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Portable Bells

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Hand-bells were of Celtic origin, and were used in Brittany, in St. Patrick's time in Ireland, and in that of St. Selio in Wales. Unlike the small altar- bells, which were square, these wore hexagonal or oval, without clappers, like the original cloc, usually of bronze, and sometimes jeweled, being regarded as specially sacred, and possessed of miraculous powers, as St. Iltyd's, the bell of Armagh of the close of the 11th century, the golden bell of St. Senanus, St. Ewin's at Monastereven, which was tied with a chain to prevent its automatic flight, and used as an ordeal for swearing criminals by the justices of Munster. The cloc was cylindrical, and in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries often gemmed. At Caerleon, in Wales, the bangu was used at a funeral recently. Hand-bells are preserved at Perros, Guirec, and St. Symphorien's, Cotesdu-Nord. (See BELL).