Curfew bell
Encyclopedia
The curfew bell was a bell rung in the evening in Medieval England
as the signal for everyone to go to bed.
A bell was rung usually around eight o'clock in the evening which meant for them to cover their fires - deaden or cover up, not necessarily put out altogether. The usual procedure was at the sound of the curfew bell the burning logs were removed from the centre of the hearth of a warming fire and the hot ashes swept to the back and sides. The cold ashes were then raked back over the fire so as to cover it. The ashes would then keep smoldering giving warmth without a live fire going. The fire could easily be reignited the next morning by merely adding logs back on and allowing air to vent through the ashes. A benefit of covering up the fire in the evening was the prevention of destructive conflagrations caused by unattended live fires, a major concern since at the time most structures were made of wood and burned easily. Voltaire, in his "Universal History," notes the curfew bell acted as an ancient police on fire prevention in towns of the northern hemisphere.
law is recorded by history as having been started by Alfred the Great
. The law associated with the curfew bell is a custom
that history records as being adopted by William I of England
in the year 1068. The curfew law imposed upon the people was a compulsory duty they had to do or be punished like a criminal. Historians, poets, and lawyers speak of the Medieval law associated with the curfew bell as being leveled mostly against the conquered Anglo-Saxons
. It was initially used as a repressive measure by William I to prevent rebellious meetings of the conquered English. He prohibited the use of live fires after the curfew bell was rung to prevent associations and conspiracies. The curfew bell was heard by the Anglo-Saxons as the sound of their departed liberty and a testimony of their slavery. The strict practice of this Medieval tradition was pretty much observed during the reign of King William I and William II of England
. The law was eventually repealed by Henry I of England
in 1103.
A century later in England the curfew bell was associated more with a time of night rather than an enforced curfew law. The curfew bell was in later centuries rung but just associated with a tradition. In Medieval times the ringing of the curfew bell was of such importance that land was occasionally paid for the service. There are even recorded instances where the sound of the curfew bell sometimes saved the lives of lost travelers by safely guiding them back to town.
In Macaulay's History of Claybrook (1791), he says, "The custom of ringing curfew, which is still kept up in Claybrook, has probably obtained without intermission since the days of the Norman Conqueror."
In the Articles for the Sexton of Faversham in England it was written of the curfew bell,
The time of the curfew bell changed in later centuries after the Middle Ages to nine in the evening and sometimes even to ten. To this day in many towns there is a "curfew" at nine or ten that can be heard throughout the town, which is usually the town's emergency siren - sometimes used as the town's noon whistle
.
The English word curfew is from old French carre-feu or cerre-feu. These initial French words later derived into couvre-feu. The word was again later turned into cover-feu in the Norman language
after the conquering of the English. Each of these meant to cover the live flaming fire. There was even a metal utensil cover known as the "couvre-feu", normally only found in houses of the well-to-do. It resembled a shield and was used to be put over the live fire when the curfew bell rang. The curfew bell was known as ignitegium or peritegium bell in the medieval low Latin. Daines Barrington
shows that in an old Scottish poem published in 1770 the word curfew is written curphour.
,
Chaucer writes on the curfew bell as just as a time, not a law:
Shakespeare had unusual times for the curfew bell,
In the sixteenth century Bishop Joseph Hall's "Fourth Satire" it reads:
In the play The Merry Devil of Edmonton
(published 1608), the curfew was at nine o'clock in the evening:
John Milton
's put in his allegorical Il Penseroso
s mouth the words:
In Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
these words are accompanied by a pizzicato
bass-line, representing a distant bell sound.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as the signal for everyone to go to bed.
A bell was rung usually around eight o'clock in the evening which meant for them to cover their fires - deaden or cover up, not necessarily put out altogether. The usual procedure was at the sound of the curfew bell the burning logs were removed from the centre of the hearth of a warming fire and the hot ashes swept to the back and sides. The cold ashes were then raked back over the fire so as to cover it. The ashes would then keep smoldering giving warmth without a live fire going. The fire could easily be reignited the next morning by merely adding logs back on and allowing air to vent through the ashes. A benefit of covering up the fire in the evening was the prevention of destructive conflagrations caused by unattended live fires, a major concern since at the time most structures were made of wood and burned easily. Voltaire, in his "Universal History," notes the curfew bell acted as an ancient police on fire prevention in towns of the northern hemisphere.
History
The curfew bell with the associated curfewCurfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
law is recorded by history as having been started by Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
. The law associated with the curfew bell is a custom
Custom (law)
Custom in law is the established pattern of behavior that can be objectively verified within a particular social setting. A claim can be carried out in defense of "what has always been done and accepted by law." Customary law exists where:...
that history records as being adopted by William I of England
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
in the year 1068. The curfew law imposed upon the people was a compulsory duty they had to do or be punished like a criminal. Historians, poets, and lawyers speak of the Medieval law associated with the curfew bell as being leveled mostly against the conquered Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
. It was initially used as a repressive measure by William I to prevent rebellious meetings of the conquered English. He prohibited the use of live fires after the curfew bell was rung to prevent associations and conspiracies. The curfew bell was heard by the Anglo-Saxons as the sound of their departed liberty and a testimony of their slavery. The strict practice of this Medieval tradition was pretty much observed during the reign of King William I and William II of England
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
. The law was eventually repealed by Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
in 1103.
A century later in England the curfew bell was associated more with a time of night rather than an enforced curfew law. The curfew bell was in later centuries rung but just associated with a tradition. In Medieval times the ringing of the curfew bell was of such importance that land was occasionally paid for the service. There are even recorded instances where the sound of the curfew bell sometimes saved the lives of lost travelers by safely guiding them back to town.
In Macaulay's History of Claybrook (1791), he says, "The custom of ringing curfew, which is still kept up in Claybrook, has probably obtained without intermission since the days of the Norman Conqueror."
In the Articles for the Sexton of Faversham in England it was written of the curfew bell,
-
-
- Imprimis, the sexton, or his sufficient deputy, shall lye in the church steeple;
- and at eight o'clock every night shall ring the curfew by the space of a quarter of an hour,
- with such bell as of old time hath been accustomed.
-
The time of the curfew bell changed in later centuries after the Middle Ages to nine in the evening and sometimes even to ten. To this day in many towns there is a "curfew" at nine or ten that can be heard throughout the town, which is usually the town's emergency siren - sometimes used as the town's noon whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
.
Etymology
Norman language
Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. Norman can be classified as one of the northern Oïl languages along with Picard and Walloon...
after the conquering of the English. Each of these meant to cover the live flaming fire. There was even a metal utensil cover known as the "couvre-feu", normally only found in houses of the well-to-do. It resembled a shield and was used to be put over the live fire when the curfew bell rang. The curfew bell was known as ignitegium or peritegium bell in the medieval low Latin. Daines Barrington
Daines Barrington
Daines Barrington, FRS was an English lawyer, antiquary and naturalist.Barrington was the fourth son of the first Viscount Barrington. He was educated for the profession of the law, and after filling various posts, was appointed a Welsh judge in 1757 and afterwards second justice of Chester...
shows that in an old Scottish poem published in 1770 the word curfew is written curphour.
Poetry
The tyranny of William I is described by the poet Francis ThompsonFrancis Thompson
Francis Thompson was an English poet and ascetic. After attending college, he moved to London to become a writer, but in menial work, became addicted to opium, and was a street vagrant for years. A married couple read his poetry and rescued him, publishing his first book, Poems in 1893...
,
-
-
- The shiv'ring wretches, at the curfew sound,
- Dejected sunk into their sordid beds,
- And, through the mournful gloom of ancient times,
- Mus'd sad, or dreamt of better.
-
Chaucer writes on the curfew bell as just as a time, not a law:
-
-
-
- The dede slepe, for every besinesse,
- Fell on this carpenter, right as I gesse,
- About curfew time, or litel more.
-
-
Shakespeare had unusual times for the curfew bell,
- In Romeo and Juliet, iv 4, he has Lord Capulet saying:
-
- Come, stir, stir, stir, the second coch hath crow'd,
- The curfew bell hath rung, tis three o'clock.
-
- In Tempest, v. 1, Prospero says:
-
- You, whose pastime
- Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice
- To hear the solemn curfew.
-
- In King Lear, iii. 4, Edgar speaks,
-
- This is the foul fiend, Flibbertigibbet: he begins at curfew
- and walks to the first clock.
-
In the sixteenth century Bishop Joseph Hall's "Fourth Satire" it reads:
-
-
- Who ever gives a paire of velvet shooes
- To th' Holy Rood, or liberally allowes,
- But a new rope to ring the couvre-few bell,
- But he desires that his great deed may dwell,
- Or graven in the chanel window glasse,
- Or in his lasting tombe of plated brasse.
-
In the play The Merry Devil of Edmonton
The Merry Devil of Edmonton
The Merry Devil of Edmonton is an Elizabethan era stage play, a comedy about a magician, Peter Fabel, nicknamed the Merry Devil.Scholars have conjectured dates of authorship for the play as early as 1592, though most favor a date in the 1600–4 period...
(published 1608), the curfew was at nine o'clock in the evening:
John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
's put in his allegorical Il Penseroso
Il Penseroso
Il Penseroso is a vision of poetic melancholy by John Milton. Presented in the 1645 folio of verses, The Poems of Mr. John Milton, both English and Latin, Il Penseroso was presented as a companion piece to L'Allegro, a vision of poetic Mirth...
s mouth the words:
-
-
- Oft on a plat of rising ground,
- I hear the far-off curfew sound,
- Over some wide-water'd shore,
- Swinging slow, with sullen roar...
-
In Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato is a pastoral ode by George Frideric Handel based on the poetry of John Milton.-History:Handel composed the work over the period of 19 January to 4 February 1740, and the work was premiered on 27 February 1740 at the Royal Theatre of Lincoln's Inn Fields...
these words are accompanied by a pizzicato
Pizzicato
Pizzicato is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of stringed instrument....
bass-line, representing a distant bell sound.