Proceedings of the P olytechnic Associatiox. 1049 



The loalance wheel and swinging cross were the only methods 

 known for regulating an escapement ; and the crown wheel and verge 

 was the only escapement known up to the introduction of the pen- 

 dulum. The balances Avere of necessity very light, and consequently 

 completely under the control of the train instead of the reverse, as in 

 use at this day. We could not, with our fine machinery and skilled 

 workmen, make such an arrangement keep time. I cannot see that 

 they used any great effort to make them keep time, but I can see the 

 strenuous efforts made to see who could attach the most curious 

 decorations to them. 



If 3'ou will bear with me I will try to sketch a few of the many 

 complicated clocks built from the thirteenth to the eighteeth century. 

 Among the ornaments attached to one erected at Norwich in 1325, 

 were twenty-four small images, representing the hours of the day, 

 the work of Master Adam, the sculptor ; thirty images representing 

 the days of the month, painted plates showing the courses of the sun 

 and moon, besides a large procession of monks. 



Eichard de Wallingford, son of a blacksmith, built a clock for St. 

 Albans Abbey, at about the same date, which noted the courses of 

 the sun, moon, and fixed stars, the ebb and flow of the tide, etc., and 

 was described as a miracle of art. 



An interesting relic was a small brass clock presented by Henry 

 VIII to Anne Boleyn, upon their marriage, in 1532. It is described 

 as richly chased and engraved, and on the top was a lion bearing the 

 arms of England. The weights were engraved witli the initials of 

 Henry and Anne within two lovers' knots, one weight bearing the 

 inscription, " the most happye," and the other the royal motto. The 

 movement was made entirely new about 1680, and adapted to a pen- 

 dulum. Queen Victoria paid £110 and five shillings for it, and it 

 is now running at Windsor castle. 



In the inventory of the effects of Henry VIII are enumerated seven 

 clocks of iron and three of copper and gilt. A description of two 

 will give an idea of the whole. 



" Item — one clock of iron, having doors of copper and not gilt, 

 with three bells and two men that strike the hour, and upon the top 

 of the bell an eagle, gilt, set upon a case of iron colored red, with 

 three great plumettes, of copper, and three small plumettes to the 

 same, and the clock having the change of the moon upon it." 



" Item — one clock of copper and gilt Avith a chime to the same, 

 showing all the days of the year, and the planets witli three moving 



