Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

Other :М:etals

145

in England, bronze ,vas used to such an extcnt, that one aнthoгity suggested that it should Ье called the "Age of Bronze." Primitive bells ,vere шаdе of cast-iгon riveted togetheг: one of tl1ese is at the Cologne nшseшn, and the Ii-ish bells wеге largely of this description. А gгeat bell ,vas presented to the Cathedral of Cl1artres in 1028, Ьу а donoг naшed Jean, \Yhich affoгds little clue to his personality. Tliis bell ,veighed over t,vo tons. Тhеге is consideraЫe iпterest attaching to the subject of the makiпg of bells in the l\Iiddle Ages. Evcn iп domestic life bells played чuite а pai·t; it was the cus­ tom to ring а bell when the bath ,vas ready and to annotmce meals, as ,vell as to summon the servitors. Chшch bells, both large анd small, ,vere in use in Eпg­ land Ьу 670, accoгding to Bede. They ,vere also caпied Ьу missionaгies; those good saiпts, Patrick and Cuthbeгt, annoнnced their coming like to,vn cгiers ! Tl1e shrine of St. Patгick's bell has been already described. Bells used to Ье regarded ,vith а sнpeгstitious awe, and were sup­ posed to have the ability to dispel evil spirits, which were exoгcised with " bell, book, and candle." The bell of St. Patгick, inside the great shгine, is composed of two pieces of sheet iron, one of which fогшs the face, and being tшned over the top, descends about half way down the other side, wheгe it meets the second sheet. Both are bent along the edges so as to form the sides of the bell, and they are both secшed Ьу rivets. А rude handle is similarly attached to the top. А quaint account is given Ьу the Monk of St. Gall