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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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OF THE DRUIDS. 09oitlier <strong>the</strong> one or <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, or l)otli, we shall endeavourto lay open in our history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids;not forgetting any old author that mentions <strong>the</strong>m,for <strong>the</strong>re's something particular to be learnt inevery one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, as <strong>the</strong>y touch different circumstances.Having occasionally spoken <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wandor staft' which every Druid carry'd in his hand, asone <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> badges <strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>ession, and which ina chapter on this subject will be shewn to havebeen a usual thing with all pretenders to magic,I must here acquaint you fur<strong>the</strong>r, that each <strong>of</strong>'em had what was commonly called <strong>the</strong> Druid'sEgg, which shall be explain'd in <strong>the</strong> history, hungabout his neck, inchas'd in gold. They all woreshort hair, while <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> natives had <strong>the</strong>irsvery long; and, on <strong>the</strong>contrary, <strong>the</strong>y wore longbeards, while o<strong>the</strong>r people shav'd all<strong>the</strong>irs, but<strong>the</strong> upper lip. They likewise all w^ore long habits;as ditl <strong>the</strong> Bards and <strong>the</strong> Vaids: but <strong>the</strong>Druids had on a white surplice, whenever <strong>the</strong>yreligiously <strong>of</strong>ficiated.In Ireland <strong>the</strong>y, with <strong>the</strong>graduate Bards and Vaids, had <strong>the</strong> privilege <strong>of</strong>wearing six colours in <strong>the</strong>ir hreacans or robes,which were <strong>the</strong> striped braccae <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gauls, stillworn by <strong>the</strong> Highlanders, whereas <strong>the</strong> king andqueen might have in<strong>the</strong>irs but seven, lords andladies five, governors <strong>of</strong> fortresses four, <strong>of</strong>ficersand young gentlemen <strong>of</strong> quality three, commonsoldiers tw o, and common people one. This sumtuarylaw , most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Irish historians say, was

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