Studies in History.

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

PERIOD THE FIRST.

BRITAIN UNDER THE ROMAN DOMINATION, INCLUDING 475 YEARS.

ESSAY I.

Introductory. On the probable Origin, Manners, Government and Superstitions of the ancient Britons.

THE same impenetrable obscurity, which envelops the history of all barbarous nations, has buried in oblivion all that relates to Britain before the Roman invasion. If any traditions of the ages which preceded the arrival of Julius Cæsar, can be collected from the most ancient native historians, they are so blended with incredible fables, and the most absurd legendary tales, as to be wholly undeserving of credit. To Roman annalists alone, we are indebted for the earliest authentic notices of British history; nor can even these claim our unlimited confidence. The brief sketch of the manners and condition of the most ancient inhabitants of this island, which will be attempted in this introductory essay, is taken from those documents which possess the highest degree of credibility; and refers chiefly to the period in which the Romans first landed on its shores.

Britain was originally known to its continental neighbours by the name of Albion, a term which etymologists

have in vain endeavoured to interpret: nor have they been more successful in their attempts to explain the meaning of Britannia, the name by which it was more generally known to the Romans. The contiguity of the British islands to the continent, and an obvious similarity of language, customs and superstitions, render it highly probable, that this country was first peopled by colonies from Gaul, and that the number of its inhabitants was gradually augmented by successive migrations from the opposite coast. It has been asserted by some who have investigated, with much diligence, the origin of nations, that three great national movements took place in the north of Europe, at different and distant intervals; by which, not only its southern and western provinces were affected, but also the adjacent islands. The first of these migrations consisted of the Celta, or Gaël; the second, of the Sarmata; the third, of the Cimbri, or, as they were afterwards called, Belga. By these warlike adventurers the fertile provinces of Gaul were first occupied, and detachments from them seem to have settled at different periods in Britain. This conjecture is rendered more probable by the testimony of Cæsar, who professes to have discovered traces of three nations, which he supposes to have been originally distinct, though, by the lapse of ages, they had become so blended, as to form one people, consisting of numerous independent tribes or clans. Besides these, it is not improbable that colonies established themselves on different parts of the coast, which were of Phonician or Carthaginian origin; since it is well known that both these commercial nations bad been long accustomed to visit Britain for the purposes of trade.

But whatever may have been the source from which the ancient Britons sprang, it is certain that the Romans found the island covered with a rude but warlike race, prepared to maintain their right of possession with the most determined bravery. A great difference was observable between the inhabitants of the sea-coasts, and those tribes which occupied the interior of the island. The former had made considerable progress in civilization. They lived together in small towns, consisting of rudely-built huts, scattered over a plain, without attention

to method or convenience. They clothed themselves with the skins of wild beasts, and their chiefs decorated themselves with feathers and glittering ornaments. They carried on a considerable trade with their continental neighbours, and in some instances with the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians; and it is probable that the improved state of these maritime colonies is chiefly to be attributed to this commercial intercourse with foreign nations. But the mass of the population remained in the most barbarous state. They inhabited large forests, the avenues to which were blockaded, in time of war, with felled timber, and fortified by deep entrenchments. From the bosom of these animated groves, they were accustomed to pour forth myriads of undisciplined warriors, who rushed with deafening clamour and desolating fury upon their adversaries; or, in case of defeat, fled with precipitation to these strong holds for shelter. Either ignorant of the use, or despising the effeminacy, of clothing, they used no other covering than that of painting their bodies with the juice of woad. This singular practice induced their Roman conquerors to call them Picts, or painted men. They depended chiefly upon the chase for their subsistence, an amusement to which they were passionately devoted, and in which they were exceedingly expert. Much of their time was spent in convivial entertainments, which were usually characterized by riotous intemperance, and not unfrequently terminated in strife and carnage. At these public feasts, the Bards held at distinguished place, whose office it was to celebrate in verse, accompanied with music, the achievements of their ancestors, or the history of their gods. These were a privileged order, frequently employed in embassies, whose persons were esteemed sacred, and whose names and memory were long revered.

The form of government, which prevailed in Britain before the Roman invasion, cannot be ascertained with certainty. Each tribe had its military chief, but whether that dignity was hereditary or elective is unknown. The practice of the German and Gallic tribes, from which they are supposed to have descended, and their ardent

love of liberty render it probable, that the British chiefs were chosen by popular assemblies. Their authority was very limited in time of peace, and even during a period of war, differed little from that of a military commander. When imminent danger threatened, not one tribe alone, but the whole nation, the Britons were taught by their necessities to lay aside mutual jealousies, and elect a commander-in-chief of distinguished reputation, to whom were confided for a time all the military forces of the island. But no sooner was the danger past, than his authority ceased, and each tribe returned home under the conduct of its independent chief.

But though the ancient Britons were thus jealous of their liberties, and spurned at the idea of submission, either to a domestic or foreign yoke, there was an order of men amongst them, who exercised the most despotic authority, by means of a gloomy and cruel superstition. These were the Druids, of whose general character, different writers have given a widely different description. Some have represented them as a kind of philosophical sect, austere in their habits, strict in their morals, and far superior in information to the rest of their countrymen. It is affirmed that they were chiefly indebted to the sanctity of their profession, and the abstemiousness of their lives, for the influence they possessed during so many ages. They are said to have acknowledged one supreme Deity, the first cause of all things; though they taught the people to worship subordinate deities, amongst which were the heavenly bodies, the ocean, rocks, mountains, and other sublime or beautiful objects of nature. It is also stated, that they believed in the doctrines of providence, the immortality of the soul, and a future state of rewards and punishments. With this latter tenet they connected the Pythagorean notion of transmigration, on which account they refused several kinds of animal food. But if the Druids really possessed this superior degree of information, they were determined that it should not be generally diffused; for it was their custom to transmit all their maxims and opinions by oral tradition alone, and carefully to exclude them from the common people. Their dis

ciples were strictly forbidden to commit any of their instructions to writing, or suffer them to pass beyond the limits of their own order.

Other ancient writers, with greater appearance of truth, have drawn a more disgusting picture of this Pagan hierarchy. They have represented the Druids as sanguinary enthusiasts, who exercised the most cruel tyranny over their infatuated votaries. The superstitious rites they celebrated, have been described as most barbarous and loathsome. Amongst other inhuman ceremonies practised by them, it is stated, that they were accustomed to sacrifice prisoners of war; some of whom were immolated by female Druids, who pretended to prophesy according to the manner in which the blood issued from the wounds of their slaughtered victims; and others were enclosed in large wicker cages, or idols, capable of containing a considerable number of captives, and publicly burnt in honour of Andate, the goddess of victory. The scene of these atrocities was usually a thick grove, or a spacious cavern; in the midst of which their bloodstained altars were erected, and whence proceeded those mandates of the priests of Moloch, which the deluded multitude were taught to receive as oracles from heaven. This spiritual tyranny long oppressed the inhabitants of this island, but it was at length shaken by the legions of Rome, and finally destroyed by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Consult Cæs. de Bell. Gall. Sueton. in vit. Cæs. Tacit. Dion. Herodian. Strabo. Camden's Brit. &c. &c.

REFLECTIONS.

Such was Britain once, and such she long remained; though now, by the favour of the Most High, she has become a land, distinguished by civil and religious privileges, above all others on the face of the earth. It may be humiliating, but it will be found profitable, frequently to look back on the "rock whence we were hewn," and