By the Rev. W. C. Lukis. 



75 



and the country was thus in danger of losing its best music — a 

 music hallowed by all circumstances — which accorded equally with 

 social exultation and with solitary pensivenesss." 1 



Some counties, Devon and Cornwall especially, suffered more 

 than others. "When the rebellion in these counties was allayed," 

 says Strype, 2 "it was remembered how the bells in the churches 

 served by ringing to summon and call in the disaffected unto their 

 arms. Therefore in Sept., 1549, an order was sent down from the 

 Council to Lord Russell to execute a work that proved no doubt 

 highly disgustful unto the people: — viz. to take away all the bells 

 in Devonshire and Cornwall, leaving only one in each steeple, the 

 least of the ring, which was to call the people to church." 



But a cloven foot appeared in this order. It was to be not so 

 much a measure to prevent the like insurrection for the future, as 

 to bring the King oat of debt; for to effect this, amongst other 

 things, this course was devised in 1552: — 



1. To gather and coin the church plate. 



2. To sell chantry, college, and other lands. 



3. To sell the bell metal. 



"Two gentlemen of those parts, Champion and Chichester, assistant 

 perhaps against the rebels, took this opportunity to get themselves 

 rewarded, by begging not the bells, but the clappers only, which 

 was granted them, with the iron-work and furniture thereunto 

 belonging: and no question they made good benefit thereof." 3 



We read in Weever that " in the time of Elizabeth, bells were 

 removed by private individuals out of covetousness, and a procla- 

 mation was issued forbidding any bells or lead to be taken away." 

 But it appears that in the reign of Edward VI., the robbery had 

 commenced, for f in 1552, one Thomas Hall, of Devizes, complained 

 that the churchwardens of the parish of St. Mary, had two great 

 bells in their private possession which they would not give up. 



Every one knows the curses that were pronounced on sacrilege 

 at the consecration of churches and abbeys. On one of the ancient 



i Southey's Hist, of Churches. 2 Eccles. Mem., vol. ii. 3 Ibid. 



L 2 



