INSCRIPTIONS ON BELLS.
(Vol. vi., p. 554. Vol. vii., p. 633.)
My note-book contains a considerable number of inscriptions on bells; some extracted from books, but others transcribed from the bells themselves. I send you a few of the most remarkable inscriptions, with one or two notes on the subject.
Chesterton, Cambridgeshire:
1.
"God save the Church."
2.
"Non sono animabus mortuorum, sed viventium."
S. Benet's, Cambridge (see Le-Keux' Memorials):
1.
"Of all the bels in Bennet, I am the best,
And yet for my casting the parish paid lest. 1607."
2.
"Non nomen fero ficti,
Sed nomen Benedicti. 1610."
3.
"This bell was broke, and cast againe,
by John Draper, in 1618,
as plainly doth appeare:
Churchwardens were,
Edward Dixon,
for one,
who stood close to his tacklyn,
and he that was his partner then,
was Alexander Jacklyn."
Girton, Cambridgeshire:
"Non clamor sed amor cantat in aure Dei."
Stoneleigh, Warwickshire:
1.
"Michaele te pulsante Winchelcombe a petente dæmone te libera.
2.
"O Kenelme nos defende ne maligni sentiamus focula."
Eastry, Kent:
"One bell inscribed with the names of the churchwardens and the maker; a shilling of William III., and other coins are let into the rim."
Erith, Kent:
"A tablet in the belfry commemorates the ringing of a peal of 726 changes in twenty-six minutes."
S. Clement, Sandwich, Kent:
"In the ringing chamber of this noble tower is a windlass for lowering the bells in case of repairs becoming necessary, with a trap-door in the floor opening into the church."
S. Mary, Sandwich, Kent:
"This bel was bought and steeple built, A.D. 1718. J. Bradley, R. Harvey, Ch. wardens. R. P. F."
S. Andrew, Histon, Camb.:
"Coins of Queen Anne in the rim of one bell; but dated 1723."
S. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster (Weever, Fur. Mon., p. 491., edit. fol. 1631):
"King Edward the Third built in the little sanctuarie a clochard of stone and timber, and placed therein three bells, for the vse of Saint Stephen's Chappel. About the biggest bell was engrauen, or cast in the metall, these words:
'King Edward made mee thirtie thousand weight and three:
Take mee downe and wey mee, and more you shall fynd mee.'
But these bells being to be taken downe, in the raigne of King Henry the Eight, one writes vnderneath with a coal:
'But Henry the Eight will bait me of my weight.'"
If any farther extracts may interest you, they are very much at your service.
W. Sparrow Simpson, B.A.