464 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



chalice, presented by Thady Quin (ancestor of the Earls of Dunraven) 

 in 1726.^ 



I can only give a few references to bells. The small early bell of 

 Mungret is in the collection of the Royal Irish Academy. ^ Lenihan 

 tells us how, of five " silver" bells at Ardpatrick, three were found in 

 the base of the round tower there. John Budston gave a peal of four 

 brass bells to St. Mary's Cathedral about 1400; they have all dis- 

 appeared since 1640. They probably are the bells which are celebrated 

 in the beautiful legend of the Italian bell-founder, who died in his 

 boat on the Shannon, on recognising the sound of his long-lost master- 

 pieces. They may also be legendary "silver bells," which were 

 hidden in the Abbey River, and still may be heard pealing under its 

 waters on Christmas nights. The present bells include those given to 

 the Cathedral by William Yorke, then mayor of the city, in 1673. 

 The oldest (F bell) has the inscription " Guilielmus Yorke, Armiger, 

 Preator (Mayor), 1673. Johannes Yesey, s.t.d., Episcopus, Johannes 

 Smith, A.M., Decanus, 1673. Ex mutis liquide (liquidi ?) fate (facti) 

 sumus nide (inde) vocales iam consonantes quid vetat loquamur 

 W. P. H. P."^ Of church seals I only know of two early ones 

 extant (3) " Sigillu. Dni. Johis. epi. Lymrencis " with a bishop 

 sitting between two trefoil-headed windows and an abbot below. 

 This is of Bishop Mothel ^ 1426-58). The next is a little later in date, 

 " S. Guilli. precentoris ecclie. Limirice," with the device of a monk 

 praying to the Yirgin and Child in an elaborate shrine or church and 

 between two keys.* The seal of Bishop Cornelius O'Dea was extant 

 in 1640, " Sigillum Cornelii dei gratia episcopi Lymericensis," with 

 figures of the Father bearing the crucified Son : in the middle, the 

 Yirgin and two other figures; and below, the Bishop between the arms 

 of Desmond and Ormoud.^ 



1 R.S.A.L, xxviii, p. 136, figure, p. 133. 



2 For tlie shrine of St. Senan's bell, of Iniscatha, see R.S.A.L, xxx., p. 237. 



2 Probably William and Roger Purdue, famous bell-founders, of Salisbury. 

 William died in Limerick, 3 Dec, 1673, and was buried near the Dean's seat, 

 where his epitaph was read by Dyneley in 1680 : — 



" There 's here a bell-founder, honest and true. 

 Until the resurrection lies Purdue." 



4 *' Episcopal and Capitular Seals " (R. Caulfield, 1853). Plate VII., Limerick. 

 Plate II., Emly. 



^Arthur MSS., Lenihan, "Limerick," p. 572. 



