Other inscriptions take the form of an invocation or prayer for the bell itself, its donor or those who hear it, e.g.—
| “Augustine tuam campanam protege sanam.” (Augustine, protect thy bell and keep it sound.) “Sancte Johannes, ora pro animabus Johannis Pudsey, militis, et Mariae, consortae suae.” (St John, pray for the souls of John Pudsey, knight, and Mary his wife.) “Protege pura via quos convoco virgo Maria.” (Guard in the way those whom I pure Virgin Mary call.) |
The “Mittags Glocke” (mid-day bell) at Strassburg, taken down at the time of the French Revolution, bore the legend:
| “Vox ego sum vitae; voco vos; orate venite.” (I am the voice of life: I call you: come and pray.) |
A bell in Rouen cathedral, melted down in 1793, was inscribed:
| “Je suis George d’Ambois, Qui trente cinque mille pois; Mais lui qui me pesera Trente six mille me trouvera.” |
(I am George d’Ambois, weighing 35,000 ℔; but he who weighs me will find me 36,000.)
A similar inscription is said to have been cast on the largest of the bells placed by Edward III. in a “clocher” or bell hut in the Little Cloisters at Westminster:
| “King Edward made mee thirty thousand weight and three, Take mee down and wey mee and more you shall find mee.” |
On the “Thor Glocke” at Strassburg above mentioned are the words:—