CHAP. IV.

Remains of the Druids, and of other Britons still visible in Cornwall.

SECTION I.

Of rude monumental Rocks and Stones which appear to have been consecrated to sacred purposes. WE have already noticed in a preceding section, that it is exceedingly difficult to trace idolatry to its source, to ascertain the period when it began, or to determine whether superstition proceeded immediately from the productions of nature to the works of art. It is uniformly admitted, that idolatry was long established in the world before images were invented; but whether rocks of a singular appearance, masses of stone that were placed erect through excessive labour, or pillars built on some commanding eminences, or consecrated spots, were not selected for the purposes of devotion, soon after the establishment of idolatrous worship, cannot be so easily known.

It is well known, that consecrated pillars are of very considerable antiquity; they have been erected by almost every nation of renown, to commemorate singular events, to mark some striking phenomenon in the history of the world, or to transmit some interesting information to posterity.

The first pillars which history pretends to record, are those of Seth, of which Josephus gives the following account:-" It would take up too much time, and would answer no purpose, to particularize the offspring of Adam; I shall therefore confine myself to the mention of Seth alone. He was educated by his father with great care, and no sooner became capable of distinguishing between good and evil, than he applied himself to the study of virtue. He became eminent for his qualifications, and his children closely copied the example of their excellent father. They lived in the utmost harmony and happiness, both among themselves, and with the rest of mankind. They were the first persons who studied the motions and influences of the heavenly bodies; and, having been forewarned by Adam of an universal deluge and conflagration, they erected two pillars, one of brick, and

CUSTOM OF ERECTING PILLARS TO COMMEMORATE AN EVENT, PRACTISED BY THE PATRIARCHS.

the other of stone; which they were of opinion would, one or other of them, be proof against every attack, either of fire or water. They engraved on these pillars their discoveries and inventions, lest in a series of ages, the knowledge of the science itself should become extinct. Their precaution was not vain; for to this day the stone pillar is to be seen in Syria.'

Josephus does not say that he had ever seen this pillar; he only says that it was to be seen in his days, and consequently he relied wholly on the testimony of others for his information. Bishop Stillingfleet thinks that Josephus collected his account of these antediluvian pillars from Manetho, and that the whole is fabulous. As to the pillar that was extant in his days, it is generally supposed to be a pillar of a more modern date, covered over with certain unknown characters. It is attested by much better authority, that the patriarch "Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it," (Gen. xxviii. 18,) which sufficiently shews the antiquity of the custom. But it would be ridiculous to give credit to the absurd tradition, that this stone after a lapse of many ages, found its way to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to Spain, from Spain to Ireland, from Ireland to Scotland, and from Scotland to Westminster; and that this is the identical stone, of which we have already spoken, that was placed under the coronation chair by Edward I.

When Joshua assembled the tribes, recounted the blessings they had received, and introduced a renewal of God's covenant with them, he also erected a stone as a memorial of these transactions. "And Joshua took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold this stone shall be a witness unto us, for it hath heard all the words of the Lord, which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God."―Joshua xxiv. 26, 27. These are perhaps the earliest notices which authentic history records, of stones or pillars being erected to commemorate any extraordinary event. But after these periods the practice continued to prevail throughout the patriarchal ages, as we may instantly find by recurring to the historical books of the Old Testament.

To imitate these customs, which without doubt originated in divine appointment, the Gentile nations erected pillars and consecrated stones at a very early period. And whatever their primary motives were, it is very certain that these stones and pillars soon became subservient to the purposes of idolatry. It has been thought, that the Gentile nations first adopted this custom, from the knowledge which they

VARIOUS FORMS UNDER WHICH THE HEATHEN DEITIES WERE WORSHIPPED.

had obtained of the manner in which God conducted the Israelites through the wilderness; and that the pillars of cloud and of fire, in which God was then pleased to make his power known, suggested to them the first idea of imitation. It does not however appear, that this supposition has any rational support, since the Israelites were particularly cautioned against adopting a practice which seems to have prevailed among the Canaanites long before they entered their territories. "Ye shall not set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it, for I am the Lord your God."-Lev. xxvi. 1.

But from what principle soever, the custom of consecrating stones and erecting pillars took its rise, certain it is, that it soon became an almost universal practice. And it is not less certain, that the descendants of Jacob, notwithstanding the prohibitions of God, were carried away with this current of idolatry, and that "they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree and there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen, whom the Lord carried away before them.”—2 Kings xvii. 10, 11.

It is said of Semiramis, that she erected an obelisk no less than 125 feet high ; and it is well known that the obelisks of Egypt, which were generally dedicated to the sun, still continue to defy the wastes of time, and to excite the admiration of every beholder. The Paphians worshipped their Venus under the form of a white pyramid, and the Brachmans adored their god under the figure of a little column of stone. The symbol of Jupiter Ammon, was a stone of a conical form, in his Egyptian temple; and in Africa the image of Apollo was exhibited in the form of a pyramid. A large square stone was the image of Mercury, and a single pillar represented that of Bacchus. It appears from these specimens, that rude stones being placed erect, were incorporated with idolatry at a very early age, and that the practice infected a considerable part of the Gentile world. It seems also, that this custom more especially prevailed in Syria, Egypt, and Greece, and was from thence communicated to such countries as held any intercourse with the inhabitants of these regions. And consequently we may reasonably infer, that it was the same general principle that caused many of those large stones to be erected, which are still visible in many parts of Cornwall; for to these parts the ancient adventurers of Phenicia and Greece resorted.

Among these enormous and venerable masses of stone which decorate this county, many seem evidently to have been erected by art, while several others appear to have been selected from the wild productions of nature, and impressed into the service of idolatry and superstition. Of a large pyramidical stone which once stood erect in the parish of Constantine, some notice has been already taken in a preceding chapter. This stone, which measured in length twenty feet above

CURIOUS BRITISH MONUMENTS IN SEVERAL PARTS OF CORNWALL.

the ground, while four feet were buried beneath its surface, and yielded when cleft in pieces twenty stone posts for gates, had evidently been erected by muscular exertion. And in all probability, if it could have been preserved from human violence, it would have remained till the end of time.

At a place called Bolleit, in the parish of St. Buryan, there are two remarkable stones standing erect, about a furlong from each other. One of these stones is twelve feet in height, and the other sixteen. Both are rough and unpolished; but to what depth they descend in the earth cannot be ascertained, as their buried parts have hitherto escaped the ravages of curiosity, and the grasp of avarice.

In Boswen's Croft, in the parish of Sancreed, there is an upright stone, which, like many others of a similar nature and description, is denominated Long Stone. This stone is also about twelve feet in height, and of a craggy appearance. But what renders it still more remarkable, its base is surrounded with a heap of stones, thrown promiscuously together, forming a kind of sepulchral barrow, with this pillar rising through its summit. It is not improbable that the ashes of some ancient Briton of considerable distinction were deposited near this spot, and that this pillar and these stones, were brought together to mark the consecrated tomb.

In the same parish, (Sancreed) in a tenement called Dryft, there is another monument, which has every mark of being sepulchral. It consists of two stones, one of which is about seven, and the other about nine feet above the ground.. These stones are about eighteen feet from each other, standing in a line which points to the north-west, and in the opposite direction. The distance of these stones from each other, seems to have been chosen, to give to posterity a figurative idea of greatness, which might be transferred to the character and consequence of the person here interred.

But whatever may be thought of these stones, whether they may be considered as sepulchral, or as memorials of the ratification of some important civil treaty or contract, no doubt can remain respecting the use of another of a similar description in the tenement of Trewren-Maddern. This monument also consists of two stones, in a line E. N. E. placed ten feet asunder. To ascertain whether these stones were originally erected as a sepulchral monument or not, some men were employed on the 21st of October, 1752, to open the ground between them. These men having sunk about four feet, soon came to a place which had all the appearance of an ancient grave. The pit which they discovered was about six feet long, and about two feet nine inches wide, one end of which came close to the largest stone, which was farthest west, where Dr. Borlase supposes the head of the interred to have been placed. The bottom of this pit was filled with a certain species of earth, which appeared to the touch to be greasy. Its colour was nearly

GREAT DIFFICULTIES OF THE CHRISTIANS TO OVERCOME DRUIDICAL PREJUDICES.

black, but no remains of bones were to be seen, nor was any thing discovered that could lead to a conjecture respecting either the quality of the person interred, or the probable period when these stones were erected.

On all these pillars no appearance of any tool is visible, nor does it appear that any inscription was ever engraven on them. Many besides these that have been thus noticed, may without doubt be still found in Cornwall, though now considerably altered from their ancient and rude simplicity. And it is highly probable, that several others which once existed, have been cleft in pieces for domestic purposes, like the enormous mass in Constantine parish. It is sufficient that we can still find some of these rude memorials of our British ancestors in their primeval state, defying at once the ravages of time, of avarice, and of curiosity; and withstanding the shocks of every element through a long series of successive generations.

To the changes which some of these ancient pillars have undergone, the introduction of Christianity has in no small degree contributed. Habits that are once formed, are not easily eradicated; and they become more inveterate in proportion as they receive a sanction from custom, and a veneration from age. When Christianity was first introduced into this county, many continued to bring their offerings, to pay their vows, and to celebrate their worship in those places which their ancestors had taught them to revere as sacred. To these places many came with lighted torches, praying for safety in their journies, and success in their undertakings. Nor was it in the power of the Christian priests, wholly to restrain this Pagan propensity. Hence so late as the fifth and sixth centuries, several councils interfered by their prohibitions; and even then the whole weight of ecclesiastical power was scarcely sufficient to put an end to these remains of Druid superstitions.

The appearances however which Christianity at this time assumed, though badly calculated to exterminate idolatry, was admirably adapted to form a compromise with its newly acquired proselytes. In Ireland, some of these stones erect have crosses on them, which are supposed to have been cut by those temporizing Christians, in compliance with the Druid prejudices which still continued to prevail. It is easy to conceive, that although Christianity continued to gain ground, it was not so easy to destroy that reverence which the people entertained for these consecrated stones. But when the cross was cut on them, it was thought to be a justifiable adoration that was paid, which Christianity was disposed to tolerate, and which druidism was not inclined to reject.

In the western islands of Scotland, there are still some remains of adoration paid to such stones. In the Isle of Barry there is one stone about seven feet high;