[Bell Historians] Re: Interpretation of iij prche belles

[Brian Meldon]

I have now read the text in CWAAS Transactions Vol 8 1885 starting on page 186. (Brigham is on page 198) here is the on line version:

http://www.archive.org/details/transactionsofcuvol8no1cumb

I do tend to agree with Alan that the word `prche' does indeed appear to be an abbreviation of the word `parish'.

It is used in several of the individual inventories for other churches but most convincingly it is also used in the in the forward to the manuscript that is on page 192. The passage in question reads:


. Bellis vestiments and other ornaments (within every) prche church chapel brotherheid gyld (or fraternitie) in the countie of Cumbreld





The full line in the text in regards to Brigham reads:

iij prche belles one santus (bell) 

The word bell and the others in brackets above are however in italics in the text and were conjecturally added by Rev. Whitehead in 1885 as the original manuscript is badly damaged on one edge. 
It also should be noted that Rev. Whitehead used a previous transcript copy of the inventory made by Robert Bridges of Yattendon.  
Inevitably with the level of damage he describes and the use of previous transcripts unintentional errors may have crept in, but unfortunately it may no longer be possible to check the original for accuracy because of the condition and I do not know of another independent transcription that can be used to verify the content.

Brian Meldon