Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

▼i A DISSERTATION concerning tlie
tfaemfelves, as the cuftom formerly was, into the
order of the Druids. The precepts of their reli-
gion were confined to a few, and were not much at-
tended toby a people inured to war. The Vergo-
bretus, or chief maglftrate, was chofen without the
concurrence of the hierarchy, or continued in his
officeagainft their will. Continual power ftrength-
cned his intereft among the tribes, and enabled him
to fend down, as hereditary to his pofterity, the
office he had only received himfelf by eledtion.
On occafion of a new war againft the King of
the World, as the poems emphatically call the
Roman emperor, the Druids, to vindicate the ho-
nour of the order, began to refume their ancient
privilege of chufing the Vergobretus. Garmal,
the fon of Tamo, being deputed by them, came
to the grandfather of the celebrated Fingal, who
was then Vergobretus, and commanded him, in
the name of the whole order, to lay down his of-
fice. Upon his refufal, a civil war commenced,
which foon ended in almoft the to:al extinction of
the religious order of the Druids. A few that re-
mained, retired to the dark recefies of their groves,
and the caves they had formerly ufed for their me-
ditations. It is then we find them in the circle of
fiones, and unheeded by the world. A total difre-
gard for the order, and utter abhorrence of the
Druidical rites enfucd. Under this cloud of public
hate, all that had any knowledge of the religion cf
the Druids became extintt, and the nation fell into
the laft degree of ignorance of ilielr riter« and cere-
monies.
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