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   2S T                      N E"H E N GReflored.
         of Antiquity, it is far eafter"(as Camden very well obfcrves) to re-
         fute and contradiCt a falfe, than to fet down a true and certain Ke-
         folution. For mine own part, in what I fihall here deliver, I in-
         tend not to fruggle againft any Opinion commonly and long fince
         received. Let every Man judge as it pleafeth him. What Opinion
         foever the Reader inclines to, I fhall not make much material, my
         Aim being, a Defire only to vindicate, as much as in me lies, the
         Founders of this venerable Antiquity from Oblivion, and to make
         the Truth, as far forth as poffibly I may, appear to all Men.
            Several Writers, both Strangers, and our own Countrymen, have
          treated of Stone-Heng. Before recite whofe Opinions, I think not
          amifs to feek this Subje& from the moft ancient Times, endeavour-
          ing thereby to give Satisfaion, whether or no the Druids, alias
          Druide, in Authors indilferently written, and in old Time the
          riefls of the Britains and Gauls,) or the ancient Britains, for the
          Druids Ufe, might not be the Founders of fo notable a Monument;
          which if they were, there is then no Caufe why beftow    farther
          Study or Pains, in fearching who the Founders were, but acquiefce
          in the Honour of our own Nation's firft Eredion of it.
            As far neverthelcfs, as from Hifory, ancient or modern, may be
          gathered, there is little Likelihood of any fuch Matter, confidering
          efpecially what the Druids were5 alfo, what fmall Experience the
          Britains, anciently inhabiting this Ifle, had, in Knowledge of what-
          cver Arts, much lefs of Building, with like Elegancy and Propor-
          tion, fuch goodly Works as Stone-Heng.
            Concerning the Druids in the firft Place; true it is, they are re-
          ported in ancient Times to have been in great Efteem in this Ifland,
          where their Difcipline and Manner of Learning was fuppofed to be
          firit invented, and from hence tranflated into Gaul. Di~fciplina in
ofar.cmto. Britannia reperta (faith Cefar) atque inde id Galliam tranflata effe
          exiflimatur. They are faid in like manner to have ordered and
          difpofed all divine Matters, as well in relation to their feveral Kinds
          of Sacrifices, as to expounding whatever Rites of their idolatrous
pri., U. .6. Superftition; infomuch, you may call them (if you pleafe) the Bi-
          fhops and Clergy of that Age.
             Their Power moreover, and Preheminence, was not confined
          within the ftri& Limits of facred Matters, bUt enjoying a more
          large Prerogative, temporal Negotiations, and-Affairs of State were
          tranfafed by them: The managing of Peace and War was ufually
          remitted to their Authority, even when Armies were ready to join
 SM4. 46. 4. in Battel. fPublica iis (faith Strabo) & privatajudicia committun-
           tur, & aliquando caufis bellorum di~feptandis jam acie congrefuros
 c,,(r. ub. 6. compofuerunt. Judges they were (faith Cefaralfo) in almofL all ci-
           vil and criminal Caufes: Sentence they gave in Cafe of Life and
           Death: Decide they did, Controverfies and Debates betwixt Party
           and Party: Finally, whatever elfe was requifite and convenient to
           keep the People in due Obedience to their Princes, they wholly
           took the Care and Charge of.
              Thefe were the main'.ffairs wherein the Employment of the
           Druids confifted, and whereunto they wholly addided themfelves.
           Whofoever defitres to know more of them, may read Cefar, Dio-
           durus Siculus, Strabo, Vliny, Diogenes Laertius, Ammianus Mar-
                                          z                        ce/linus,