As a relict of this superstition of our ancestors, I may adduce the names of certain lakes amongst the Cambrian mountains; as, Llyn Creini, the lake of adoration, upon Ceon Creini, the hill of adoration: and Llyn Urddyn, the lake of consecration, in Meirionethshire; and Llyn Gwydd Ior, the lake of the grove of Iôr, or God, in Montgomeryshire.* Such names evidently imply, that some religious ideas were anciently connected with these lakes. And that this kind of superstition was prevalent amongst the ancient Druids, may be inferred from the testimony of Gildas, who informs us that they worshipped mountains and rivers.†

And, that the veneration for lakes was referable to the deluge, appears from the Welsh chronicles of Walter de Mapes, and Geoffrey of Monmouth. These writers, in the mass of their romance, involve a few genuine national traditions; which they would fain pass upon the world for sober history. Thus they introduce Arthur, as saying-" There " is a lake near the Severn, called Llyn Llion, which swal"lows all the water that flows into it at the tide of flood, " without any visible increase: but at the tide of ebb, it " swells up like a mountain, and pours its waters over the "banks, so that whoever stands near it at this time, must run the risk of being overwhelmed."‡

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The Llyn Llion of these writers preserves the name of that mythological lake, which occasioned the deluge; of which it was, therefore, a local symbol. The peculiarity here assigned to it, may allude to some such natural phenomenon as the Hygre, or Severn Boar; a high and roar

See Camb. Reg. V. I. p. 302, 370.

+ See Dr. Borlase's Antiq. of Cornwall, p. 110.

W. Archaiol. V. II. p. 509.

ing surge, which leads the flood to the inland parts of the channel, whilst the river is actually ebbing in its æstuary. This circumstance the Druids may have remarked, and improved upon it, for the purposes of superstition.

The reference of the sacred lakes of the Britons to the deluge, is so clear in the mystical poems, that I need not cite particular passages. The reader is referred to the Appendix in general.

And not only the Britons, but the continental Celtæ also, are remarked in history for their superstitious veneration of lakes.

Strabo says, that the Gauls consecrated their gold in certain lakes; and adds, that lakes furnished them with their most inviolate sanctuaries. Μάλισα δ' αυτοις αι Λίμναι την "aculiar wapiger. Here we must understand, certain islets, or rafts, inclosed within these lakes; as will be seen in the sequel.

We also learn from Justin, that in a time of public calamity, the priests of the Gauls, that is, the Druids, declared to the people, that they should not be free from the pestilential distemper which then raged among them, till they should have dipped the gold and silver, gotten by war and sacrilege, in the lake of Thoulouse.*

Hence the author of Rel. des Gaules supposes, that the Gauls of Thoulouse had no other temple than a sacred lake.

* Lib. XXXII. c. 3.

The same author presents us with this curious account

"Many persons resorted to a lake, at the foot of the "Gevaudan mountain, consecrated to the moon, under the name of Helanus, and thither cast in, some, the human "habits, linen, cloth, and entire fleeces; others cast in "cheese, wax, bread, and other things, every one according "to his ability; then sacrificed animals, and feasted for "three days." "*

This seems to be perfectly consonant with British superstition, in regard to the Diluvian lakes.

But the deluge overwhelmed the world, and this catastrophe was figured out in the traditional history of several of our sacred lakes.

The annotator upon Camden mentions the names of six lakes, in which ancient cities are reported to have been drowned.+

I could add several others to this list, but I observe, that tradition generally adds, that some person or small family escaped upon a piece of timber, or by other means.Though I think it improbable that such submersions actually happened, I refer the tales in which they are reported, to those lessons which our ancestors learned from their heathen instructors, whilst inculcating the mythology of the deluge.

The principal lake mentioned by our author is Llyn Sa

vaddan, in Brecknockshire. The old story of its formation is not totally forgotten. I recollect some of its incidents, as related by an old man in the town of Hay.

"The scite of the present lake was formerly occupied by a large city; but the inhabitants were reported to be very "wicked. The king of the country sent his servant to ex"amine into the truth of this rumour, adding a threat, that "in case it should prove to be well founded, he would de

stroy the place, as an example to his other subjects. The "minister arrived at the town in the evening. All the in"habitants were engaged in riotous festivity, and wallow

ing in excess. Not one of them regarded the stranger, or "offered him the rites of hospitality. At last, he saw the open door of a mean habitation, into which he entered. "The family had deserted it to repair to the scene of tumult, "all but one infant, who lay weeping in the cradle. The "royal favourite sat down by the side of this cradle, soothed "the little innocent, and was grieved at the thought, that "he must perish in the destruction of his abandoned neigh"bours. In this situation the stranger passed the night; "and whilst he was diverting the child, he accidently "dropped his glove into the cradle. The next morning he "departed before it was light, to carry his melancholy tidings to the king.

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"He had but just left the town when he heard a noise "behind him, like a tremendous crack of thunder mixed "with dismal shrieks and lamentations. He stopped "to listen. Now it sounded like the dashing of waves: "and presently all was dead silence. He could not see "what had happened, as it was still dark, and he felt "no inclination to return into the city: so he pursued his journey till sunrise. The morning was cold. He searched "for his gloves, and finding but one of them, he presently

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"recollected where he had left the other. These gloves "had been a present from his sovereign. He determined "to return for that which he had left behind. When he was come near to the scite of the town, he observed with surprize, that none of the buildings presented themselves "to his view, as on the preceding day. He proceeded a "few steps-The whole plain was covered with a lake. "Whilst he was gazing at this novel and terrific scene, he " remarked a little spot in the middle of the water: the wind "gently wafted it towards the bank where he stood; as it "drew near, he recognized the identical cradle in which he "had left his glove. His joy on receiving this pledge of royal favour was only heightened by the discovery, that "the little object of his compassion had reached the shore "alive and unhurt. He carried the infant to the king, and "told his majesty, that this was all which he had been "able to save out of that wretched place."

This little narrative evidently contains the substance of one of those tales, which we call Mabinogion, that is, tales for the instruction of youth, in the principles of Bardic mythology. And it seems to have for its object, a local and impressive commemoration of the destruction of a profligate race, by the waters of the deluge.

Such traditions of the submersion of cities, in the lakes of the country, or of populous districts, by the intrusion of the sea, are current all over Wales. They were not unfrequent in other heathenish countries; and I observe, Mr. Faber uniformly refers them to the history of the deluge.

Thus "Phlegyas and his children, the Phlegyæ, were said "to have come from the land of Minyas, and in the pride "of their heart, to have quitted the city of the Orchome