Chapter 13, Item 44a
Types of chapel
The difference between a Church and a Chappel of Ease
There are three sorts of Chapels, the principal is a Parochial Chappel, which is endued with a certain Revenue by the Founder thereof; it is Consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocess as a place for Gods Service, where Reading, Praying and Preaching is exercised, and the Sacraments Administred, the Dead solemnly Interred; where no Duty is given to the Mother Church, the Parson or Minister, farther than payment of Tyths, in lieu whereof there is a yearly Sallary of Stipend, (as his Curate) offered to the Chappel Priest.
Then next is a Chappel of Ease, which is a Chappel that hath no Endowment but from the Benevolence of the people, and a Stipend yearly from the Mother Church under whom it is; in these Chappels they have nothing but Reading, Praying and Preaching, there being no Administration of the Sacraments or Burials, so consequently not Consecrated: These Chappels are built purposely by adjacent Towns and habitations for the peoples ease, being at a great distance from the Mother Church, and where Parishes are wide and large, therefore called Chappels of Ease.
The last is a Domestick Chappel, which is a Chappel, or other Room set apart by great persons, either in or near their Mansion Houses or Halls, for Reading, Praying and Preaching, for the ease and benefit of his own Houshold Servants, and such as are Neighbours; these are rarely Endowed or Consecrated, seeing the Chaplains ever stand to the Benevolence of the Lords: And therefore by some are termed rather Oratories or School-houses than Churches or Chappels.
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Chapter 13, Item 49a
Large bells
Bells in these later ages have bine made of severall vast weights, and many hung together in one Tower or Steeple, which we term a Ring of Bells, in some is 2 3 4 5 6 7 or 8, few places exceeding the last number, for more cannot be for Round ringing, except they be rung in Changes.
There are in England Bells of a great and vast weight as the Great Bell, or Tom of Tonge in Shropshire; which requires 10 or 12 men to ring it, so as to make it strike on both sides, or half raise it; its weight is computed to be about 7000 pound weight.
The Great Tom of Lincolne, is indeed to be 9500 weight or upwards.
The Great Tom of Westminster, whose weight is above 6300 pounds; it is not to be rung, but hangs in a Tower alone, for the Hammer of a Clock to strike the hours upon.
The Great Tom of Oxford, it is the largest Bell we have in our Kingdoms; its weight is 16400 pounds, or much thereabout; its Diameter in the Skirt is 7 foot and 9 inches.
Yet these are far exceeded by the Gret Bell of Rouan in France, whose Circumference is so larg (as travilers who have seen it, did informe me) that 50 men & upwards are able to stand together within the same as it hangeth up.
But the Greatest Bell (without doubt in the Christian World) is in the Gret City of Moscow in the Empire of Russia, or Moscovia. It is hung in a Great and wide Tower, it weights three hundred ninty & foure thousand pounds; and the Clapper, Ten thousand pound, the Diameter thereof is twenty three foot, and two foot solid mettle. It is as much as fifty men can move, and that only so as may be perceived. It is seldome rung, and that only on great festival dayes, or when any forreign Prince or Minister of State requireth it. When they intend to ring it, they make proclamation through the Citty, by which warning they take down all their Glasses and Earthen ware, for it maketh all to tremble and Shake.
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Chapter 13, Item 49b
Bell parts
The several Parts of a Bell.
The Cannons, those by which the Bell hangeth.
The Crown, the round top of the Bell.
The Rings or Filits, are the curious molten work and Garnish cast on the out side the Bell, some tymes names and sentences are cast between the Filits.
The Sound Bow, the inner part of the Bell, from the lower ring to the top.
The Skirt, the bottom of the Bell.
The Crown Stable, that to which the Clapper is hung.
The Baudrick, that as tyeth the Clapper to the Stable.
The Clapper, that as makes the Bell sound, which hath in it these parts.
The Eyes, that as the Clapper is hung by.
The Shank, the length of it to the Ball.
The Leggs, are peeces of wood bound about the Clapper to keep it from rowling.
The Ball, the round Bob at the Clapper.
The Flight, that from the Ball to the Clapper end.
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Chapter 13, Item 49c
Bells, hanging
Things for hanging of a Bell.
The Frame, is that in which the Bell hangeth, it is made of Strong Timber, fastned together with Mortesses and Tennants, Pins, Cramps, Bolts and Nails. &c.
The Head Stock, a great Square peece of Timber to which the Bell Cannons are fastned.
The Guggions, great pins put in the Head Stock, for the Bell to turn with.
The Brasses, which are square with an hollow in the middle, and fastned in the Frame, for the Guggions to play in.
The Bolts, that goe through the Stock.
The Cramps, Irons that Clip the outside the Stock.
The Cotterells and Fithers, are the Rings and slender Bolts to bend any way, thereby to keep the great Bolts and Cramps fast in their places.
The Wheel, by the help thereof, the Bell is easily Rung. There are three kinds of them; the Whole Wheel, which is direct round.
The Three Quarter wheel, is three parts round. The Half Wheel, is only two parts of a round.
In a Wheel there is these terms;
The Rim, that as the Rope turns in.
The Stayes, the cross peices that supports the Rim.
The Rowler which guideth the Rope to the Rim.
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Chapter 13, Item 49d
Bells, ringing
The several wayes of Ringing Bells.
1. Is the Under Salley, that is when the Bells are raised but Frame high, so as the Clapper strikes on both sides the Bell.
2. Is the Hand Salley, when they are rung almost up, and one hand is put to the Rope to raise it.
3. Is Round Ringing, when the Bells are up at set, that is with their mouths upright, both in the Fore Stroak and Back stroak, and so ring 1 2 3 4 5.
4. Is Ringing in Set Changes, that is the Bells being set, they order which Bell that lead away & what to follow, as this 1 2 3 5 4. Or 1 2 5 3 4. Or 1 5 2 3 4 etc. as they please.
5. Is in Changes, or Tunes, when they are rung to immitate the airy sound of a Psalme or Song.
6. In Chimes, when the Bells Strik, or are stricken on one side only, either in Tunes or Round.
[Pointer] Note there are two sorts of Changes, as the single Change, is when all the Bells ring, and one is changed only from round Ringing, as 2 1 3 4 5 etc.
The double Change, is when two Bells are rung out of the order of round Ringing; as 2 1 3 5 4 etc.
Note also that Three Bells will make 6 Changes.
Foure Bells makes 4 tymes as many, viz. 24 changes.
Five Bells makes 6 times as many viz. 120.
Six Bells makes 6 times as many changes viz. 720.
Seaven Bells make 7 times as many viz. 4040.
Eight Bells makes 8 times as many viz. 32320 etc.
A Round Peale, is to ring the Bells what space of the Ringers please.
A Peale in Changes, is to ring the three Bells the six Changes over. Or the foure Bells, the 24 Changes over. and so of the other Bells.
The First or Treble Bell, it is termed the Hunt, and the Second Bell, the half Hunt, because they run from the round Ringing, through all the change of Bells backwards and Forewards, before they come to round Ringing againe.
The Great Bell, is termed the Tenour; the others the second, Third, Fourth Bell, etc.
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