The druids

258 Pages·1994·41.684 MB·English

by  Kendrick, T. D.

THE
DRUIDS
FIG. I.—JOHN AUBREY, 1626-1697
FROM THE DRAWING IN THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM
THE
DRUIDS
T. D. K
endrick
SENATE
The Druids
First published in 1927 by Methuen & Go. Ltd, London
This edition published in 1994 by Senate, an imprint of
Studio Editions Ltd, Princess House, 50 Eastcastle Street,
London WIN 7AP, England
Copyright © this edition Studio Editions Ltd 1994
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or
otherwise, without the prior written permission
of the publishers.
ISBN 1 85958 036 X
Printed and bound in Guernsey by
The Guernsey Press Co Ltd
THIS BOOK
IS ASCRIBED TO
THE MEMORY OF
FANNY SOWTER

PREFACE
F it were not that I very much dislike long titles, I
I
would call this book An Introduction to the Study of
Ancient Druids and Ancient Druidism, for that is
what it is really intended to be. Frankly, its main purpose
is to provide a complete and well-documented summary
of the whole of the pertinent material upon which a study
of this subject should properly be based ; and in order not
to mask what I hope is a sober outline of fact, I have deliber­
ately omitted various tempting discussions and elaborations
of uncertainties. Thus I have not allowed myself to deal
seriatim and fully with the many theories of the origin of
druidism ; while, as for my own speculation on this matter,
I have whittled it down to a statement of opinion so brief
that it enters the field with what must be surely a minimum
of offensive and defensive armour.
I hope that the manner in which I have presented my
material will demonstrate, as the salient lesson of this book,
that an essential preliminary qualification for the study of
druids and druidism is a general knowledge of the racial
history and prehistory, and social atmosphere, of early
Gallic and British civilisation. This method of approach is
so important, that I should like to say a word about books
for the benefit of those who are unacquainted with the
literature of the subject.
To gain the necessary general information there are two
VII
THE DRUIDS
Vlll
works of outstanding importance to serve as guides : firstly.
Dr. Rice Holmes’s C cesar's Conquest of Gaul (2nd ed.,
Oxford, 1911), and the companion volume. Ancient Britain
and the Invasions of Julius Ccesar (Oxford, 1907) ; and,
secondly, the colossal Histoire de la Gaule (5e ed., Paris,
1924, especially Vols. I, II, III, and VI) by M. Camille
Jullian. These books will also introduce the reader to the
major problems affecting the religious life of the peoples
concerned, and he may then turn to the more detailed studies
of these problems. Here there are two excellent English
works easily available, namely, Dr. J. A. MacCulloch’s The
Religion of the Ancient Celts (Edinburgh, 1911), and Dr.
MacBain's Celtic Mythology and Religion (Stirling, 1917).
Conjointly, he should acquaint himself with the shorter
authoritative articles on druidism, such as that by Dr.
MacCuIloch in Hastings’ Encyclopaedia of Religion and
Ethics, that by E. C. Quiggin in the Encyclopaedia Britannica,
and the sections by M. Camille Jullian and Sir Edward Anwyl
in the Cambridge Mediaeval History (II, chap, xv, “ Keltic
Heathenism in Gaul,” p. 460, and " Keltic Heathenism in
the British Isles,” p. 472).
Only after a careful general preparation of this kind,
is it safe to venture into the vast and dangerous literary
quagmire that awaits the student in the single good biblio­
graphy of the subject (Druids and Druidism; A List of
References, New York Public Library, 1920). This most
useful catalogue by Dr. G. F. Black is an invaluable index
of the quantity of the writings upon our subject, but not,
of course, of their quality (though Dr. Black has very pro­
perly censured as worthless some of the material included in
his list) ; and it behoves the student, therefore, to make his
way circumspectly through the three hundred and more
entries. The truth is that a prodigious amount of rubbish
has been written about druidism, particularly that worst
and insidious variety that masquerades as deep and recondite
PREFACE
IX
learning. Here I have given abundant references to the
many helpful and important works that are to be consulted
on the special problems that arise in the course of our
enquiry, and I hope the reader will accept them as a general
guide to the trustworthy literature. If they are thought to
be insufficient, let him consult the fuller pages of M. Camille
Jullian.
In writing this book I have had no assistance, except for
some kindly advice from Mr. Robin Flower of the British
Museum. But I want very gratefully to acknowledge my
indebtedness to Professor H. J. Rose for some valuable
criticisms made when my manuscript was complete. Al­
though these referred principally to doubtful readings of
passages in the classical authorities, I have benefited very
considerably throughout the whole book from Professor
Rose’s comments.
For permission to reproduce illustrations already pub­
lished I desire to express my best thanks to the Council of
the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
(Figs, i and 45); to the Trustees of the British Museum (Fig.
9 (1, 2, 7) and Fig. 25); to the Council of the Royal Irish
Academy (Figs. 11 and 12) ; to M. Ernest Leroux (Figs.
16 and 23, both from M. A. Blanchet’s Traitt des Monnaies
Gauloises); to the Council of the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland (Fig. 20); to M. G. Demonmerot, on behalf of the
late M. Rene Gadant (Fig. 21); to the Societe £duenne
(Fig. 26); to the Council of the Royal Archaeological
Institute (Fig. 35); to M. Gamber (Fig. 40, from L’Homme
PrShistorique); to Mr. R. Hansford Worth and the Council
of the Devonshire Association (Figs. 41 and 49); to the
Council of the British Archaeological Association (Fig. 47);
and to the Societe Polymathique du Morbihan (Fig. 50).
T. D. KENDRICK
London, June, 1927