185, 186.

For the later examples, see Germain, Anciennes cloches lorraines (Nancy, 1885), pp.

23, 27.
Another, in one of the forest cantons of Switzerland, bears a doggerel couplet, which may be thus translated: "On the devil my spite I'll vent, And, God helping, bad weather prevent."(238) (238) "An dem Tufel will cih mich rachen, Mit der hilf gotz alle bosen wetter erbrechen." (See Meyer, as above.) Very common were inscriptions embodying this doctrine in sonorous Latin.
Naturally, then, there grew up a ritual for the consecration of bells.
Knollys, in his quaint translation of the old chronicler Sleidan, gives us the usage in the simple English of the middle of the sixteenth century: "In lyke sorte (as churches) are the belles used.

And first, forsouth, they must hange so, as the Byshop may goe round about them.

Whiche after he hath sayde certen Psalmes, he consecrateth water and salte, and mingleth them together, wherwith he washeth the belle diligently both within and without, after wypeth it drie, and with holy oyle draweth in it the signe of the crosse, and prayeth God, that whan they shall rynge or sounde that bell, all the disceiptes of the devyll may vanyshe away, hayle, thondryng, lightening, wyndes, and tempestes, and all untemperate weathers may be aswaged.