ABSTRACT
The Bell. —It is fitting that this chapter should open with the tolling of a bell, for its bell is far and away the oldest thing in the Hospital, where it has, throughout three centuries and more, struck the passing hours. For facts concerning the clock and its bell the writer is entirely indebted to what was written by his dear old friend, Alfred Jones, late warden, and published by him in the Reliquary under title “The Romance of our Hospital Bell.” In 1608 a change of bells took place at Lincoln Cathedral, some smaller being replaced by “Great Tom.” In 1610 these entries occur in the ledger book. “Master John Shaw, clerk to the Chamber of London, gave unto Trinity Hospital a clock and diall.” A little lower down—“The foresayed Master Shaw gave a bell unto our Hospital, and payed for enlarging and making stronger the Clock House—31.” [£3]. Some years ago, the bell-cote underwent repairs, and Alfred Jones had an opportunity of examining the bell. After giving the dimensions—it is only about a foot and a half high—he transcribes the inscriptions. Round the shoulder runs—Oremus Pro Bono Statu Decani Et Capituli Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Beatæ Mariæ De Lincolnæ; Let us pray for the good estate of Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Mary of Lincoln. Along the rim, the lettering is—Dalyson Miles Firmarius Huius Manerii De Gretwel Me Fieri Fecit Quarto Aprilis Anno Dmi 1414. The hardest part to decipher then, after three centuries of striking from the outside, was the year. Jones says—“The years 1511 and 1596 have been previously suggested. There is, however, no visible mark of a curved numeral. Relics of the figures are all straight lines, which, carefully completed, give the result in the text.”
