5

118 THE HISTORY
gJia, from tlacJid-gha*, a place hence so call'd in
Meatb, where the Archdruid of the realm had
his fire on the said eve; and for which piece of
ground, because originally belonging to Munster,
but appointed by the supreme monarch for this
use, there was an annual acknowledgement (call'd
sgreaboll) paid to the king of that province. But
that all the Druids of Ireland assembl'd there on
the first of November, as several authors injudiciously
write, is not only a thing improbable, but
also false in fact; nor were they otherwise there
at that time, nor all at any time together in one
place, but as now all the clergy of England are
said to be present in
their convocations—that is,
by their representatives and delegates. Thus
Cesar is likewise to be understood, when, after
speaking of the Archdruid of Gaule, he says that
the Druids -f,
at a certain time of the year, assemhVd
in a consecrated grove in the
MN/f5 J, tvhich is
country of the Car-
reckoned the middle region of all
Gaule. But of these assemblies in their place.
On the foresaid eve all the people of the country,
out of a religious persuasion instill'd into them by
the Druids, extinguish'd their
fires as intirely as
tlie Jews are wont to sweep their houses the night
* Fire-ground.
•I li IDmides'] certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutam, quae
reglo totius Galllae media habetur, considunt in luco consecrato.
De hello GallicOf lib, 6. cap, 13.
+ Now le Pais Chartrain, the place Dreux.