CHAPTER VII.
HUGH JONES--EDWARD JONES--PEDR FARDD--R. AB GWILYM DDU.

The sacred singers grouped together in this chapter had one quality in common: they were extravagantly fond of intricate rhymes and peculiar metres. This has seriously limited the use of their hymns, except in rare instances. Like Captain Middleton's Psalter, the greatest portion of their verse is so much fruitless piety; leaving, however, a saving remainder of serviceable work.

HUGH JONES (of Maesglasau), son of a well-to-do farmer, was born in the neighbourhood of Dinas Mawddwy, Merioneth, in the year 1749. He spent the life of a literary recluse, devoting himself and losing his money in enriching the literature of Wales. Among the books he translated into Welsh were the works of Josephus. He also interested himself in church psalmody, and wrote several psalm-tunes. His name lives, however, more in one hymn he wrote than in all his other work. The following is an attempted rendering of it: