471 



Devon, and there ia associated with a ship. The 5th bell, dedi- 

 cated to St. Gregory, is altogether different. There are crowned 

 capitals, two crosses, and the initials "W. H." Gregory is spelt 

 " Grygori." 



At Great Elm are three old bells of peculiar interest. The 1st 

 with an inscription to St. Thomas, the 2nd to the Virgin, the 3rd 

 to St. Ann. The Ist and 3rd have ships on "them, the meaning of 

 which is uncertain ; the 2nd has a crown like those at Whatley ; 

 the 3rd is in larger capitals than the others. 



These are some of the more interesting of the pre-Reformation 

 bells I have seen ; but you will perhaps allow me to bring before 

 you a cross, stop, and letter of Stephen Norton's, — also a cross at 

 West Monkton which is unknown elsewhere. 



Let us pass now to post-Reformation bells. Sometimes the cross 



which belonged to an old founder is found passing down to later 



days. For instance, at Gomhehay, on the 3rd bell there is the cross 



used by "tg" as at St. Catherine's with inscription of 17th 



century — 



+ god the fa — ther • of • hen. 



And also in St. Matthew's 4th — 



praise • yo • the lord. 



Several of our bells about 1624 were cast by " J. L.," whose 

 name appears on the 4th bell at Frome — 



"I AM HEE, FOR JOHN LOTT MADE MEE." 

 His letters are very flat and broad on the surface. One of his may 

 be seen at Batheaston ; the 3rd bell there. 



The Purdues, of Closworth, also used this style of lettering. 

 They were noted founders. In 1676 they re-cast " Great Peter," 

 Exeter. The vine leaf and grape was their favourite ornament. 

 Thos. Purdue died in 1711 at the age of 90, on his tomb is 



inscribed — 



Here lies the bell founder, honest and true, 

 Till the resurrection— named Purdue. 

 Sometimes you meet with curious freaks in lettering, as, for 

 instance, on a highly ornamented bell at Bruton, bearing date 1649, 

 is this curious inscription — 



EVILA • EA • TAHT • ESOHT • OT • DUOL ■ SEIRC • EVIF • ESOHT 



FO • TSRIF • EHT • MA • I 



S E. R B. 1649. 



