CHAPTER IV. CELTS AND GOTHS. e system of Superstition and Priestcraft which prevailed in existing also among the Celts and Goths of ancient Europe rywhere Priests the dominant Caste-In Britain, Gaul, ermany, their state shown by Cæsar and Tacitus-Notions, ces, and Superstitions of Scandinavia. on, HOUT following minutely the progress of original from east to west, through the great Scythian , we will now at once open upon the human as it appeared in Europe, when the Romans to extend their conquests into the great forests ld lands of its north-western regions; and here, we behold with surprise, how exactly the naad preserved those features of idolatrous superwhich I have before stated to be universal, and we have been contemplating in central Asia. of southern Europe appears to have been d by one great branch of the descendants of under the name of Sclavonians, and to have ined their settlements against all future comers; other great branch, the Gomerians, or Celts, had ollowed by the warlike and domineering Goths, d, in some cases, received from them teachers vernors; in others, had been totally expelled by or lost character, language, and every thing in verwhelming tide. The northern parts of Briteland, Wales, Gaul, and some other districts, ed the Celtic character; while England, Scan1, Germany, Belgium, and some other tracts, e decidedly Gothic. Of these facts, the very ges of the respective countries, at the present emain living proofs. But whatever was the the language, or the government of the differrts of Europe, everywhere its religion was everywhere the ame priests. Everywhere, says a we find, first, an order of rder of military nobles; thirdly, ; and institutions, the spirit of sting the lower orders from all nd systematically dooming them of servile depression." Whoe system of the Druids, as he -ry of them, in Borlace's Cornc Mythology, will be perfectly ity with that of Persia, Egypt, eir triads, their own assumed their worship of the god Hu, t; their traditions of the flood; cular stone temples symbolized; s; their doctrine of transmigrandant characteristics, are not Borlace was so struck with the 'the Druids to the Persian Magi ins, that he declared it was imidentity. Mr. Rowland argues in regard to the Irish Druids, who he first of the three classes into was divided. He feels assured een Magi. Long indeed before nade the same remark, applying i to them. und precisely the same state of inant class; and has left so lucid that his representation will at the actual condition of both Gaul all Gaul there are only two orders of honour and esteem; for the ittle better than slaves, attempt 5, and have no share in the pubs they are generally oppressed tes, or the exactions of their suhemselves vassals to the great, hem the same jurisdiction that touching an inhe estates, in all su the Carnutes, wh hom, as we have said, all authority and distinc-side, are the Druids and nobles. The Druids in matters of religion, have the care of public ivate sacrifices, and interpret the will of the They have the direction and education of the by whom they are held in great honour. In all controversies, whether public or private, the n is left to them; and if any crime is comany murder perpetrated, if any dispute arises g an inheritance, or the limits of adjoining in all such cases they are supreme judges. ecree rewards and punishments; and if any use to submit to their sentence, whether magis- private man, they interdict him the sacrifices. =the greatest punishment that can be inflicted he Gauls; because, such as are under this pro, are considered as impious and wicked; all un them, and decline their conversation and ship, lest they should suffer from the contagion misfortunes. They can neither have recourse law for justice, nor are capable of any public The Druids are all under one chief. Upon ath, a successor is elected by suffrage; but mes they have recourse to arms before the n can be brought to issue. Once a year they le at a consecrated place in the territories of rnutes, whose country is supposed to be in the of Gaul. Hither such as have any suits deg flock from all parts, and submit implicitly to ecrees. Their institution is supposed to have originally from Britain; and even at this day, s are desirous of being perfect in it, travel for instruction. The Druids never go to war, empt from taxes and military service, and enjoy nner of immunities. These mighty encourage induce multitudes of their own accord to follow ofession, and many are sent by their parents. are taught to repeat a great number of verses by and often spend twenty years upon this institu r. men is the nobles, whose study Before Cæsar's arrival in st every year at war, offensive judge of the power and quality vassals and number of men they of the Gauls is extremely adwhence, in threatening distemat danger of war, they make no , or engage themselves by vow which case, they make use of ds; for it is a prevalent opinion ng but the life of man can atone somuch that they have estab-ifices of this kind. Some preof osier twigs, into which they ting fire to them, those within 5. They prefer for victims such ed of theft, robbery, or other n the most acceptable to the are wanting, the innocent are emselves to be descended from seems, is an established tradi; and for this reason they comot by days. ver of life and death over their nd when any father of a family upon the least gro are thrown into t the ethnic gods cal. Cæsar al from the Gauls themselves abo evidence than cerned, assure That "jurisdi to sit in judg quents are pu power of pu adds, "to imp deity, they ca images and b he least ground of suspicion, put even his wives torture, like slaves. Their funerals are magnind sumptuous, according to their quality. Every hat was dear to the deceased, even animals, own into the fire; and formerly, such of their and clients as they loved most, sacrificed themat the funeral of their lords." his valuable account, the striking resemblance Druids to the Brahmins must impress every not the least their funeral rites, and doctrine of psychosis. But there are some other things y curious. We have here the BAN,-that treus ecclesiastical engine, which the Romish 1 most probably borrowed of the Goths; and we shall find it hereafter wielding to such appurpose. The tradition of the Druids, that re descended of Pluto, is, too, a most remarkcircumstance; agreeing so perfectly with the 7 of Bryant that they were Cuths, the descendof Ham, the Pluto of mythology. sar proceeds to give Roman names to Gallic This was the common practice of the Romans; which, as it is known from other sources that ruids never gave them such names, only proves he Romans named them from their obvious attri; again confirming Bryant's theory, that however thnic gods be named, they are essentially identiCæsar also adds, that the Germans differed widely the Gauls, having no Druids, and troubling not selves about sacrifices: but Tacitus, who is better nce than Cæsar, where the Germans are cond, assures us that they had priests and bards. "jurisdiction is vested in the priests; it is theirs in judgment on all offences. By them delinEs are put in irons, and chastised with stripes; the r of punishing is in no other hands." He "to impress on their minds the idea of a tutelar , they carry with them to the field of battle certain es and banners, taken from their usual deposito |