Huw Morus
Encyclopedia
Huw Morus or Morys also known by his bardic name Eos Ceiriog ("the nightingale
of Ceiriog"), was a Welsh
poet of the 17th century. One of the most popular and prolific poets of his time, he composed a large number of poems in a variety of metres. Morus' work bridges the gap between the strict-metre tradition of the Beirdd y Uchelwyr (the medieval "Poets of the Nobility") and popular verse.
Huw Morus was born in 1622, most likely in Llangollen
, and was the son of Forys ap Sion ap Ednyfed. Around 1647 his father moved the family to the farm of Pont-y-meibion in the parish of Llansilin
near Glyn Ceiriog
. Little is known about the poet's early years, but he may have been educated at the Ruthin
Grammar School or at the Free School in Oswestry
over the Shropshire
border. However, in a poem Ar ofyn gostegion yn amser Cromwel, Morus complains of a seven years' apprenticeship
, and there is an othwerwise undocumented tradition that he had trained as a tanner. He appears to have been unmarried and to have lived at the family farm for the remainder or his life.
Huw was sponsored by several members of the gentry of north-east Wales, including William Owen of Brogyntyn
, Sir Thomas Mostyn of Gloddaeth, and Sir Thomas Myddleton of Chirk Castle
. He composed several notable elegies
, including one (in dialogue form) for Barbara Myddleton, the wife of Richard Myddleton of Plas Newydd, Llansilin, which is regarded as one of the finest in Welsh literature.
Morus was a staunch churchman and Royalist, many of his poems attacking Oliver Cromwell
, the Roundheads, and the Commonwealth of England
, although he escaped serious repercussions by giving his characters the names of various animals. He opposed the Welsh Puritanism of Morgan Llwyd
, Vavasor Powell
and Walter Cradock
, and satirised them mercilessly in verse. He also composed a number of moral and devotional poems, as well as Christmas and "May" carols. He was given the name Eos Ceiriog for his love and nature poems, and pioneered a style based on established free-accented metres but containing perfect examples of cynghanedd
. This developed a school of followers in the 18th century, though few of his imitators were able to approach his level of skill. Morus' poems are strongly rooted in the society of the time, and enable us to gain a glimpse into the lives of ordinary rural people in Wales in the second half of the 17th century.
Morus was buried on 31 August 1709 in Llansilin parish church; above his grave is a stained-glass window containing some of his englynion cyffes (confessional verses).
Nightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
of Ceiriog"), was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet of the 17th century. One of the most popular and prolific poets of his time, he composed a large number of poems in a variety of metres. Morus' work bridges the gap between the strict-metre tradition of the Beirdd y Uchelwyr (the medieval "Poets of the Nobility") and popular verse.
Huw Morus was born in 1622, most likely in Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
, and was the son of Forys ap Sion ap Ednyfed. Around 1647 his father moved the family to the farm of Pont-y-meibion in the parish of Llansilin
Llansilin
Llansilin is a village and local government community in Powys, Wales, about 6 miles west of Oswestry. The community, which includes Llansilin village, a large rural area and the hamlets of Molfre and Rhiwlas as well as the remote parish of Llangadwaladr, had a population of 648 at the 2001...
near Glyn Ceiriog
Glyn Ceiriog
Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.Glyn Ceiriog is a former slate mining village in Wrexham County Borough, in Wales...
. Little is known about the poet's early years, but he may have been educated at the Ruthin
Ruthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
Grammar School or at the Free School in Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
over the Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
border. However, in a poem Ar ofyn gostegion yn amser Cromwel, Morus complains of a seven years' apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
, and there is an othwerwise undocumented tradition that he had trained as a tanner. He appears to have been unmarried and to have lived at the family farm for the remainder or his life.
Huw was sponsored by several members of the gentry of north-east Wales, including William Owen of Brogyntyn
Brogyntyn
Brogyntyn is a mansion to the north-west of Oswestry in Shropshire, England.- History :It was a residence of members of the princely dynasty of the Welsh kingdom of Powys and one of the taî'r uchelwyr in late medieval Wales. *...
, Sir Thomas Mostyn of Gloddaeth, and Sir Thomas Myddleton of Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle is a castle located at Chirk, Wrexham, Wales.The castle was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer de Chirk, uncle of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March as part of King Edward I's chain of fortresses across the north of Wales. It guards the entrance to the Ceiriog Valley...
. He composed several notable elegies
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
, including one (in dialogue form) for Barbara Myddleton, the wife of Richard Myddleton of Plas Newydd, Llansilin, which is regarded as one of the finest in Welsh literature.
Morus was a staunch churchman and Royalist, many of his poems attacking Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, the Roundheads, and the Commonwealth of England
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, although he escaped serious repercussions by giving his characters the names of various animals. He opposed the Welsh Puritanism of Morgan Llwyd
Morgan Llwyd
Morgan Llwyd , was a Welsh Puritan preacher, poet and prose writer.- Biography :...
, Vavasor Powell
Vavasor Powell
Vavasor Powell was a Welsh Nonconformist Puritan preacher, evangelist, church leader and writer.-Life:He was born in Knucklas, Radnorshire and was educated at Jesus College, Oxford...
and Walter Cradock
Walter Cradock
Walter Cradock was a Welsh Anglican clergyman, who became a travelling evangelical preacher. He was a founder of the first Independent church in Wales in 1638, at Llanvaches, with William Wroth and William Thomas, an early Baptist.-Life:He was born at Trefela, near Llangwm, Monmouthshire, and is...
, and satirised them mercilessly in verse. He also composed a number of moral and devotional poems, as well as Christmas and "May" carols. He was given the name Eos Ceiriog for his love and nature poems, and pioneered a style based on established free-accented metres but containing perfect examples of cynghanedd
Cynghanedd
In Welsh language poetry, Cynghanedd is the basic concept of sound-arrangement within one line, using stress, alliteration and rhyme. The various forms of cynghanedd show up in the definitions of all formal Welsh verse forms, such as the awdl. Though of ancient origin, cynghanedd and variations of...
. This developed a school of followers in the 18th century, though few of his imitators were able to approach his level of skill. Morus' poems are strongly rooted in the society of the time, and enable us to gain a glimpse into the lives of ordinary rural people in Wales in the second half of the 17th century.
Morus was buried on 31 August 1709 in Llansilin parish church; above his grave is a stained-glass window containing some of his englynion cyffes (confessional verses).