The Church Bells of Holywood. 83 



double bell-cotes, such as Crossraguel and Jedburgh Abbeys and 

 Rosslyn Chapel, showing that it obtained widely. 



In A Book about Bells, by the Rev. Geo. S. Tyack, just pub- 

 lislied, referring to England generally, it is said — " The inven- 

 tories of Church goods compiled during the reign of Edward VI- 

 prove that three bells at least were the rule even in small parish 

 churches. Two are sometimes found, but scarcely anywhere was 

 there one only." In the border county of Cumberland it was 

 different. That two bells obtained in the churches there, is 

 expressly spoken to by the late Rev. Mr Whitehead, vicar of 

 Lanercost. Referring to the inventories of Church goods before 

 mentioned, he says few Cumberland churches had in 1552 either 

 more or less than two bells. Cumberland and this part of Dum- 

 friesshire therefore show a common practice, and the rule pro- 

 bably prevailed widely in Scotland. 



Regarding the constitution of the pairs of bells, I have not 

 observed any reference in the books and papers 1 perused, and it 

 is fortunate that in the absence of information those of Holywood 

 and Lochmaben remain to illustrate the principles involved. A 

 dehnite method is exhibited in securing the tuning of the bells 

 to accord one with the other. In each case the bells are equal 

 in weight and in the thickness of the metal. It is the shape 

 apparently which accounts for the variation of the notes given 

 out. One bell is long-waisted ; the other is short in the waist. 

 Illustration is also afforded of the practice of inscribing and 

 otherwise marking the bells of this perioil. Inscribing appears 

 to have prevailed, as only one blank occurs in the group under 

 notice, and being one of a pair the inscriptioii on its companion 

 may have been intended to apply to both. The inscriptions in 

 three instances include dates ; in three instances they show that 

 the bells were donated and who the donors were, and in a like 

 number of cases the dedication is indicated. The Carliel bell of 

 Dumfries bears the stajnp of tiie founder together with his name, 

 which, however, remains undeciphered. John Adam, whose 

 name encircles one of the Lochmaben bells, stands out in con- 

 nection with the bells under notice as the solitary ascertained 

 representative of the mediseval bell founder. 



Before leaving this part of the subject, reference may appro- 

 priately be made to an interesting charter in 7%e Book of 

 Lincluden showing the manner of ringing the bells. It was 

 granted by the Provost and Ciiapter of the Collegiate Church in 



