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OF THE DRUIDS. 119before the feast of unleavened bread. Then everymaster of a family was religiously oblig'd to takea portion of the consecrated fire home, and to kindlethe fire a-new in his honse, which for the ensuingyear was to be lucky and prosperous. Hewas to pay, however, for his future happiness,whether the event prov'd answerable or not;andtlio' his house shou'd be afterwards burnt, yet hemust deem it the punishment of some new sin, orascribe it to any tiling, rather than to want of virtuein the consecration of the fire,or of validity iuthe benediction of the Druid, who, from officiatingat the earns, was likewise calfd Cairneach^^ aname that continu'd to signify a priest, even in thechristian times. But if any man had not ciear'dwith the Druids for the last year's dues, he wasneither to have a spark of this holy fire from theearns, nor durst any of his neighbors let him takethe benefit of theirs, under pain of excommunication,which, as manag'd by the Druids, was worsethan death.If he wou'd brew, therefore, or bake,or roast, or boil, or warm himself and family;a word, if he wou'd live the winter out, the Druidsdues must l)e paid by the last of October, so thatthis trick alone was more effectual than are all theacts of parliament made forinrecovering our pre-* This is the time origin of the word cairneach^ as signifyinga priest; but not deriv'd, as men ignorant of antiquity fancy^from coroineachy alluding to the crown-for.m'd tonsure of thfMonkSj not near §o old as this word.