By John Harding. 



115 



widow," the founders agreeing "to re-cast the seventh and eighth 

 bells," and to find the new metal necessary, which metal was to be 

 composed " of eight parts of the best copper and two parts of the 

 shortest tin " ; to be paid twenty shillings per hundred- weight for 

 the casting, and £6 for every hundred-weight of the extra weight 

 of the bells. 



In connection with this contract are the following payments : — 



"August 19th, 1680. Charge in taking down and weighing the two Great 

 "Bells and Drinke 12/6 



" Sept. 4th. Carrying the Bells up to the Foundry 10/- 



" Charge for Meate and Drinke at the casting the Bells £1 „ 12 „ 0. 



" For bringing them downe into ye Close 10/- 



" Charge in waying them and putting them up into the tower . . . . aud 

 Beer 12/6." 



No payments are charged for ringing in the Clerk of the Works' 

 accounts before the time of Queen Elizabeth. One of the earliest 

 was in 1613, when the bells were rung for the King (James I.) and 

 Queen upon the occasion of one of their visits to Salisbury ; after 

 that time the bells were rung in celebration of all events of current 

 national or local interest. Salisbury was much honoured by royal 

 visitors during the seventeenth century, and there was a vast amount 

 of bell-ringing to celebrate their coming and going and movements 

 while staying in the Close. In 1665 King Charles having expressed 

 a desire " to hear the Bells," the ringers were paid ten shillings by 

 the Dean and Chapter to gratify His Majesty's wish. 



On July 26th, 1671, the bells were pealed when the same monarch 

 " ran through the City " ; also in 1684, when the Duke of York 

 was in the town. On February 6th, 1685, they were rung " for 

 the hopes of the King's [Charles II.] recovery," and on the 9th — 

 three days after — " for the proclaiming of King James II." Again, 

 a few months later, there is ringing " for the taking of Argyle in 

 Scotland, 1 ' also u for the routing of Monmouth in the West, and 

 soon after "for the taking of Monmouth at Eingwood." In the 

 same spirit of loyal recognition of " the powers that be " the bells 

 were rung in October, 1688, " when King James came to the Town,'' 

 and again, on December 4th, the ringers were paid for " ringing up 

 the Prince of Orange come to Town." The Bishop was always 



