You ringers all, observe these orders well! He pays his sixpence that o'erturns a bell; And he that rings with either spur or hat, Must pay his sixpence certainly for that; And he that rings and does disturb ye peal, Must pay his sixpence or a gun of ale. These laws elsewhere, in ev'ry church are used, That bell and ringers may not be abused. It is stated in Halliwell's "Dictionary of Archaisms and Provincialisms" _gun_ is a North country word for a large flagon of ale. From All Saints' Church, Hastings, we have the following lines:-- I. H. S. 1. This is a belfry that is free For all those that civil be; And if you please to chime or ring It is a very pleasant thing. 2. There is no musick play'd or sung, Like unto bells when they're well rung; Then ring your bells well, if you can, Silence is the best for every man. 3. But if you ring in spur or hat, Sixpence you pay, be sure of that; And if a bell you overthrow, Pray pay a groat before you go.--1756. Similar verses to the foregoing we have seen in several places. From the parish church at Grantham we have the following example, dating back to about the middle of the last century:-- He that in Ringing takes delight, And to this place draws near, These Articles set in his sight Must keep if he Rings here. The first he must observe with care Who comes within the door, Must if he chance to curse or swear, Pay Sixpence to the poor. And whosoe'er a noise does make, Or idle story tells, Must Sixpence to the Ringers take For melting of the Bells. If any like to smoke or drink, They must not do so here, Good reason why--just let them think This is God's House of Prayer. Young men that come to see and try, And do not Ringing use, Must Six Pence give the company, And that shall them excuse. So that his hat on's head does keep, Within this sacred place, Must pay his Six Pence ere he sleep; Or turn out with disgrace. If any one with spurs to's heels Ring here at any time, He must, for breaking articles, Pay Six Pence for his crime. If any overthrow a Bell, As that by chance he may, Because he minds not Ringing well, He must his Six Pence pay. Or if a noble minded man Come here to Ring a bell, A Shilling is the Sexton's fee, Who keeps the church so well. At any should our Parson sneer, Or Wardens' rules deride, It is a rule of old most clear That such sha'nt here abide. The Sabbath-day we wish to keep, And come to church to pray; The man who breaks this ancient rule Shall never share our pay. And when the bells are down and ceased, It should be said or sung, May God preserve the Church and King, And guide us safely home.