Most of these belfries come under the head of the open stonework class, which, from their very formation give an air of lightness and freedom to the building they surmount. When the Renaissance period came in the form of the belfry was not altered, but the detail then became of classical design. In Scotland we find that in some of the larger towns both the steeples and the bells are the property of the municipality, the Church only having the use of the bells on Sundays, while on week days they are used by the town authorities. The origin of this curious sort of co-ownership would appear to lie in the fact that in former times it was no uncommon thing for a town to acquire a lien on the bells in exchange for helping to build the steeple or undertaking to keep it in order.[3] The following extract from the Burgh Records[4] of Peebles exhibits a good instance of this:-- "1778, December 29. The Council in conjunction with the heritors, agree to the proposition of building a new church.... The town to be at the expense of building the steeple and furnishing it with a clock and bells, for which it is to be the property of the burgh." From the Perth Session Records, October 6, 1578, we find that "The Session ordains James Sym, uptaker of the casualities that intervenes in the kirk, to buy a tow to the little skellit bell--the which bell shall only be rung to the affairs of the kirk, also to the examinations, or to the assemblies." The same Session Records for Perth, under date February 6, 1586, tells us that "The Session ordains Nicol Balmain to ring the curfew and workmen's bell in the morning and evening, the space of one quarter of an hour, at the times appointed--viz., four hours in the morning and eight at even." In many primitive parts of Scotland, where there was no belfry, it seems to have been the custom to hang the solitary bell on a tree. A writer in 1679 protests against "that pitiful spectacle, bells hanging upon trees for want of bell houses." At Drumlithe the town bell used to hang on an ash tree, and thus continued to do until 1777, when a small steeple was provided for it. Among the Church ornaments to be provided by the parishioners in the fourteenth century was "a bell to carry before the body of Christ in the visitation of the sick." This was done in order that all, according to the then teaching of the Church, might be warned of its approach and pay reverence to it.[5] Saint John before the bread doth go, and poynting towards him Doth show the same to be the Lambe that takes away our sinne, On whome two clad in Angels' shape do sundrie flowres fling, A number great of sacring Belles with pleasant sound do ringe.[6] These hand-bells were also used in procession on the Rogation days, and frequent notices of them are to be found in Church inventories.