44.5 



Clog-na-righ, or Bell of the kmgs," of which such honourable mention 

 is made in the Book of Penagh, and which derived its title from the be- 

 lief that it had been used in early times as a cup for the baptism of 

 kings. Its form is circular, and resembles an inTerted goblet. In 

 shape and pattern it is unlike other ecclesiastical bells, and would lead 

 one to suppose that it was of a comparatively modern date, were it not 

 for the early mention of it in the Book of Eenagh, and the Irish Annals, 

 at the year 1244. 



It is stated in the Book of Fenagh,'^ that St. Patrick gave this bell 

 to St. Caillin, and that it was possessed of many wonderful powers, and 

 was called Clog-na-righ, because it was the vessel which contained the 

 water with which several Irish kings were baptized. 



A layman was not allowed to carry this bell ; and the kings who 

 were baptized out of it were obliged to pay it certain dues when carried 

 to them by twelve clergymen. If they refused to pay those dues, its 

 clergy fasted, and the bell was rung, when plague, war, and other ca- 

 lamities were the consequence in their territories. 



The bell still exists, and is preserved in the chapel at Foxfield, near 

 Fenagh, county of Leitrim. It is regarded there as a sacred relic, and held 

 in much veneration. It is formed of thin brass, about an eighth of an 

 inch thick, which appears to have been cast, and probably afterwards 

 hammered, the substance being rather soft and malleable. The upper 

 part is ornamented with a thin cap of similar brass, and the thickness of 

 a worn shilling, perforated in four compartments of net and figure work, 

 each differing somewhat from the others. This cap is riveted to the bell 

 with small brass rivets. A stronger piece of similar brass, attached by 

 stronger rivets, stands up from the head of the bell, and is embraced by 

 a flat plate on each side of the substance of the iron axle, which is trans- 

 versely riveted through the strong piece of brass. 



The axle abovementioned is 8|- inches long, the two ends for about 

 1 J inch are rounded into gudgeons, which worked in some frame or 

 rest in which the beU was placed. At right angles horizontally ex- 

 tends an arm or lever, 6^ inches long, bending a little upwards, and 

 turned round at the end so as to form an eye, in which is an iron ring 

 for the cord by which the bell could be sounded in its fixed position. 



This iron axle and arm, though manifestly very ancient, appear more 

 modern than the bell, which would seem, from its small size, to have 

 been intended for the hand. The clapper or tongue is of iron; andthat part 

 of the knob at the end of it which comes in contact with the edge of the 

 bell in striking is so very much worn by use and rust that it proves great 

 antiquity. The bell thus consists, in its present state, of three distinct 

 pieces of brass and three of iron, of w^hich the ring is one. The liquid 

 contents of the bell are 1 J pint ; the gross weight of iron and brass, 1 lb. 

 avoirdupoise.f 



In connexion with the first bell in the above list, Dr. Beeves read 

 the following memoir of 



* Fol. 28 aa. 



t Letter of M. J. O'Reilly, in " Ordnance Survey CorrespondeKce, Ctwaii and Leitrim," 

 p. 190. 



E. I. A. PEOC. 'VOL. VIII. 3 JT 



