I ring at six to let men know
When too and fro their worke to goe.

Patriotic expressions are common; among such is Brusford,

Come let us ring
For Church and King.

And Hurstpierpoint,

Ye people all who hear us ring
Be faithful to your God and King.

Sometimes a whole set of bells bore inscriptions which may be read continuously. An instance is at S. Mary’s, Ticehurst, where the bells have—

1.I am she that leads the van,
Then follow me now if you can.
2.Then I speak next, I can you tell,
So give me rope and ring me well.
3.Now I am third, as I suppose,
Mark well now time and fourth close.
4.As I am fourth, I will explain
If you’ll keep time you’ll credit gain.
5.Now I am fifth, as I suppose,
Then ring me well and tenor close.
6.This is to show for ages yet to come
That by subscription we were cast and hung
And Edward Lulham is his name
That was the actor of the same.

Northfield bells, Worcestershire, give an account of the contest in the vestry-room which led to the completion of the peal—

1.Though once but five we now are six.
2.And ’gainst our casting some did strive.
3.But when a day of meeting there was fixed.
4.Appeared nine ’gainst twenty-six.
5.It was Wm. Kettle that did contrive
To make us six that were but five.

Another bell bears the date and churchwardens’ names. At Coventry on a peal of bells, cast in 1774, are the following inscriptions—