I have often read Vincent Bourne's poem, "Ad Davidem Cook, Westmonasterii
Custodem Nocturnum et Vigilantissimum, Anno 1716:" Pickering's edition, p.
129. This nightly guardian, it appears, was accompanied by a dog:
"Cum variis implent tenebrae terroribus orbem,
Tu comite assuetum cum cane carpis iter,"
was armed with a stout staff, or knotty club:
"Nec te perterrent, nodoso stipite fretum,
Subdola qui tacito pectore furta parant,"
and carried a bell:
"Tinnitu adventum signans, oriantur an astra,
Narras, an pure lucida Luna micet."
To the last-mentioned part of his equipment, he owed the title of
"Bellman."
The Bellman's duty, however, was not confined to crying the rising of the
stars, or the shining of the moon, but he cheered his nightly round with
many a chant: