But whoso doth these orders disobey, Unto the stocks we will take him straightway, There to remain until he be willing To pay his forfeit and the clerk a shilling. A similar set of rules were adopted at Chapel-en-le-Frith, in the same county. The following quaint lines are from St. Peter's, Shaftesbury:-- What musick is there that compar'd may be To well-tuned bells' enchanting melody? Breaking with their sweet sounds the willing air, They in the list'ning ear the soul ensnare, When bells ring round and in their order be, They do denote how neighbours should agree; But if they clam the harsh sound spoils the sport, And 'tis like women keeping Dover Court. Of all the music that is played or sung There's none like bells, if they are well rung. Then ring your bell--well if you can, Silence is best for ev'ry man; In your ringing make no demur, Pull off your hat, your belt, and spur; And if your bell you overset The ringer's fee you must expect! Fourpence you are to pay for that. But that if you do swear or curse, Twelvepence is due, pooll out your purse, Our laws are old, they are not new, Both clerk and ringers claim their due. We have from Tong, Salop, the following curious dated example:-- If that to ring you do come here, You must ring well with hand and ear; Keep stroke of time and go not out, Or else you forfeit, out of doubt. Our law is so constructed here, For ev'ry fault a jugg of beer. If that you ring with spur or hat, A jugg of beer must pay for that. If that you take a rope in hand, These forfeits you may not withstand. Or, if that you a bell o'erthrow, It will cost sixpence ere you goe. If in this place you swear or curse, Sixpence you pay--out with your purse. Come! pay the clerk, it is his fee, For one that swears shall not go free. These laws are old, and are not new, Therefore the clerk must have his due. GEORGE HARRISON, 1694. From the belfry of Dunster, Somersetshire, are the following lines:-- You that in ringing take delight, Be pleased to draw near; These articles you must observe If you mean to ring here. And first, if any overturn A bell, as that he may, He forthwith for that only fault In beer shall sixpence pay. If anyone shall curse or swear When come within the door, He then shall forfeit for that fault As mentioned before. If anyone shall wear his hat When he is ringing here He straightway then shall sixpence pay In cyder or in beer. If anyone these articles Refuseth to obey, Let him have nine strokes of the rope, And so depart away. The foregoing bears the date of 1787. We have a shorter set of orders from Bowden:--