"Est michi collatum ihc illud nomen amaetum." "Protege Virgo pia quos convoco Sancta Maria." "Voce mea viva depello cunta nocina."
This refers to the belief that the ringing of bells drives away all demons and tempests, storms and thunders, and all other hurtful things. One bell proudly asserts:--
"Me melior vere non est campana sub ere."
Inscriptions in English are often quaint and curious. Here is one from Somerset:--
"If you have a judicious ear, You'll own my voice is sweet and clear."
Loyal inscriptions are often found, such as--
"I was made in hope to ring At the crownacion of our King."
"Ye people all that hear me ring Be faithful to your God and King."
A bell that has been recast sometimes praises the merits of its new founder at the expense of its first maker, as at Badgworth, Gloucester:--
"Badgworth ringers they are mad, Because Rigbe made me bad; But Abel Rudhall you may see Hath made me better than Rigbe."
Sometimes all the bells which compose a peal tell their various uses. Thus at Bakewell we find some verses on each bell:--
1. "When I begin our merry Din This Band I lead from discord free; And for the fame of human name, May every Leader copy Me."
2. "Mankind, like us, too oft are found Possess'd of nought but empty sound."
3. "When of departed Hours we toll the knell, Instruction take and spend the future well."
4. "When men in Hymen's Bands unite, Our merry peals produce delight; But when Death goes his dreary Rounds, We send forth sad and solemn sounds."
5. "Thro' grandsires and Tripples with pleasure men range, Till Death calls the Bob and brings on the Last Change."
6. "When Vict'ry crowns the Public Weal With Glee we give the merry Peal."
7. "Would men like us join and agree They'd live in tuneful Harmony."
8. "Possess'd of deep sonorous Tone This Belfry King sits on his throne; And when the merry Bells go round, Adds to and mellows ev'ry Sound; So in a just and well pois'd State, Where all Degrees possess due Weight, One greater Pow'r one greater Tone Is ceded to improve their own."
A Rutland bell has the following beautiful inscription:--
"Non clamor sed amor cantat in aure Dei." ("Not noise but love sings in the ear of God.")
Historical events are sometimes recorded, as at Ashover, Derbyshire, where a recasted bell states:--