MDCXXIII
“This image of our frailty, painted glass,
Shows when the life and death of Alban was,
A knight beheads the Martyr, but so soon
His eyes dropt out to see what he had done.
And leaving their own head, seemed with a tear
To wail the other head laid mangled there
Because, before, his eyes no tear had shed
His eyes themselves like tears fall from his head.
Ah! bloody fact that whilst St Alban dies
The murderer himself weeps out his eyes.
In zeal to heaven where holy Alban’s bones
Were buried, Offa raised this heap of stones;
Which after by devouring time abused,
Into the dying parts infused[10]
By James the first of England to become
The glory of Alban’s proto-martyrdom.”
PART VI—WALES
CHAPTER XII
GLAMORGANSHIRE: DENBIGHSHIRE
NEATH: VALLE CRUCIS
[NEATH (Cistercian)]
Founded and endowed in the 12th century by Richard de Grainvilla—Dedicated to the Holy Trinity and occupied successively by Franciscan and Cistercian monks—1208, All previous grants confirmed and many privileges and immunities bestowed by King John—15—, Dissolved. Annual revenue, £132, 7s. 7d.—1544, Granted to Sir Richard Williams—1650, The abbey house comes into the possession of the Hobby family.
NEATH, a flourishing seaport in Glamorganshire, possesses some interesting features. Claiming to be built on the site of a Roman station and having some scattered remains of an ancient castle—burnt down in the 13th century—it also boasts extensive ruins of an abbey, which, if we believe Lewis Morganwg, the famous Welsh bard, must have been enriched in days past with many beauties—
“Like the sky of the vale of Ebron is the covering of this monastery; weighty is the lead that roofs this abode—the dark blue canopy of the dwellings of the Godly. Every colour is seen in the crystal windows, every fair and high-wrought form beams forth through them like the rays of the sun. Portals of radiant guardians! Pure and empyreal, here is every dignified language and every well-skilled preceptor. Here are seen the graceful robes of prelates, here may be found gold and jewels, the tribute of the wealthy. Here also is the gold-adorned choir, the nave, the gilded tabernacle-work, the pinnacles, worthy of the Three Fountains. Distinctly may be seen on glass, imperial arms; a ceiling resplendent with kingly bearings, and on the surrounding border, the shields of princes; the arms of Neath, of a hundred ages; there is the white freestone and the arms of the best men under the crown of Harry, and the church walls of grey marble. The vast and lofty roof is like the sparkling heavens on high, above are seen archangels’ forms; the floor beneath is for the people of earth, all the tribe of Babel, for them it is wrought of variegated stone. The bells, the benedictions, and the peaceful songs of praise, proclaim the frequent thanksgiving of the White Monks.”