an engineer was sent over to build batteries, mount cannon, and arrange stores and ammunition, as if it was apprehended that when all the rest of Europe was restored to tranquillity, the arms of the united potentates would be turned against the little Isle of Man.—Bullock's History of the Isle of Man, pp. 355, 356. Feltham, who visited the Island in 1797, forms a somewhat different opinion. He saysRamsey was then protected from foreign enemies by a fort and several pieces of cannon.-Tour through the Island of Man, p. 162.

At the beginning of the following catalogue, which is transcribed from a record in the Rolls' Office of the Castle of Rushen, I have inserted in italics the name of Michael Blundell, who was Governor of the Island in 1407, although I have not found his name given in any published list. Camden, however, distinctly states that he was appointed Governor by Sir John Stanley, when he received a grant of the Island from king Henry IV, and he gives a detail of his government (See Britannia, edition 1695, p. 1065) he is also mentioned in the Lex Scripta (p. 17) as being the first who committed the laws of the Island to writing. He will be again referred to

in chapter xix.

A CATALOGUE OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE ISLE OF MAN,

FROM THE ACCESSION OF THE House of Stanley to the PRESENT TIME.

Michael Blundell, Lieut. ....A.D. 1407

Richard Aderton was admitted and

1 Peter Legh was appointed Governor, by Queen Elizabeth, in the absence of Sir T. Gerrard. 2 In 1609, John Ireland and John Birchall were Governors, jointly, by patent, from King James I.

CHAPTER XI.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY FROM A.D. 76 TO 839.

Introduction of Druidism into Britain-The Druids leave Stonehenge and settle in Anglesea—On their Altars being overturned and their Groves being cut down by the Romans, they retire into the Isle of Man-Office, Dress, and Power of the Arch-Druid–Their Places of Worship and Ceremonies-Anniversary of Bal or Baal and other superstitious Observances-Persecution of the Christians—Arrival of St. Patrick in the Isle of Man-Converts the Inhabitants to the Christian Faith-Succeeded by St. Germain-Maughold, a Leader of Irish Banditti, becomes Bishop of Man-St. Bridget, one of the tutelar Saints of Ireland, receives the Veil of Virginity from St. Maughold-Scottish Princes educated by St. Conan, Bishop of Man-An Irish Prince nearly starved to death-Singular Adventure of Orlygus.

THE first Celtic colony that settled in Britain is represented to have come from Asia, and to have introduced Druidism into our Island.' After the irruptions of the Belge and the farther encroachments of the Romans, the Druids retired from their magnificent seat at Albury and from their circular uncovered temple at Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain, to the Isle of Anglesea, where their altars being overturned and their groves cut down by the victorious Romans, they took refuge in the Isle of Man.3

The well known aversion of the Druids themselves to written records and the prejudices entertained against them by ancient authors, to whom alone we are now

1 Plowden's Dissertation on the Antiquity of Irish History, London, 1831, p. 47. 2 Davis's Antiquity of the Druidical Order among the Celta, pp. 139, 197; Buck's Theological Dictionary, London, 1827.

3 Hollinshead's Chronicles of Scotland, edition 1805, vol. i, page 60; Bothius's History of Scotland, folio 22; Spottiswood's History of the Church of Scotland, page 3.

indebted for any information regarding their institutions and ceremonies, render our relations but partial and unsatisfactory.

All writers on the subject agree as to the supreme authority which they exercised over all men among whom they obtained an establishment, and the exclusive rights they assumed. They were exempt from bearing arms or contributing in any way to the exigencies of the state, and their persons were reputed sacred and inviolable.' These privileges allured many to enter their fraternity and to take upon themselves the performance of their sacred duties.

There were several orders or degrees of the priesthood, to obtain the highest of which required twenty years study.2 The first was Disgibliysbas, and was given after three years study in the arts of poetry and music, if the person by his capacity and diligence merited such an honour. The second degree was Disgibldisgybliaidd, and was conferred on the professors of learning after six years additional study, if they deserved it. The third degree, with another long name, required nine years more; and the fourth or highest degree with a name signifying "doctor," was only bestowed two years afterwards on the completion of the study of the whole twenty years.

Each order was distinguished by a particular habit, some reaching the calf of the leg, and others somewhat lower. The bards wore a coloured robe of sky blue as emblematical of peace. The Welsh bard, Cynddelw, in his ode on the death of Cadwallon, calls them "wearers of long blue robes."3

The professors of astronomy and medicine wore green as a symbol of learning, and as being the colour of the

1 Camden's Britannia, folio, edition 1695, p. 14.

* Toland's History of the Druids, London, 1726, pp. 11, 190, 191.

3 Owen's Elegies of Llywarch Hen, ap. History of British Costume, London, 1834, pp. 11, 12; Buck's Theological Dictionary, London, 1827; see Druid.

clothing of nature. The disciples of the orders wore variegated dresses of the three colours, blue, green, and red; and the dress of the sacerdotal order was white, the emblem of holiness and truth. The Welsh bard, Taliesin, calls it, "the proud white garment which separated the elders from the youth." The chiefs of the order were the only exception from the rule, they always wore short hair, whilst other people had theirs long, and on the contrary they wore long beards, while the laity preserved only the hair on the upper lip.2

Among this race of men, one person was commonly chosen with the title of Arch-Druid, to whom the supreme government of the fraternity was committed." He wore on his head an oaken garland surmounted by a tiara of gold, while on his breast was suspended the fabulous adderstone amulet, enchased in gold. When at the altar he wore a white surplice fastened on the shoulder by a golden brooch." He had also the privilege of wearing six colours in his robe or breacan," whereas the king and queen might only wear seven, the lords and ladies five, governors of castles four, chieftains and officers of the army three, common soldiers and common people only

1 A disciple about to be admitted a graduate, is called by the bards, “A dog with spots of red, blue, and green."-Meyrick's Original Inhabitants.

9 Ap. Planche's History of British Costume, London, 1834, p. 11. 3 Camden's Britannia, p. 19.

4 The virtues of the Adderstone were supposed to be connected with the popular credulity of its origin from serpents-those mystical animals holding such a noted place in ancient mythology. "That not only the vulgar, but even gentlemen of good education, throughout all Scotland, were fully persuaded that snakes made them." It is remarked by an English visitor in the year 1699, "That the adderstone was suspended from the neck, for the hooping-cough and other distempers in children. It was esteemed a charm to ensure prosperity, and a repeller of evil spirits. The owner kept it in an iron box as a security from fairies, which were supposed to have a peculiar aversion to it."-Dalyell's Darker Superstitions of Scotland, Glasgow, 1835, page 140. One of these magical gems is in my possession. Archæologia, vol. iv; King's Munimenta Antiqua Collectanea de Rebus Hibernius, vol. iv; ap. British Costume, London, 1834, pp. 12, 13.

5

"M'Alpine's Gaelic Dictionary, Edinburgh, 1833, p. 45.