Ossian Collection > Fingal

iv A DISSERTATION concerning the
Druids in natural caufes, and the properties of cer-
tain things, the fruit of the experiments of ages
gained them a mighty reputation among the people.
The efteem of the populace foon increaled into a ve-
neration for the order ; which a cunning and ambi-
tious tribe of men took care to improve, to fuch a
degree, that they, in a manner, ingrofled the ma-
nagement of civil, as well as religious, matters. It
is generally allowed that they did not abufe this ex-
traordinary power ; the preferving their charadter
of fan6lity was fo edential to their influence, that
they never broke out into violence or opprelTion.
The chiefs were allowed to execute the laws, but the
legiflative power was entirely in the hands of the
Druids. It was by their authority that the tribes
were united *, in times of the greatefi: danger, under
one head. This temporary king, or Vergobretus f ,
was chofer by them, and generally laid do\.n his
office at the -^nd of the war. Thefe priefls enjoyed
long this extraordinary privilege among the Celtic
nations who lay beyond the pale of the Roman em-
pire. It was in the beginning of the fecond centu-
ry that their power among the Caledonians began
to decline. The poems that celebrate Trathal and
Cormac, anceftors to Fingal, are full of particulars
concerning the fall of the Druids, which account
for the total filence concerning their religion in the
poems that are now given to the public.
The continual wars of the Caledonians againft
the Romans, hindered the nobility from initiating
themfelves, as the cuflom 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 to by a people uiured to war. The Vergo-
bretus, or chief magiflrate, was chofen without the
concurrence of the hierarchy, or continued in his
office againfl their will. Continual power lirength-
ened
* CxC. 1.6. t Fer-gubreth, the vian to judge.