Hour-glasses were often very elegantly formed, and of rich materials. Shaw, in his Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages, has given an engraving of one in the cabinet of M. Debruge at Paris. It is richly enamelled, and set with jewels. In the churchwardens' accounts of Lambeth Church are two entries respecting the hour-glass: the first is in 1579, when 1s. 4d. was "payd to Yorke for the frame in which the hower standeth;" and the second in 1615, when 6s. 8d. was "payd for an iron for the hour-glasse." In an inventory of the goods and implements belonging to the church of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, taken about 1632, mention is made of "one whole hour-glasse," and of "one halfe hour-glasse." (See Brand's Newcastle, vol. i. p. 370.).
Fosbroke says, "Preaching by the hour-glass was put an end to by the Puritans" (Ency. of Antiq., vol. i. pp. 273. 307.). But the account given by a correspondent of the Gentleman's Magazine (1804, p. 201.) is probably more correct:
"Hour-glasses, in the puritanical days of Cromwell, were made use of by the preachers; who, on first getting into the pulpit, and naming the text, turned up the glass; and if the sermon did not hold till the glass was out, it was said by the congregation that the preacher was lazy: and if he continued to preach much longer, they would yawn and stretch, and by these signs signify to the preacher that they began to be weary of his discourse, and wanted to be dismissed."
Butler speaks of "gifted brethren preaching by a carnal hour-glass" (Hudibras, Part I., canto III., v. 1061.). And in the frontispiece of Dr. Young's book, entitled England's Shame, or a Relation of the Life and Death of Hugh Peters, London, 1663, Peters is represented preaching, and holding an hour-glass in his left hand, in the act of saying: "I know you are good fellows, so let's have another glass." The same words, or something very similar, are attributed to the Nonconformist minister, Daniel Burgess. Mr. Maidment, in a note to "The New Litany," printed in his Third Book of Scottish Pasquils (Edin., 1828, p. 49.), also gives the following version of the same:
"A humorous story has been preserved of one of the Earls of Airly, who entertained at his table a clergyman, who was to preach before the Commissioner next day. The glass circulated, perhaps too freely; and whenever the divine attempted to rise, his Lordship prevented him, saying, 'Another glass, and then.' After 'flooring' (if the expression may be allowed) his Lordship, the guest went home. He next day selected a text: 'The wicked shall be punished, and that RIGHT EARLY.' Inspired by the subject, he was by no means sparing of his oratory, and the hour-glass was disregarded, although repeatedly warned by the precentor; who, in common with Lord Airly, thought the discourse rather lengthy. The latter soon knew why he was thus punished by the reverend gentleman, when reminded, always exclaiming, not sotto voce, 'Another glass, and then.'"
Hogarth, in his "Sleeping Congregation," has introduced an hour-glass on the left side of the preacher; and Mr. Ireland observes, in his description of this plate, that they are "still placed on some of the pulpits in the provinces." At Waltham, in Leicestershire, by the side of the pulpit was (or is) an hour-glass in an iron frame, mounted on three high wooden brackets. (See Nichols' Leicestershire, vol. ii p. 382.) A bracket for the support of an hour-glass is still preserved, affixed to the pulpit of Hurst Church, in Berkshire: it is of iron, painted and gilt. An interesting notice, accompanied by woodcuts, of a number of existing specimens of hour-glass frames, was contributed to the Journal of the British Archæological Association, vol. iii., 1848, by Mr. Fairholt, to which I refer the reader for farther information.
Edward F. Rimbault.
I remember to have seen it stated in some antiquarian journal, that there are only three hour-glass stands in England where any portion of the glass is remaining. In Cowden Church, in Kent, the glass is nearly entire. Perhaps some of your readers will be able to mention the two other places.
W. D. H.
In Salhouse Church, near Norwich, an iron hour-glass stand still remains fixed to the pulpit; and a bell on the screen, between the nave and the chancel.