472 



Which has only to be read backwards, and then runs — 



I am the first of those five 

 Cries loud to those that are alive. 



At Dunlcerton we have two interesting bells from Bilbie's foundry 

 at Chewstoke. They were founders from 1700 to 1815. The twa 

 at Dunkerton both. bear date 1732. The 2nd appears to have been 

 originally a good bell ; was then broken and recast, not however very 

 successfully, by Cockey, at Frome, it was then apparently sent to 

 Bilbie, who has commemorated the matter thus — 



BEFORE • I • WAS • A • BROKE • I • WAS : AS : GOOD : AS • ANEY • 

 BUT : WHEN : THAT • COKEY • CASTED • I • NEAR • WAS • WORTH • A • PENNEY. 

 THOMAS BILBIE CAST ALL WEE. 

 MB. THOMAS HARDING AND MR. THOMAS FLOWER, CHURCHWARDENS. 



1732. 

 The tenor has — 



HARKE • HOW • THE CHIRIPING • TREABLE : SOUND : SO : CLEABE 

 WHILE • BOWELLING • TOM • COM • TOMBELLINQ • IN • THE • BEARE. 



The Bilbies were not apparently without a fair opinion of their own 

 merit. Witness the first bell at Biiiton — 



ONCE I'd a NOTE THAT NONE COULD BEARE 

 BUT BILBIE MADE ME SWEET AND CLEAR. 



They sometimes adopted a better, as the 3rd bell at Bmton — 



PRAY RING THE BELLS AND PRAISE THE LORD: 

 WITH TUNEFUL NOTES AND SWEET ACCORD. 



I have no rubbings of our own Bath bells. They ai'e most of 

 them by the Rudhalls at Gloucester, who for many years were 

 excellent founders, as the bells of St. Michael's Tower bear witness. 



And now I have rung all the changes I purpose to-night. It has 

 only been, in ringers' jihrase, a mere " touch." But perhaps enough 

 has been said to show that a visit to a Church ought not to be con- 

 sidered complete without paying a visit to the Belfry. Belfries are 

 often forgotten, often neglected, but none the less deserving of the 

 visit of the antiquary ; and I would humbly suggest that it would 

 form an object of interest in many a walk taken by members of our 

 Club to visit all the towers in the neighbourhood of Bath, and 

 obtain a careful account of the number of the bells, their sizes, and 

 inscriptions. 



