“All the Gallic nations are much given to superstition; for which reason, when they are seriously ill, or are in danger from their wars or other causes, they either offer up men as victims to the gods, or make a vow to sacrifice themselves. The ministers in these offerings are the Druids, and they hold that the wrath of the immortal gods can only be appeased, and man’s life be redeemed, by offering up human sacrifice, and it is a part of their national institutions to hold fixed solemnities for this purpose. Some of them make immense images of wicker-work, which they fill with men, who are thus burned alive in offering to their deities. These victims are generally selected from those who have been convicted of theft, robbery, or other crimes, in whose punishment they think the immortal gods take the greatest pleasure; but if there be any scarcity of such victims they do not hesitate to sacrifice innocent men in their place. If there be a super-abundance of cattle taken in war the surplus is offered up in sacrifice; the rest of the spoil is collected into one mass. In many of their tribes large heaps of these things may be seen in their consecrated places, and it is a rare occurrence for any individual sacreligiously to conceal part of the booty, or to turn it to his own use; the severest punishment, together with bodily torture, is inflicted on those who are guilty of such an offense.” He further speaks of the Druids in another place: “The Druids act in all sacred matters; they attend to the sacrifices, which are either offered by the tribe in general or by individuals, and answer all questions concerning their religion. They always have a large number of young men as pupils, who treat them with the greatest respect; for it is they who decide in all controversies, whether public or private, and they judge all causes, whether of murder, of a disputed inheritance, or of the boundaries of estates. They assign both rewards and punishments; and whoever refuses to abide by their sentence, whether he be in a public or private station, is forbidden to be present at the sacrifices of the gods. This is, in fact, the most severe mode of punishment, and those who have been thus excommunicated are held as impious and profane; all avoid them; no one will either meet them or speak to them, lest they should be injured by their contagion; every species of honor is withheld from them, and if they are plaintiffs in a lawsuit justice is denied. All the Druids are subject to one chief, who enjoys the greatest authority among them. Upon the death of the chief Druid, the next in dignity is appointed to succeed him; and if there are two whose merits are equal, the election is made by the votes of the whole body, though sometimes they dispute for pre-eminence by the sword.