1^4 RUTHIN TO LLANGOLLEN. 



to the pillars and arches are of free-ftone, and many 

 of them are perfectly frefh and beautiful. The area 

 of the church is overgrown with tall afli-trees, which 

 hide from the fight fome parts of the ruin, but con- 

 tribute greatly to its pi£lurefque beauty. 



I doe love thefe auncFeiYt ruynes. 

 We never tread upon them but we fet 

 Oure foote upon fome reverend hiftorie ; 

 And queftionltfs here, in this open courte 

 (Which now lies naked to the injuries 

 Of ftormy weather) fome men lye interred 

 Who lov'd the church fo well and gave fo largely to't. 

 They thought it fhould have canopied their bones 

 Till dombesday: but all things have their end; 

 Churches and cities (which have diieafes like to men) 

 Muli have like death that we have. 



This fober (hade 

 Lets fall a ferious gloom upon the mind 

 That checks but not appals. Such are the hauntfr 

 Religion loves, a meek and humble maid, 

 Whofe tender eye bears not the blaze of day. 



Valle Crucis was a houfe of Ciftertian monks, 

 dedicated to the virgin mother. It was indebted for 

 Its foundation, about the year 1200, to Madoc ap 

 Griffith, a prince of Powis, who, after various fuc- 

 ceiTrs, and acquiring much booty by the reduction 

 and ruin of Engliih caflles. dedicated a portion of 

 his plunder to the fervice of religion ! He was in- 

 terred here. At the diffolution the revenues appear 

 to have amounted to about two hundred pounds j>er 

 annu7n *. 



* Povvel, 255. — 293. Tanner. Yorke, 5^7. 



Ilhali 



