Any contumacy in reference to their judgments was punished by exclusion from the sacrifices.

This sentence of excommunication was the severest punishment among the Gauls.

The men so punished were treated as outlaws, and cut off from all human society, with its rights and privileges.

Over these Druids there was one head, who wielded the highest influence among them.

On his death the nearest of the others in dignity succeeded him, or, if several were equal, the election of a successor was made by the vote of the Druids.