197: Bells are said to have been introduced into the Christian Church by Paulinus; Bishop of Nola, at the end of the fourth century. The first peal of bells in England was put up in Croyland Abbey, about A.D. 870. 198: "When they heard the bell of the chapel of Isabella sounding through the forests as it rung for mass, and beheld the Spaniards hastening to wards the chapel, they imagined that it _talked_."--Irving's _Life of Columbus_, ch. iv. The office of the church bell in summoning the people to prayer and holy worship was regarded in olden times with such respect that the bell was very solemnly set apart by a special religious service for this sacred use. In the churchwarden's accounts of St. Lawrence, Reading, is the following curious entry:-- "1449. It payed for halowing of the bell named Harry, vj_s_. viij_d_., and over that, Sir William Symys, Richard Cleck, and Maistres Smyth, being Godfaders and Godmoder at the consecraycyon of the same bell, and beryng all oth' costs to the suffrygan." 199: Kirke White. 200: In the last century it was a favourite custom with village bellringers to set forth their rules in verse. They were generally painted on a board and fixed in the belfry. In all cases the rhyme appears to be the production of native talent. The rules are themselves unexceptionable. The following are examples:-- In the belfry, Charlwood,-- "Ye men of action, strength, and skill, Observe these rules which I do will: First,--Let none presume to swear, Nor e'er profane the house of Prayer. Next,--He that doth a bell o'erthrow A groat shall forfeit where'er he go; And if he do refuse to pay, Be scorn'd, and simply go his way, Like one who will for ever wrangle As touching of a rope to jangle." In the belfry, Bredgar,-- "My friendly ringers, I do declare You must pay one penny each oath you do swear. To turn a bell over It is the same fare; To ring with your hats on you must not dare. "MDCCLI." In the belfry, All Saints', Hastings,-- "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. There is no music play'd or sung Like unto bells when they're well rung; Then ring your bells well if you can; Silence is best for every man. 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." 201: In the preface to the Prayer Book the curate is directed to "cause a bell to be tolled" for morning and evening prayer; but Durandus says that this ringing of the bell was itself once part of the minister's own duty.