and the angel is stationary.  The cock on the weather vane at Winchester was described as early as the tenth century, in the Life of St. Swithin, by the scribe Walstan.  He calls it “a cock of elegant form, and all resplendent and shining with gold who occupies the summit of the tower.  He regards the world from on high, he commands all the country.  Before him extend the stars of the North, and all the constellations of the zodiac.  Under his superb feet he holds the sceptre of the law, and he sees under him all the people of Winchester.  The other cocks are humble subjects of this one, whom they see thus raised in mid-air above them:  he scorns the winds, that bring the rains, and, turning, he presents to them his back.  The terrible efforts of the tempest do not annoy him, he receives with courage either snow or lightning, alone he watches the sun as it sets and dips into the ocean:  and it is he who gives it its first salute on its rising again.  The traveller who sees him afar off, fixes on him his gaze; forgetting the road he has still to follow, he forgets his fatigues:  he advances with renewed ardour.  While he is in reality a long way from the end, his eyes deceive him, and he thinks that he has arrived.”  Quite a practical tribute to a weather cock!

The fact that leaden roofs were placed on all churches and monastic buildings in the Middle Ages, accounts in part for their utter destruction in case of fire; for it is easy to see how impossible it would be to enter a building in order to save anything, if, to the terror of flames, were added the horror of a leaden shower of molten metal proceeding from every part of the roof at once!  If a church once caught fire, that was its end, as a rule.

The invention of clocks, on the principle of cog-wheels and weights, is attributed to a monk, named Gerbert, who died in 1013.  He had been instructor to King Robert, and was made Bishop of Rheims, later becoming Pope Sylvester II.  Clocks at first were large affairs in public places.  Portable clocks were said to have been first made by Carovage, in 1480.

[Illustration:  ANGLO SAXON CRUCIFIX OF LEAD]

An interesting specimen of mediaeval clock work is the old Dijon time keeper, which still performs its office, and which is a privilege to watch at high noon.  Twelve times the bell is struck:  first by a man, who turns decorously with his hammer, and then by a woman, who does the same.  This staunch couple have worked for their living for many centuries.  Froissart alludes to this clock, saying:  “The Duke of Burgundy caused to be carried away from the market place at Courtray a clock that struck the hours, one of the finest which could be found on either side of the sea:  and he conveyed it by pieces in carts, and the bell also, which clock was brought and carted into the town of Dijon, in Burgundy, where it was deposited and put up, and there strikes the twenty-four hours between day and night.”  This was in 1382, and there is no knowing how long the clock may have performed its functions in Courtray prior to its removal to Dijon.