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annuity of 10s. to the young men of East Molesey, for the like festive purpose.15

In 1750, THOMAS CHAPMAN, Clerk of the parish of Catton, gave the interest of a small sum, "to the three best Ringers that may be had, for ringing on Christmasday." 16

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In 1787, MARK SMITHSON, of Aldborough, bountifully gaye 107. a year to the Ringers of that Town, to ring a peal on Thursday evenings and Sundays.17

In 1817, JAMES HARRIS, of Shiere, in Surrey, gave to the Ringers of the Church bells 10s. yearly for ever on old Christmasday.18

Other benefactors have provided against the wear occasioned by these frequent Peals, by specifying their gifts expressly for the purchase of Bell Ropes.1o

So that it is evident, that these donors were not only delighted with the "noble

17 Rep. I. p. 450.

18 Rep. XIII. p. 464.

15 Rep. xI. p. 620. 16 Rep. XI. p. 725. 19 Rep. iv. p. 267.-Rep. x. p. 525.—Rep. xiv.

p. 432.

recreation of ringing," but strove to encourage it as a Science.

CURFEW BELL.

The custom of putting out their fires and lights about sun-set in Summer, and about eight o'clock at night in Winter, at the sounding of a Bell, called the "Couvre Feu," or "Curfew Bell," is supposed by some writers to have been introduced by WILLIAM the First, and to have been imposed upon the English as a badge of Servitude.20 But this opinion does not seem to be well founded. For there is sufficient evidence, that the same Custom prevailed in France, Spain, Italy, Scotland, and probably in all the Countries of Europe, at that period, and was intended as a precaution against fires, which were then very frequent and very fatal, when so many houses were built of wood.21

20 Hume's Hist. of England, vol. i. p. 479.
21 Henry's Hist. of Brit. 4to. vol. iii. p. 567.

In 1513, ROGER LUPTON, the learned PROVOST Of ETON, then Vicar of Copredy, in the County of Oxford, gave 67. 13s. 4d. to keep the Parish Clock in repair, and to ring daily both winter and summer, the Curfew and Day Bell.22

And, in 1691, JOHN CARY, of Woodstock, directed 10s. to be paid annually to the Clerk or Sexton, to ring the eight o'Clock Bell at night, for the guide and direction of Travellers.23

And it was during this dreary and wild state of the Country, that we find benefactions for the better maintenance of Herdsmen, to tend the cattle within the bounds of their Parochial limits.24

CANDLE-LIGHT.

It is curious to mark the progress of improvements, and to compare ancient contrivances with modern elegance.

22 Rep. XII. p. 187.

23 Rep. XII. p. 328.

24 Rep. vI. p. 45.-Rep. x. p. 357.

R

We are told that ALFRED the Great, in order that he might more exactly measure the hours, made use of burning tapers of equal length, which he fixed in Lanthorns, -an expedient suited to that rude age, when the geometry of Dialling, and the mechanism of Clocks and Watches, were totally unknown.

In 1609, NICHOLAS SPICER granted cer. tain lands and tenements to The Corporation of Exeter, in trust, to pay, among other disbursements, 40s. annually towards the better maintenance of Candle-light in the dark nights, between the feasts of All Saints and the Purification, to be placed in such convenient parts of the City, as to The Corporation should be thought meet, to give better light to people passing and going in the Streets, and he also gave 6s. 8d. yearly to the night Bellman of the same City.25

In 1656, JOHN WARDALL gave to The Grocers' Company a tenement, known by the name of " The White Bear," in Wal25 Rep. vIII. p. 71.

brook, to the intent that they should yearly pay to the Churchwardens of St. Botolph Billingsgate, 47. to provide a good and sufficient iron and glass Lantern, with a candle, for the direction of Passengers, to go with more security to and from the water-side, all night long, to be fixed at the North-East corner of the parish of St. Botolph, from the feast-day of St. Bartholomew to Lady-day, out of which sum, 17. was to be paid to the Sexton, for taking care of the Lantern.26

"Lantern and Candle-Light" was anciently accounted one of the "Cries" of London, being the usual words of " The Belman. It is mentioned as such in the following passage,—

"Lanthorne and Candle light here

Maid, a light here.

Thus go the cries," &c.

HEYWOOD'S Rape of Lucrece.

Hence two tracts of DECKER'S had the title of "Lanthorn and Candle-light," or "The Belman."-NARES.

26 Rep. vi. p. 276.

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