THE TURN OF THE ERMINE

An Anthology of Breton Literature

Selected and Translated by Jacqueline Gibson and Gwyn Griffiths

The Pagan Past

Druids and druidism are mysteries of the Breton and Celtic world. The waters have been somewhat muddled by the neo-druidism of the stonemason, antiquarian and occasional literary forger Edward Williams (Iolo Morganwg). Through his creation , the Gorsedd of Bards in Wales, later copied in Brittany and Cornwall, he gave new prominence to druidism. He was by no means the first to  try and resurrect the cult. References by Julius Caesar, Tacitus, Loukianes and others provide proof of their existence and much of the available information about them.

Julius Caesar

The Conquest of Gaul (Extract)

(Written circa 52 B.C. Translation by S. A. Handford,

Penguin Classics, 1951)

Everywhere in Gaul there are only two classes of men of any account or consideration. [... ] The two privileged classes are the Druids and the Knights. The Druids officiate at the worship of the gods, regulate public and private sacrifices, and give rulings on all religious questions. Large numbers of young men flock to them for instruction, and they are held in great honour by the people. They act as judges in practically all disputes, whether between tribes or between individuals, when any crime is committed, or a murder takes place, or a dispute arises about an inheritance or a boundary, it is they who adjudicate the matter and appoint the compensation to be paid and received by the parties concerned.

[ ... ] All the Druids are under one head, whom they hold in the highest respect. On his death, if any one of the rest is of outstanding merit he succeeds to the vacant position; if several have equal claims, the Druids usually decide the election by voting, though sometimes they decide by combat. On a fixed date in each year they hold a session in a consecrated place in the country of the Carnutes, which is the centre of Gaul. Those who are involved in disputes assemble fromall parts, and accept the Druids' judgement and awards. The Druidic doctrine is believed to have been founded in Britain and thence imported into Gaul. Even today those who want to make a profound study of it generally go toBritain for the purpose.

The Druids are exempt from military service and do not pay taxes like other citizens. These important privileges are naturally attractive: many present themselves of their own accord to become students of Druidism, and others are sent by their parents or relatives. It is said that these pupils have to memorize a great number of verses - so many, that some many that some of them spend twenty years at their studies. The Druids believe that their religion forbids them to commit their teachings to writing, although for most other purposes, such as public and private accounts, the Gauls use the Greek alphabet. But I imagine that this rule was originally established for other reasons - because they didn't want their doctrine to become public property, and in order to prevent their pupils from relying on the written word and neglecting to train their memories; for it is usually found that when people have the help of texts, they are less diligent in learning by heart, and let their memories rust. A lesson which they take particular pains to inculcate is that the soul does not perish, but after death passes from one body to another; they think that this is the best incentive to bravery, because it teaches men to disregard the terrors of death. They also hold long discussions about the heavenly bodies and their movements, the size of the universe and of the earth, the physical constitution of the world, and the power and properties of the gods; and they instruct the young men in all these subjects.

It is true that the Empire persecuted the Druids. They were attacked (partly doubtless, for political reasons) under the laws regarding human sacrifice, murder and magic (Lex Cornelia de Sicariis) by Tiberius and Claudius. At that time if we are to take a passage in Pomponius Mela literally, they continued toteach the young in secret.