front of the high altar; a half-length figure of a knight in chain armour—Jenaf ap Adam of Trevor—and some fragments of his wife Myfanwy’s tombstone.  Another of a lady, with the following inscription:—

“Hic Jacet Gweirca filia Owein cuj.  Animæ propicietur Deus.  A.M. 1290.”

Another tombstone has a wolf on a shield, with an imperfect inscription:—

“Edwardus filius Yo.”

This stone is curiously carved with a chase.  A stone coffin was also found in one of the side chapels; the bases of five altars; a stone pulpit base, also those of the pillars that divided the nave and aisles; a few pieces of painted glass, and encaustic tiles.  A double benetoir, or holy water-vase, is in the arch near the tomb in the north transept.

Previous to these discoveries, while digging in the farm-yard adjoining for drainage purposes, at a short depth from the surface, were found the remains of eleven men, in a very small compass of ground, which goes far to prove that this was the common cemetery of the monks; and also a wedge-like stone, having carved on its front a hand, holding a vine or olive-branch, bearing fruit.  This stone was removed to Plas Newydd.

In this Abbey was also buried Iolo Goch, Lord of Llecryd, Owain Glyndwr’s bard.

The conventual buildings were re-roofed in 1878, after having been sadly neglected for many years.

In the year 1879 the whole of the modern out-buildings in close proximity to the Abbey were demolished, by which a far better view of the ancient structure is now obtained.

Another improvement was commenced in the year 1883—the clearing out of the chapter house, a part neglected and used as a farm house for many generations.  These excavations brought to light the bases of the pillars.

There are some fine old trees on the grounds, dating, we should say, three hundred years back, if not more; and hovering always about this hallowed spot will be seen a number of jackdaws, birds proverbially said to have a more than ordinary regard for old ruins, an ascription which may account for the fact that Valle Crucis Abbey is the only place in this part of the country where they make their home.

The following were some of the endowments of the Abbey:—Half the tithes of Wrexham, bestowed on it by Reyner, bishop of St. Asaph, who died in 1224; and the other half by his successor, Bishop Abraham, in 1227.  And Howel ap Ednyfed, another bishop, endowed it with those of Llangollen.  The monks also obtained the patronage of many other livings, such as Wrexham, Rhiwabon, Chirk, Llansantffraid, and Llandegla; but their title to these, as well as to Llangollen, was disputed by Bishop Anian, commonly known by the name of Y Brawd Du o Nannau, or the Black Brother of the House of Nanney, a dominican consecrated in 1268, who brought his cause before the Pope’s delegate, the official of Canterbury, and the Abbot of Taley, in Carmarthenshire, and obtained a decision in favour of himself and his successors; but as there was some doubt as to the patronage of the church of Llandegla, they allotted in lieu of it to the Abbey a third of the tithes of Bryneglwys.  In the year 1291, the abbot was found to have, near the monastery, a grange, with three plough lands, a mill, and other conveniences, valued at £3; the grange of Bodëang, Tregam, Rudrym, and Backeton, set for £5 10s.; the dairy farm of Nant, and the grange of Nystroyz, Convereth, and Grenny-champt, set for £3 19s. 8d.; also the grange of Wyrcesham, consisting of one plough land and some pasture, valued at 15s., and thirty cows at the expense of 30s.

The freemen of Llangollen made a grant of a fishery to the monks, in a part of the Dee near the town, and, for want of a seal of their own, they affixed to their grant that of