By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 313 
thirty-six times, a repetition which would savour something of 
_ tiresome sameness, did it not mark the hearty love of the Church, 
which once predominated throughout the county. Moreover we 
have the sign of the ‘ Ring of Bells,” at North Bradley ; the “ Five 
Bells,” at Salisbury ; and the “ Six Bel/s,” at Wilton and Colerne. 
Then, leading us back to pre-Reformation times, we have the once 
very favourite emblem of the “ Cross Keys’”’ (the arms of the Papal 
see and the emblem of St. Peter and his successors), repeated no 
less than thirteen times in our county. 
There is also not far from Warminster, on the road between that 
town and Salisbury (at a place called Dawdley), a hamlet now known 
as “ Peler’s Finger,’ so called from an inn which once stood there, 
bearing this quaint and (as far as is known) unique sign. It is 
doubtless a relic of pre-Reformation days, when ecclesiastical symbols 
were not only tolerated, but considered by no means out of place on 
a tavern sign-board ; and as to its meaning, it doubtless alludes to 
the benediction of the Pope. Then there is the “ Catharine Wheel,’’ 
still to be seen at Shrewton and Salisbury; once a very common 
sign, till changed by the Puritans into “ Cat and Wheel,” it soon 
became contracted into the “ Wheel.” 
Again we have the “ Fleur-de-lis,’ at North Bradley, at one time 
a favourite sign in English taverns, though but one example remains 
in our county ; and we have the “ Sadutation Inn,” at Castle Combe, 
strangely perverted from its original import, which was no less than 
the Angel Gabriel saluting the Blessed Virgin, though now its in- 
tention is forgotten, and it is usually represented by two hands 
clasping each other. 
_ The patron saint too of England is duly honoured (perhaps beyond 
his merits) by our county; for, in addition to the “ George,” men- 
tioned above, the “‘ George and Dragon” figures five times, and the 
“Dragon” or “Green Dragon” five times more; and this was 
_ eertainly one of the oldest heraldic charges in the kingdom, for 
the dragon was well known as the West Saxon standard till the 
_ time of William the Conqueror, and subsequently came into favour 
“again as the supporter of the Tudor sovereigns. 
The “ Angel,” in all probability derived from the Salutation Inn, 
