The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical Part 21

Amesbury, on the fifth bell-

Be strong in faith, praise G.o.d well, Frances Countess Hertford's bell.

Amesbury, on the tenor bell-

Altho' it be unto my loss, I hope you will consider my cost.

At Bath Abbey-

All you of Bath that hear my sound, Thank Lady Hopton's hundred pound.

At Stowe, Northamptons.h.i.+re-

Be it known to all that doth me see, That Newcombe, of Leicester, made me.

At St. Michael's, Coventry-

I ring at six to let men know When to and from their work to go.

On the seventh bell is-

I ring to sermon with l.u.s.ty bome, That all may come, and none can stay at home.

At St. Peter-le-Bailey, Oxford, in expectation of other bells which were never purchased-

With seven more I hope soon to be For ages joined in harmony.

On the eighth bell is-

I am and have been called the common bell, To ring when fire breaks out to tell.

St. Helen's church, at Worcester, England, has a set of bells cast in the time of Queen Anne, with names and inscriptions recording victories gained in that reign-

1. BLENHEIM.

First is my note, and Blenheim is my name; For Blenheim's story will be first in fame.

2. BARCELONA.

Let me relate how Louis did bemoan His grandson Philip's flight from Barcelon.

3. RAMILIES.

Deluged in blood, I, Ramilies, advance Britannia's glory on the fall of France.

4. MENIN.

Let Menin on my sides engraven be, And Flanders freed from Gallic slavery.

5. TURIN.

When in harmonious peal I roundly go, Think on Turin, and triumphs on the Po.

6. EUGENE.

With joy I bear ill.u.s.trious Eugene's name; Fav'rite of fortune and the boast of fame.

7. MARLBOROUGH.

But I for pride the greater Marlborough bear; Terror of tyrants and the soul of war.

8. QUEEN ANNE.

The immortal praise of Queen Anne I sound, With union blest, and all these glories crowned.

On the famous alarm-bell called Roland, in a belfry-tower in the once powerful city of Ghent, is engraved the subjoined inscription, in the old Walloon or Flemish dialect-

"My name is Roland; when I toll there is fire, And when I ring there is victory in the land."

The following inscription, remarkable for bad taste, is on one of eight bells in the church tower of Tilton, Devon-

"Recast by John Taylor and Son, Who the best prize for church bells won At the Great Ex-hi-bi-ti-on In London, 1-8-5 and 1."

ARTICLES OF RINGING.

The following "Articles of Ringing" are upon the walls of the belfry in Dunster, Somersets.h.i.+re, England:-

1. You that in ringing take delight, Be pleased to draw near; These articles you must observe, If you mean to ring here.

2. And first, if any overturn A bell, as that he may, He forthwith for that only fault In beer shall sixpence pay.

3. If any one shall curse or swear When come within the door, He then shall forfeit for that fault As mentioned before.

4. If any one shall wear his hat When he is ringing here, He straightway then shall sixpence pay In cyder or in beer.

5. If any one these articles Refuseth to obey, Let him have nine strokes of the rope, And so depart away.

_Old Weather Rhymes._

If New Year's eve night-wind blow south, It betokeneth warmth and growth; If west, much milk, and fish in the sea; If north, much cold, and storms there will be; If east, the trees will bear much fruit; If north-east, flee it, man and brute.

If St. Paul's day be fair and clear, It does betide a happy year; But if it chance to snow or rain, Then will be dear all kinds of grain; If clouds or mists do dark the skie, Great store of birds and beasts shall die; And if the winds do fly aloft, Then wars shall vex the kingdome oft.

A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay; A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spune; A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly.

The hind had as lief see his wife on the bier, As that Candlemas-day should be pleasant and clear.