The Welsh Nonconformists' Memorial, Or, Cambro-British Biography; Containing Sketches of the Founders of the Protestant Dissenting Interest in Wales,

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1820. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... the original religion of the welsh, in common with the rest of the britons. the state of civilization and knowledge among The Britons prior to the Roman invasion, or the first introduction of Christianity, is a point upon which antiquaries and historians have entertained very different opinions. While some have represented them as a nation of Barbarians and Savages scarcely superior to the Esquimaux, the Caffres, or the New Hollanders, others have maintained that they were really an enlightened people, who had arrived at an advanced state of civilization and intellectual improvement, under the direction of a numerous and respectable order of instructors, whose maxims and precepts would have suffered no degradation by a comparison with those of the celebrated Sages of Greece and Rome. This latter opinion seems not ill-founded or untenable. The instructofs here alluded to were the Druids, or, more properly speaking, the Beirdd, or Bards; for the Druids were in fact only a particular class of that order. The very language of the Britons appears to have been formed, improved, and brought to its utmost state of perfection by these men. At least, it does not appear to have been materially amended or improved since their time. It carries in itself, says one of the most competent judges, the evidence of being free from intermixture, being so constructed as not to assimilate with foreign words, except such as are mere simple sounds; and there could hardly be a case where any of this description could be wanted; and should words have been adopted, they are very easily discriminated. There ...