22 
capital letter for his inscriptions, in which it may be noted 
that the letter S is always reversed.” 
The tenor bell at All Saints’, Leicester, bears the following : 
“ + Jhohannes i de j Stafford ; Fecit j me j in 
honore : Be : 
• • Marie. 
A John de Ivirkham, potter, was made a freeman of York in 
1348, and on October 7th, 1426, Johanna, relict of John 
Kirkham, citizen and potter, York, by Will, proved 15th Oct., 
1426, desired to be buried in the choir of St. Catherine in the 
Church of St. Dennis, Walmgate. (Surtees Soc., Vul. 57, 
p. 244 Note.) 
“ In 1375, on St. James’ Day, the spire of St. Mary’s Abbey 
was, during a great storm, struck by lightning and set on fire. 
The tower and bells were burnt and ruined.” 
The founder next met with is 
JOHN of YORK, 
who used fine large gothic capital letters for his inscriptions, 
and sometimes a smaller alphabet. 
The late Thomas North, in his works, says :—“ The number 
of his bells still remaining in Leicestershire, considering their 
antiquity, leads to the inference that John of York, supplied 
many more in that county, which have since his time, from 
various causes, been re-cast. If this be so he was probably 
established at least for a time in Leicester or its neighbour¬ 
hood.” 
At Sproxton, on the second bell, around the upper part in 
small gothic letters is :— 
“ -f IHOHANNES : DE : YoRKE : ME : FECIT : 
In \ Honore j Beate j Marie.” 
On the 1 ower part of the bell in larger capitals is— 
“ -j- Jhesvs j Nazarenus j Rex j Jvdeorvm.” 
The early founders frequently supplemented their bell¬ 
founding by other trades ; many of them were braziers or 
