MORUS, HUW

born 1622, Llangollen?, Denbighshire, Wales died August 1709, Llansilin, Denbighshire also called Eos Ceiriog one of the finest Welsh poets of the 17th century. Morus wrote during the period when the strict bardic metres were in decline and the free metres of popular poetry were on the rise. He elevated this poetry to new dignity by skillful and sophisticated craftsmanship. Structurally complicated, his works are distinguished by internal rhyme and consonance. Many of his love poems were influenced by the Cavalier poets of England and were easily adapted to popular tunes. A Royalist and a supporter of the Church of England, he was a warden of the Llansilin parish church. He spent the greater part of his life at Pontymeibion, within Llansilin parish, where he helped on the family farm.