46D 



Sells may roughly be divided into two classes, pre-Reformatiori 

 and post-Reformation bells. Pre-Reformation bells were generally 

 heavier for their size, and therefore richer in tone, and were often 

 longer in their shape than more recent bells, were not as a rule 

 dated, and did not frequently bear the founder's name : it was 

 enough for him that he had turned out a good article and dedicated 

 it to the service of God. The inscriptions are usually prayers to 

 some saint under whose protection the bell was placed, and to 

 Vrhose honour it was dast. Post-Reformation bells are often 

 lighter, have broader shoulders, shorter waists, generally dated, 

 with founders', and churchwardens', and vicars' names given in 

 full, and bear inscriptions in which religious feeling is often 

 conspicuous by its absence. We will, then, thus dividing the bells, 

 take, somewhat at haphazard, a few belfries in Somerset it has 

 been my lot to visit. And first for pre-Reformation bells. 



At Englisltcomhe there are two of interest ; the 4th, which bears 

 the inscription, 



+ ^a^cca • m-^%m • (©ma • 3Pm(© • ^©bif^. 



The 5th— 



+ mu • dFme ■ mm ■ pifi^amffime • ih«. 



The letters are all crowned and set wide apart. The words are 

 divided by stops. 



Mr. Ellacombe states that about twenty belfries in Somerset 

 have bells apparently from the same foundry, only one in Devon, 

 one also in Essex. The word " JESU " is abbreviated and spelt 

 " THU." The F, too, in " Filii " is peculiar. 



At Batheaston the 4th is a remarkable bell, with the inscription, 



+ m^MM^ ■ «£<©3a(i£©ii<£ • 2F(©c®m ■ cajBia^a • 



It is I believe unique. The letters are of singular elegance in form 

 and ornament, and would, I suppose, be called Lombardic. 



Passing on to St. Catherine's we find three out of the ring of four 

 are old bells. The 2nd and 3rd are by the same founder, one 

 bearing 



+ Sanctd JWatta ©ta ^ro Kobts, 

 the other 



+ Sancta i?»ecollae ©ra ^ro "Nobis, 



6 



