( 597 ) 
Idolatry, ^ and other Cufloraes of the Primitive Inhabitants, illu- 
ftrating many Old Monuments out of approved Greek and Latin 
Authors; and delivering withal a Chronological Hiji&ry of ihis 
Kingdom, from the firft Traditional Beginning , until the Year of 
our Lord Soo, when the Name of BritAm was changed into that of 
Englmdx All with great induftry and care colledcd out of the 
beft Authors that could give light herein, and difpofed in a better 
Method than hitherto ; together with the Antiquities of the Sax- 
i?^?ias well d^sFhi^nieians^ Greeks d^nd Romans. Before all which is 
prefixed a Curious M^i/» of the Ancient World , reprefenting to 
us, as 'twere in one view , the Progrefs of the Ph(smciam in their 
remote voyages, and the Countries which they difcover'd, together 
with the Names by themimpofed on them; of all which particu- 
lars a large explication is fubjoyned. 
Toobferve fomeof thethiBgs that are moft fatable with the 
Nature of thefeTrafts ; I fhall firft take notice of that Inquiry^ 
Whether JSr/Vi«//? was ever part of the Continent? Which he an- 
fwers by enervating the Arguments chat have been hitherto alledg- 
edby flourifbing Authors 5 among which he examines that with 
moft foilicitude, which from the llkenefs of the Soil concludes a 
Conjuodion of Earth; and fliews , that in truth it was nothing 
more but the fame Vein of ground which ran under water from one 
Country taanother ; which he iiluftrates and confirms from Phi'' 
lofophicalConfiderations. 
Secondly, I (hall take notice of themofl: ancient Philofophicai 
Order of people in Britain, the Bards, a Fhcenician appellation of 
men, who in Poetical ftrains were wont to fing not only of the 
Praifes of the Gods, the Effence and Immortality of theSouI, the 
Vertuesof Great Men,but alfoof the Works of NatureitheCourfe 
of Coeleftial Bodies, and the Order and Harmony of the Spheres 5 
though afterwards by their degeneracy they gave the advantage to 
the Druids to get the upper hand of them ; who yetnotwich- 
ftanding, did not abolifliall the Cuftomesand Doflrines of the 
B^r^/, but retained the moft ufeful parts of them^of which that of 
the Immortality of the Soul was one; to which they added the 
SQw\sTraji[migration, according to the opinion of jP^^A^g^r.^/ ; a- 
bout whofe time, or a little after, 'tis believed that the Greeks en- 
tered thisifland. Thefe Druids bad, after i\\^Bards^ a government 
that was univerfal over the whole Countryj as well in Civil affairs, : 
