INSCRIPTIONS ON BELLS.
(Vol. ix., p. 109.)
St. Nicholas Church, Sidmouth.—Having, on October 21, 1850, taken intaglios in pressing-wax of the inscription forwarded by Mr. Gordon, from which plaster casts were made, the writer is able to speak of it with some degree of confidence. The inscription, however, is not peculiar to Sidmouth: it is found at other places in the county of Devon, and perhaps elsewhere. In Harvey's Sidmouth Directory for March, 1851, there is an article descriptive of all the six bells at this place, in which there is a fac-simile, engraved on wood, of the inscription in question. The words run all round the bell; and each word is placed on a cartouche. The Rev. Dr. Oliver of Exeter, in his communication to the writer on this subject, calls the bell the "Jesus Bell." The Directory observes:
"It was formerly the practice to christen bells with ceremonies similar to, but even more solemn than, those attending the naming of children; and they were frequently dedicated to Christ (as this is), to the Virgin, or some saint."
Dr. Oliver to the writer says:
"I have met with it at Whitstone, near this city [Exeter], at East Teignmouth, &c.; michi for mihi;
, the abbreviation for Jesus. Very often the word veneratum occurs instead of amatum, and illud instead of istud."
The
stands thus: ihc. The Directory, on this abbreviated word, remarks,—
"The IHS, as an abbreviation for Jesus, is a blunder. Casley, in his Catalogue of the King's MSS., observes, p. 23., that 'in Latin MSS. the Greek letters of the word Christus, as also Jesus, are always retained, except that the terminations are changed according to the Latin language. Jesus is written IHS, or in small characters ihs, which is the Greek ΙΗΣ or ιης, an abbreviation for ιησους. However, the scribes knew nothing of this for a thousand years before the invention of printing, for if they had they would not have written ihs for ιησους; but they ignorantly copied after one another such letters as they found put for these words. Nay, at length they pretended to find Jesus Hominum Salvator comprehended in the word IHS, which is another proof that they took the middle letter for h, not η. The dash also over the word, which is a sign of abbreviation, some have changed to the sign of the cross' [Hone's Mysteries, p. 282.]. The old way of spelling Jhesus with an h may perhaps be referred to the same mistake. The inscription, then, runs thus:
,
which may be rendered, Jesus, that beloved name, is given to me. The bell bears no date, but is of course older than the period of the Reformation. But it remains to be observed that the last letter of the three is not an s but a c. It seems that in the old Greek inscriptions the substitution of the c for the s was common. Several examples are given in Horne's Introduction, vol. ii. pt. 1. ch. iii. sect. 2., but we have not room to quote them. Suffice it to say that at p. 100., in speaking of the MSS. of the Codex Vaticanus, he says, 'The abbreviations are few, being confined chiefly to those words which are in general abbreviated, such as θC, KC, IC, XC, for Θεος, Κυριος, Ιησους, Χριστος, God, Lord, Jesus, Christ.' At the end of these words, in the abbreviations, the c is used for the s.—Peter."
This fourth bell is the oldest in the tower. The third, dated 1667, has quite a modern appearance as compared with it. The second, fifth, and sixth are all dated 1708, and the first, or smallest, was added in 1824.
Peter Orlando Hutchinson.
Sidmouth.
An appropriate inscription is to be found on the bell of St. John's Cathedral in this colony, date London, 1845. It is in the words of St. Paul's mission, Acts xxii. 21.: "I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."
W. T. M.
Hong Kong.
Here is a modern achievement in this kind of literature. It exists on one of the eight bells belonging to the church tower of Pilton, Devon:
"Recast by John Taylor and Son,
Who the best prize for church bells won
At the Great Ex-hi-bi-ti-on
In London, 1—8—5 and 1."
R. W. C.
I continue (from Vol. viii., p. 248.) my Notes of inscriptions on bells.
Mathon, Worcestershire. A peal of six bells:
1. "Peace and good neighbourhood."
2. "Glory to God."
3. "Fear God and honour the King."
4. "God preserve our Church and State."
5. "Prosperity to the town."
6. "The living to the church I call,
6. "And to the grave do summon all."
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Ten bells; the inscriptions on two are as follows, the rest merely bearing the names of churchwardens, &c.:
5. "God prosper the parish. A. R. 1701."
10. "I to the church the living call,
10. "And to the grave do summon all. 1773."
The latter seems to be a favourite inscription. The Rev. W. S. Simpson mentions it (Vol. viii., p. 448.) on a bell in one of the Oxfordshire churches.
Fotheringay, Northamptonshire. Four bells:
1. "Thomas Norris made me. 1634."
2. "Domini laudem, 1614, non verbo sed voce resonabo."
The two others respectively bear the dates 1609, 1595, with the initials of the rector and churchwarden, and (on the fourth bell) the words "Praise God." On a recent visit to this church I copied the following inscription from a bell, which, being cracked, is no longer used, and is now placed within the nave of the church. This bell is not mentioned by Archdeacon Bonney in his Historic Notices of Fotheringay, though he gives the inscriptions on the four others.
"Non clamor sed amor cantat in aure Dei. A. M. R. R. W. W. I. L. 1602."
The inscription is in Lombardic characters. Mr. Simpson notes the same at Girton, Cambridgeshire (Vol. viii., p. 108.).
Godmanchester, Hunts. Eight bells:
1. "Thomas Osborn, Downham, fecit, 1794.
1. "Intactum sillo. Percute dulce cano."
| 4. "T. Osborn fecit. | Our voices shall with joyful sound Make hills and valleys echo round. | 1794." |
8. "Rev. Castel Sherard, rector; Jno. Martin, Robert Waller, bailiffs; John Scott, Richard Mills, churchwardens; T. Osborn fecit. 1794."
Morborne, Hunts. Two bells:
1. "Cum voco ad ecclesiam, venite."
2. "Henry Penn fusore. 1712."
Stilton, Hunts. Two bells:
1. "Thomas Norris made me. 1689."
Cuthbert Bede, B.A.
At Bedale, in Yorkshire, is a bell weighing by estimation twenty-six hundredweight, which is probably of the same date, or nearly so, as the Dyrham bell. It measures four feet two inches and a half across the lip, and has the following inscription round the crown:
"
IOU : EGO : CUM : FIAM : CRUCE : CUSTOS : LAUDO : MARIAM : DIGNA : DEI : LAUDE : MATER : DIGNISSIMA : GAUDE;"
the commencement of which I do not understand. There are five smaller bells belonging to the peal at Bedale, and a prayer bell. They bear inscriptions in the following order:
The prayer bell:
"Voco. Veni. Precare. 1713."
"Voco. Veni. Precare. 1S.S.
The first, or lightest of the peal:
| "Gloria in excelsis Deo. | 1755. E. Seller, Ebor. | Edwd Place, rector; |
Jno Pullein, churchwarden."
The second:
"Iesus be ovr speed. P. S., T. W., H. S., I. W., M. W. 1664."
The third:
"Deo Gloria pxa Hominibus. 1627."
The fourth:
"Jesus be our speed. 1625."
The fifth:
"Soli Deo Gloria Pax Hominibus. 1631."
The letters P. S., on the second bell, are the initials of Dr. Peter Samwaies, who died April 5, 1693, having been thirty-one years rector of Bedale.
On the fly-leaf of one of the later registers at Hornby, near Bedale, is written the following memorandum:
"Inscription on the third bell at Hornby:
'When I do ring,
God's praises sing;
When I do toll,
Pray heart and soul.'
This bell was given to the parish church of Hornby by the Lord Conyers in the reign of Henry VII., but, being broken, was recast by William Lord D'Arcy and Conyers, the second of the name, 1656."
Patonce.
Charwelton Church, Northants:
1. Broken to pieces: some fragments in the vestry. On one piece, "Ave Maria."
2. "Jesus Nazarenus rex Judeorum fili Dei miserere mei. 1630."
3. appears a collection of Saxon letters put together without connexion.
4. "Nunquam ad preces cupies ire,
4. "Cum sono si non vis venire. 1630."
Heyford Church, Northants:
1. "God saue the King. 1638."
2. "Cum cum Praie. 1601."
3. "Henry Penn made me. 1704.
3. "John Paine, Thmoas [sic] Middleton, churchwardens."
4. "Thomas Morgan, Esquier, gave me
4. "To the Church of Heford, frank and free. 1601."
With coat of arms of the Morgans on the side.
Floore Church, Northants:
1. "Russell of Wooton, near Bedford, made me. 1743.
1. "James Phillips, Thomas Clark, churchwardens."
2. "Cantate Domino cantum novum. 1679."
3. "Henry Bagley made mee. 1679."
4. "Matthew Bagley made mee. 1679."
5. "John Phillips and Robert Bullocke, churchwardens. 1679."
6. "To the church the living call,
6. "And to the grave do summonds [sic] all.
6. "Russell of Wooton made me,
6. "In seventeen hundred and forty-three."
Three coins inserted round the top.
Slapton Church, Northants:
1. [The Sancte bell] "Richard de Wambis me fesit" [sic].
2. "Xpe audi nos."
3. "Ultima sum trina campana vocor Katerina."
All in Saxon letters. No dates.
Inscription cut on the frame of Slapton bells:
"BE . IT . KNO
WEN . UN
TO . ALL . TH
IS . SAME . TH
AT . THOMAS
COWPER . OF
WOODEND .
MADE . THIS . FRAME.
1634."
Hellidon Church, Northants:
1. "God save the King. 1635."
2. "Ihs Nazarenus rex Judæorum fili Dei miserere mei. 1635."
3. "Celorum Christe platiat [sic] tibi rex sonus iste. 1615."
4. Same as 2.
Dodford Church, Northants:
1. "Matthew Bagley made me. 1679."
2. "Campana gravida peperit filias. 1674."
3. "Ihs Nazarenus [&c., as before]. 1632."
4. "Ex Dono Johannis Wyrley Armiger. 1614."
And five coins round the lip.
5. Inscription same as 3. Date 1626.
6. DittodittoDate 1624.
Wappenham Church, Northants:
1. "Henry Bagley made me. 1664."
2. "R. T. 1518.
"
3. "Praise the Lord. 1599."
4. "GOD SAVE KING JAMES. R. A. 1610."
Three coins on lip and bell-founder's arms.
The Sancte bell was recast in 1842, and hangs now in the north window of belfry.
Brackley, St. Peter's Church, Northants:
1. "Jesus Nazarenus [&c., as before]. 1628."
2. "God save the King. 1628."
3. Same as 1.
4. "Celorum Christe platiat [sic] tibi rex sonus iste. 1628."
| 5. | "Cum sono si non vis venire, "Nunquam ad preces cupies ire | 1628." |
Dunton Church, Leicestershire:
1. "Ihs Nazarenus [&c., as before]. 1619."
2. "Be it knone to all that doth me see,
1. "That Clay of Leicester made me.
1. "Nick. Harald and John More, churchwardens. 1711."
3. Same as 1. Date 1621.
Leire Church, Leicestershire:
1. "Jesus be oure good speed. 1654."
2. "Henricus Bagley fecit. 1675."
3. "Recast A.D. 1755, John Sleath, C.W.;
3. "Thos Eyre de Kettering fecit."
Frolesworth Church, Leicestershire:
1. "Jesus Nazarenus [&c., as before]. 1635."
2. In Old English characters (no date):
2. "Dum Rosa precata mundi Maria vocata."
3. Same as 1.
J. R. M., M.A.
The legend noted from a bell at Sidmouth (Vol. ix., p. 109.), namely,—
"Est michi collatum
Ihc istud nomen amatum,"
is not an unusual inscription on mediæval black-letter bells, if I may use the expression. The characters are small. It is on two bells at Teignmouth, and is on one of the bells in this tower:
1. "
Voce mea viva depello cuncta nociva."
2. "
Est michi collatum Ihc istud nomen amatum."
3. "Embrace trew museck."
A correspondent, Mr. W. S. Simpson (Vol. viii., p. 448.), asks the date of the earliest known examples of bells.
Dates on mediæval bells are, I believe, very rare in England. I have but few notes of any. My impression is that such bells are as old as the towers which contain them, judging from the character of the letter, the wear and tear of the iron work, aye, of the bell itself. Many old bells have been recast, and on such there is often a record of the date of its prototype. For instance, at St. Peter's, Exeter:
"Ex dono Petri Courtenay," &c., "1484;" "renovat," &c., "1676."
At Chester-le-Street:
"Thomas Langley dedit," &c., "1409;" "refounded," &c., "1665."
I will add two or three with dates.
Bruton, Somerset:
"Est Stephanus primus lapidatus gracia plenus. 1528."
At St. Alkmond's, Derby:
"Ut tuba sic resono, ad templa venite pii. 1586."
At Lympey Stoke, Somerset:
"W. P., I. A. F. 1596."
Hexham. Old bells taken down 1742:
1. "Ad primos cantus pulsat nos Rex gloriosus."
2. "Et cantare ... faciet nos vox Nicholai."
3. "Est nobis digna Katerine vox benigna."
4. "Omnibus in Annis est vox Deo grata Johannis.
A.D. MCCCCIIII."
5. "Andrea mi care Johanne consociare.
A.D. MCCCCIIII."
6. "Est mea vox orata dum sim Maria vocata.
A.D. MCCCCIIII."
Any earlier dates would be acceptable.
On the Continent bells are usually dated. I will extract, from Roccha De Campanis, those at St. Peter's at Rome.
The great bell:
"In nomine Domini, Matris, Petriq., Pauliq.
Accipe devotum, parvum licet, accipe munus,
Quod tibi Christe datū Petri, Pauliq. triūphum,
Explicat, et nostram petit, populiq. salutem
Ipsorum pietate dari, meritisq. refundi
Et verbum caro factum est.
Anno milleno trecento cum quinquageno
Additis et tribus Septembris mense colatur;
Ponderat et millia decies septiesq. librarum."
2. "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amē.
Ad honorem Dei, et Beatæ Mariæ Virginis,
Et Beatorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli,
Verbum Caro factum est,
Solve jubente Deo terrarū Petre cathenas, qui facis,
Ut pateant cœlestia Regna beatis,
| Hæc campana cum alia majore ponderante | M |
| XVI. |
Post consumptionem ignito fulgure, anno precedente
imminente, fusa est, anno Domini MCCCLIII.
Mense Junii, et ponderat hæc MX et centena librarum.
Amen."
3. "Nomine Dominico Patris, prolisq. spirati
Ordine tertiam Petri primæ succedere noscant.
Per dies paucos quotquot sub nomine dicto
Sanctam Ecclesiam colunt in agmine trino. Amen."
4. "Anno Domini MCCLXXXVIIII. ad honorem Dei, et Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, et Sancti Thomæ Apostoli Tempore Fratris Joannis de Leodio Ministri, factum fuit hoc opus de legato quondam Domini Rikardi Domini Papæ Notarii. Guidottus Pisanus me fecit."
On a small bell:
"Mentem Sanctam Spontaneam, honorem Deo,
Et Patris liberationem.
Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum;
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui."
In the Church of St. John Lateran was a bell with a mutilated inscription; but the date is plain, 1389. The name of Boniface IX. is on it, who was Sum. Pont. in that year.
In the Church of St. Mariæ Majoris were two bells dated anno Dom. 1285; and another 1291.
In the Church of the Jesuits was a bell with this inscription, brought from England:
"Facta fuit A. Dom. 1400, Die vi Mēsis Septēbris.
Sancta Barbara, ora pro nobis."
Roccha, who published his Commentary 1612, says:
"In multis Campanis fit mentio de Anno, in quo facta est Campana, necnon de ipsius Ecclesiæ Rectore, vel optime merito, et Campanæ artifice, ut ego ipse vidi Romæ, ubi præcipuarum Ecclesiarum, et Basilicarum inscriptiones Campanis incisas perlegi."—P. 55.
So that it would appear that the practice of inscribing dates on bells was usual on the Continent, though for some reason or other it did not generally obtain in England till after the Reformation. I have a Note of another foreign bell or two with an early date.
At Strasburg:
"
O Rex gloriæ Christe, veni cum pace! MCCCLXXV. tertio Nonas Augusti."
On another:
"Vox ego sum vitæ, voco vos, orate, venite. 1461."
On a bell called St. D'Esprit:
"Anno Dom. MCCCCXXVII mense Julio fusa sum, per
Magistrum Joannem Gremp de Argentina.
Nuncio festa, metum, nova quædam flebile lethum."
A bell called the Magistrates:
"Als man zahlt 1475 Jahr
War Kaiser Friedrick hier offenbar:
Da hat mich Meister Thomas Jost gegossen
Dem Rath zu laüten ohnverdrossen."
On another:
"Nomen Domini sit benedictum. 1806."
I would beg to add a Note of one more early and interesting bell which was at Upsala:
"
Anno . Domini . MDXIIII . fusa . est . ista . Campana .
in . honorem . Sancti . Erici . Regis . et .
Martiris . Rex . erat . Ericus . humilis . devotus .
honestus . prudens . V."
What V. means is rather a puzzle.
I fear I have already extended this reply to a length beyond all fair limit. I may at some future time (if desirable) send you a long roll of legends on mediæval bells without dates, and others of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, some of a devotional character, and others of the style of unseemly and godless epitaphs. But it is to be hoped that in these, as in other like matters, a better taste is beginning to predominate; and it must be a subject of congratulation that
"Jam nova progenies cœlo demittitur alto."
H. T. Ellacombe.
Rectory, Clyst St. George.
In the steeple of Foulden Church, South Greenhoe Hd., Norfolk, are six bells with inscriptions as under:
1. "Thos. Osborn fecit. 1802.
1. "Peace and good neighbourhood."
2. "The laws to praise, my voice I raise."
3. "Thos. Osborn fecit, Downham, Norfolk."
4. "Our voices shall with joyful sound
4. "Make hill and valley echo round."
5. "I to the church the living call,
5. "And to the grave I summon all."
6. "Long live King George the Third.
6. "Thomas Osborn fecit, 1802."
Goddard Johnson.