As for their _Temples_ and sacred structures, they consisted not in variety of formes, costlinesse of materials, or perfection of humane _Arts_, but were of _Natures_ own framing in like manner, being no other then groves of Oke. _The_ Druid’s _chose of purpose_ (saith _Pliny_) _such groves for their divine Service, as stood only upon Okes; nay they solemnized no Sacrifice, nor performed any sacred Ceremonies without the branches, and leaves thereof; from whence they may seem well enough to be named_ Dryadæ _in_ Greek, _which signifies as much as_ Oke Priests.
The _Romans_ having forced their passage, and gained victory over the _Druid’s_ in _Anglesey_, cut down their woods and groves, amongst them reckoned holy, and consecrated to their execrable superstitions. _Excisi luci_ (saith _Tacitus_) _sævis superstitionibus sacri_.
To this purpose, _Humphrey Lloid_, in his history of _Wales_, The vast woods growing in that Island, were not only by the _Romans_, but afterwards, when the _Christian_ Faith took place in this _Nation_, by the _Christians_ also fell’d and rooted out. And why? because of the idolatry (saith he) and absurd Religion used in them. Again, in his Epistle to _Ortelius_ concerning the Isle of _Anglesey_, the same Author affirmes; Though there is little wood now growing there, yet every day the roots and bodies of huge trees of a wonderfull length and bignesse are by the inhabitants found, and digged out of the earth, in divers places in low grounds, and champion fields.
Now, if in stead of these roots, and bodies of trees, the ruines of ancient Structures had been there found, it might peradventure, with some probability, have been presumed either that the _Druid’s_ used _Temples_, or some other buildings of stone. For, their ancient seat was in the Isle of _Mona_, now _Anglesey_, whence modern Writers style it _Insulam Druidum_, the _Island_ of the _Druid’s_, and _sedem Druidum_, the seat of the _Druid’s_. And from hence, questionlesse, it came to passe, the _Romans_, with such difficulty, under the conduct of _Suetonius Paulinus_, brought that Island under their power; nor was it wholly subdued to their Empire, untill _Julius Agricola’s_ time. For, whereas in other parts of _Britain_, the people contended for Liberty only, there, they fought _pro aris & focis_, for Liberty, and Religion both.