Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions

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240 Old Irish Religions.
as, the adoration of stones, the pouring of milk on hills,
and the sacrifice of bulls. In 1628 the Assembly, prohibiting
visits to Christ's well at Falkirk on May mornings,
got a law passed sentencing offenders to a fine of twenty
pounds Scot, and the exhibition in sackcloth for three
Sundays in church. Another act put the offenders in
prison for a week on bread and water.
Mahomet even could not hinder the sanctity attached
to the well Zamzam at Mecca. More ancient still was
holy Beersheba, the seven zvells.
Wales, especially North Wales, so long and intimately
associated with Ireland, had many holy wells ; as St.
Thecla's at Llandegla, and St. Winifrede's of Flintshire
Holywell. St. Madron's well was useful in testing the
loyalty of lovers. St. Breward's well cured bad eyes, and
received offerings in cash and pins. St. Cleer's was good
for nervous ailments, and benefited the insane. The Druid
magician Tregeagle is said still to haunt Dozmare Pool.
Henwen is the Old Lady Well. The Hindoo Vedas
proclaim that ''all healing power is in the waters."
Hydromancy, or divination by the appearance of water in
a well, is cherished to the present time. One Christian
prayer runs thus :
" Water, water, tell me truly,
Is the man that I love duly,
On the earth, or under the sod,
Sick or well—in the name of God."
Irish wells have been re-baptized, and therefore retain
their sanctity. A stout resistance to their claims seems to
have been made awhile by the early missionaries, since St.
Columba exorcised a demon from a well possessed by it.
They all, however, liked to resort to wells for their preaching
stations. In one of the Lives of St. Patrick, it is