BROUGH BELLS.

"The church at Brough is a pretty large handsome ancient building. The steeple is not so old, having been built about the year 1513, under the direction of Thomas Blenkinsop, of Helbeck, Esq. There are in it four excellent bells, by much the largest in the county, except the great bell at Kirkby Thore. Concerning these bells at Brough, there is a tradition that they were given by one Brunskill, who lived upon Stanemore, in the remotest part of the parish, and had a great many cattle. One time it happened that his Bull fell a bellowing, which in the dialect of the country is called cruning, this being the genuine Saxon word to denote that vociferation. Thereupon he said to one of his neighbours, Hearest thou how loud this bull crunes? If these cattle should all crune together, might they not be heard from Brough hither?' He answered 'Yea.' 'Well then,' says Brunskill, I'll make them all crune together.' And he sold them all, and with the price thereof he bought the said bells (or perhaps he might get the old bells new cast and made larger). There is a monument in the body of the church, in the south wall, between the highest and second window, and in which it is said the said Brunskill was the last that was interred."— Nicolson and Burns' History and Antiquities of Westmoreland and Cumberland, vol. i. p. 571.

6

"At the further Brough there was a chapel or oratory, founded by John Brunskill, (probably the same who gave the bells,) in 1506. Unto whom Thomas Blenkinsop, Esq., of Helbeck, gave the ground called Gibgarth, on condition that he should

build a chapel there, and also an hospital, with two beds in it for travellers and other poor people, and maintain for ever, paying to him and his heirs twopence rent at Pentecost yearly, and on defect of such maintaining and repairing the said chapel, hospital, and beds, the land to revert to the said Thomas and his heirs. In pursuance whereof he, the said John Brunskill, founded an oratory or chapel, dedicated to Our Lady St. Mary, the Mother of Christ, and to St. Gabriel the Archangel; who, as Roger, Bishop of Carlisle, and Richard, Abbot of Shap, did by writing under their hands and seals affirm, wrought many fair and divers miracles by the sufferance of our Lord God. Two priests were established to sing and to pray in the said chapel for evermore, for the souls of all the benefactors of the said chapel that were departed from the world, and for the welfare of those that were living. One of the said priests was to teach grammar, the other to instruct children willing to learn singing, freely without any salary from them. The foundation of this chapel was confirmed both by the Bishop of Carlisle and the Archbishop of York, and yet was afterwards opposed by the Vicar of Brough, who conceived himself much prejudiced thereby, and particularly in respect of the oblations which were given from him to the said chapel. Whereupon he set up the cross, and lighted up candles in the church at mid-time of the day, caused the bells to be rung, and cursed with bell, book, and candle, all those that should receive any oblations of those that resorted to the said chapel, or should give any encouragement unto the same. Brunskill, the founder, complained to the Archbishop's Court at York, against the vicar, Mr. Rasebeck, and obtained a sharp citation against him; censuring him as an abandoned wretch, and inflated with diabolical venom for opposing so good a work. Notwithstanding which Mr. Rasebeck appealed to the Pope, and an agreement was made between the founder and him by a composition of twenty shillings yearly, to be paid to Mr. Rasebeck, and his successors, vicars of Brough.

"Thus the chapel continued till the dissolution of the religious

houses. And the priest that taught to sing being removed, the other that taught grammar was thought fit to be continued as master of a free-school; and by the commissioners Sir Walter Mildmay and Robert Kellison, Esq., order was taken, and a fund settled for this purpose. So that a salary of 7l. 11s. 4d. was to be paid yearly to the master of the school by the King's auditors, they receiving all the rents and revenues which formerly belonged unto it as a chapel, and which were given to it by the founder and other benefactors. This is all the endowment which it hath at present (1777), except a convenient dwelling-house and garden, which were given by one of the schoolmasters, Mr. John Beck. But it was formerly very bountifully endowed by several benefactors; as Henry, Earl of Cumberland, Edward Musgrave, of Hartley, Esq., William Musgrave, son of Richard Musgrave, of Brough, Thomas Blenkinsop, Esq., Hugh Newton, and divers others, who gave lands in Brough, Stanemore, Moreton, Yanewith, Mekel-Strickland, Bampton Cundall, and Mekel-Ashby, all in Westmorland; and in Penrith in Cumberland, and West-Laton in Yorkshire, and Bernard Castle in the county of Durham." Ib. p. 574.

ONE day to Helbeck I had stroll'd
Among the Crossfell hills,
And resting in its rocky grove
Sat listening to the rills;

The while to their sweet undersong

The birds sang blithe around,

And the soft west wind awoke the wood
To an intermitting sound.

Louder or fainter as it rose,

Or died away, was borne The harmony of merry bells,

From Brough that pleasant morn.

'Why are the merry bells of Brough,

My friend, so few?" said I, "They disappoint the expectant ear,

Which they should gratify.

"One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four 'Tis still one, two, three, four,

Mellow and silvery are the tones;
But I wish the bells were more!"

"What! art thou critical? quoth he ;

"Eschew that heart's disease

That seeketh for displeasure where

The intent hath been to please.

By those four bells there hangs a tale,
Which being told, I guess,

Will make thee hear their scanty peal

With proper thankfulness.

"Not by the Cliffords were they given, Nor by the Tuftons' line;

Thou hearest in that peal the crune

Of old John Brunskill's kine.

;

On Stanemore's side one summer eve,

John Brunskill sate to see His herds in yonder Borrodale

Come winding up the lea.

"Behind them on the lowland's verge,
In the evening light serene;
Brough's silent tower, then newly built
By Blenkinsop, was seen.

"Slowly they came in long array,
With loitering pace at will;

At times a low from them was heard,
Far off, for all was still.

"The hills return'd that lonely sound
Upon the tranquil air;

The only sound it was, which then
Awoke the echoes there.

"Thou hear'st that lordly Bull of mine,
Neighbour,' quoth Brunskill then ;
'How loudly to the hills he crunes,
That crune to him again.

"Thinkest thou if yon whole herd at once

Their voices should combine,

Were they at Brough, that we might not
Hear plainly from this upland spot

That cruning of the kine?'