthur 

 on the continent. Prothamus is mentioned by Jornandes, Freculphus, and 

 Sigebert of Gembloux. 



t It may be remarked here, that several Celtic terms are referred to 

 Theotisk sources, because they belong to the Celto-Cymber and Belgic 

 tribes, who, as Cassar asserts, spoke a distinct language ; and the ioman- 

 ized names of divinities prove to have been invariably of Teutoric, not 

 Gallic origin, from the Rhine to beyond the Scheldt. 



35 



