Of the Beginning of _Changes_.
It is an ancient _Proverb_ with us in _England_ (That _Rome_
was not built in a day) by which expression is declared, That
difficult things are not immediately done, or in a short time
accomplished: But for the _Art of Ringing_, it is admirable
to conceive in how short a time it hath increased, that the
very depth of its intricacy is found out; for within these
Fifty or Sixty years last past, _Changes_ were not known,
or thought possible to be _Rang_: Then were invented the
_Sixes_, being the very ground of a _Six score_: Then the
_Twenty_, and _Twenty-four_, with several other _Changes_.
But _Cambridge Forty-eight_, for many years, was the greatest
_Peal_ that was _Rang_ or invented; but now, neither _Forty-eight_,
nor a _Hundred_, nor _Seven-hundred and twenty_, nor any Number
can confine us; for we can _Ring Changes_, _Ad infinitum_.
Although _Philosophers_ say, _No Number is infinite, because
it can be numbred_; for _infinite_ is a quantity that cannot
be taken or assigned, but there is (_infinitum quoad hos_) as
they term it, that is _infinite_ in respect of our apprehension:
Therefore a _Ringers_ knowledge may seem _infinite_ to dive so
_infinitely_ into such an _infinite_ Subject; but least my
Discourse should be _infinite_, I will conclude it, and proceed
to the _Peals_ following.
Before I Treat of the method and diversity of _Peals_, I
think it not impertinent to speak something of the _Properties_
wherewith a _Young Ringer_ ought to be qualified, and then
proceed to the _Peals_. _First_ then, before he is entred
into a _Company_, it is presupposed, that he is able to _Set
a Bell Fore-stroke and Back-stroke_, as the terms are: Next,
that he know how to _Ring Round_, or _Under-sally_: Then, that
he may be complete, it is convenient, that he understand the
_Tuning of Bells_; for what is a _Musician_, unless he can
_Tune_ his _Instrument_, although he plays never so well? To
do which, let him learn on some _Instrument_, or _Wyer-Bells_,
to know a _Third_, _Fifth_, and _Eighth_, which are the
principal _Concords_: Or otherwise, let him get a _Pipe_
called a _Pitch-pipe_, which may be made by any _Organ-maker_,
to contain _eight Notes_, or more, (according to his pleasure)
with their _Flatts_ and _Sharps_, which will be very useful in
the _Tuning of Bells_. And then this is a general Rule, begin
at the _Tenor_, or _biggest Bell_, and count 3 _whole Notes_,
then a _half Note_, or _Sharp_, 3 _whole Notes_, then a
_half Note_, or _Sharp_; and so on, until you come to the
_least Bell_ or _Treble_. For example on _four Bells_, 1:234,
here the 432 are _whole_ _Notes_, and the _half Note_ or
_Sharp_ is between 1 and 2. On _Five Bells_, 12:345 the 543
are _whole Notes_; and the _half Note_ or _Sharp_ is between
2 and 3. On _Six_, 123:456 the _half Note_ or _Sharp_ is
between 3 and 4. On _Eight Bells_, 1:2345:678, one _half Note_
or _Sharp_ is between 5 and 6, and the other between 1 and 2.
On _Ten_, 123:4567:8910; here one _half Note_ is between 7
and 8, and the next between 3 and 4. On _Twelve Bells_,
12:345:6789:10 11 12. Here one _half Note_ or _Sharp_ is
between 9 and 10, the next between 5 and 6, and the other
between 2 and 3, which last is made contrary to the former
Rule, it being but _two whole Notes_ from the next _half Note_
to it; the reason is this, the _Ninth_ is one _whole Note_
below the _Eighth_, therefore the 2 must be a _whole Note_
below the _Treble_, otherwise they would not be a true _Eighth_,
therefore the _half Note_ is put between 2 and 3. Now he that
hath these Rules, and a good ear to judge of the _Concords_,
may at any time cast his Verdict (as to Bells, whether they
are well in _Tune_ or not) amongst the chief of the _Company_.
Of the _Changes_.
A _Change_ is made between _two Bells_ that strikes next
to each other, by removing into each others places, as in
these _two Figures_ 1, 2. make a _Change_ between them,
and they will stand 2, 1. which is called a _Change_;
make another _Change_ between them, and they will stand in
their right places, as at first, 1, 2. These _two Changes_
are all that can be made on _two Bells_.
The _Changes_ on three Bells.
On _three Bells_ there are _six several Changes_ to be made;
in _Ringing_ of which, there is _one Bell_ to be observed,
which is called the _Hunt_, and the other two are _Extream
Bells_ (but they cannot properly be so called, because every
_Bell_ _hunts_ in the _six Changes_; yet because 'tis commonly
_Rang_ by observing a _Hunt_ and _two Extream Bells_, I will
therefore proceed in that course.) The name of _Hunt_ is
properly given to it, because of its continual motion up
and down amongst the other _Bells_, which motion is called
_Hunting_, and the other _two_ are called _Extream Bells_,
because when the _Hunt_ is either before or behind them,
that is at the _Extream_, or utmost place, there is a _Change_
then to be made between them, called an _Extream Change_.
There are two several wayes to _Ring_ the _six Changes_.
One whereof is to make the _Treble_ the _Hunt_, and the
other way is to make the _Tenor_ the _Hunt_. I will give an
Example in _hunting_ the _Treble_, the _Bells_ are supposed
to stand thus.--
123
Now the _Treble_ must be _hunted_ up over the _Second_
and _Third_, which is to be done, by making a _Change_
between the _Treble_, and each of those two Bells in order;
therefore first I remove the _Treble_ up over the _Second_,
into the _seconds_ place, by making a _Change_ between the
_Treble_ and _Second_, thus.--
213
The _Treble_ being removed up over the _Second_, it must
next be removed up over the _Third_, as in this _Change_.--
231
Alwayes observe, that when the _Hunt_ moves from the
foremost _Bell_ toward the hindmost, then it _hunts_ up,
as in the _Changes_ next before; but when it moves or _hunts_
from the hindmost Bell, toward the Bell that leads, then it
_hunts_ down, as appears by the _Changes_ following. The
_Treble_ being _hunted_ up behind the _Extream_ Bells, an
_Extream Change_ is next to be made between them.--
321
Here you may observe, that if the _Hunt_ had been
_hunted_ down without an _Extream Change_ first made,
those _Changes_ in _hunting_ it down, would have been
the same with those that were made in _hunting_ it up.
The _Extream Change_ being made, the _Treble_ must be
_hunted_ down again before the Bells thus.--
312
132
The _Treble_ being now _hunted_ down, the next is to be
an _Extream Change_.--
123
which is the last _Change_ of the _six_.
The other way to _Ring_ the _six Changes_, is, to make
the _Tenor_ the _Hunt_, which being behind already, it
must first be _hunted_ down, as in these _Changes_.--
123
132
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The _Third_, which is the _Hunt_, being _hunted_ down
before the Bells, the _Extream Change_ must next be made
between the 2, and 1. Which are the _Extream Bells_, thus.--
321
The _Extream Change_ being made, the _Third_ must be
_hunted_ up again.--
231
213
The _Third_ being _hunted_ up, another _Extream_ must be
made, which brings the Bells round in their right places.--
123
The _Plain Changes_ on four Bells.
On four Bells, there are _Twenty four several Changes_, in
_Ringing_ of which, there is one Bell called the _Hunt_, and
the other three are _Extream_ Bells; the _Hunt_ moves, and
_hunts_ up and down continually, and lies but once in one
place, except only when it comes before or behind the Bells,
at which time it lies there twice together; it has the same
course here, as in the _six Changes_ before set down; two of
the _Extream_ Bells makes a _Change_ every time the _Hunt_
comes before or behind them. An Example I will here give,
making the _Treble_ the _Hunt_, and the _Extream Changes_
I make between the two farthest _Extream_ Bells from the
_Hunt_. I set down the _four Figures_, representing the
_four Bells_, thus.--
1234
The _Treble_ must now be _hunted_ up behind the Bells,
where it is to lie twice together, and then to _hunt_
down before them, where it must lie twice, and then _hunt_
up again as before. The _Hunt_ is alwayes one of the two
Bells which makes every _Change_, except only when it comes
before or behind the Bells, and it moves only over one Bell
at a time; 'tis to be _hunted_ up after this manner.--
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The _Treble_ being _hunted_ up behind the Bells, as appears
by the last _Changes_, the next is to be an _Extream Change_
between the two farthest _Extream_ Bells from the _Hunt_,
which are the _Second_ and _Third_, thus.--
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The _Extream_ being made, the _Treble_ must be _hunted_
down again, as in these _Changes_.--
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The Treble being hunted down, there is another Extream
Change to be made between the two farthest Bells from it,
which are the Second and Fourth.--
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The Extream being made, the Treble must be hunted as before,
and so to the end of the Peal, making an Extream Change
every time the Hunt comes before and behind the Bells.--
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The Twenty-four Changes are to be Rang another way, in
hunting up the Treble, which is, by making every Extream
Change between the two nearest Bells to the Hunt, as in
these Changes, first I hunt the Treble up.--
1234
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The Treble being hunted up, the Extream Change is to be
made between the 3 and 4, which are the two nearest Bells
to it, as in this Change,
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and so to the end of the Peal, making every Extream between
the two nearest Bells to the Hunt all the way.
These two wayes in _Ringing_ the _Twenty-four_, differs
only in making the _Extream Changes_, one whereof is to
make them between the two farthest _Extream_ Bells from
the _Hunt_, and the other to make them between the two
nearest Bells to it.
The _Twenty-four Changes_ are to be _Rang_ two wayes more
in _hunting_ down the _Treble_; one way, is to make the
_Extreams_ between the two farthest Bells from the _Hunt_;
and the other, is to make them between the two nearest,
as before. A short Example I will set down, the Bells
stand thus.--
1234
The _Treble_ should now be _hunted_ down, but it being
already before the Bells, insomuch that it can be removed
no lower; therefore the first must be an _Extream Change_,
either between the two nearest, or two farthest Bells from
the _Hunt_ at pleasure; the _Extream_ being made, the _Treble_
is to _hunt_ up, and so to the end of the _Peal_, in the same
course as before.
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In _hunting_ the _Second_, _Third_, or _Fourth_, there
is to be observed the same course, as in _hunting_ the
_Treble_: A short Example I will set down, in _hunting_
the _Third_ up, and making the _Extream Changes_ between
the two farthest _Bells_ from it.--
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_First_, I _hunt_ up the _third_ over the _fourth_; the
_Hunt_ being up, I make an _extream_ between the _treble_
and _second_, and then _hunt_ down the _third_ again, as
in these _changes_, which course is to be observed to the
end of the _Peal_.
I have insisted the longer upon the directions to the
_Twenty-four changes_, because it is the ground and method
in _Ringing_ all _plain changes_; and by understanding this
aright, the Learner will more easily apprehend the course
of all _plain_ and _single changes_ whatsoever.
The _Twenty-four plain changes_ are to be _Rang_ sixteen
several wayes; in _hunting_ one Bell, it is to be _Rang_
four ways; that is, two wayes in _hunting_ it up, and the
other two wayes in _hunting_ it down, (as appears in my
directions before in _hunting_ the _treble_:) so that in
_hunting_ the 4 Bells, 'tis to be _Rang_ 4 times 4 wayes,
which makes 16, some of which I have here set down.
Treble Hunt up, Extream between the 2 farthest Bells
from it.
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Second up, extream between the 2 nearest to it.
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Fourth down, Extream between the two farthest Bells
from it.
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Some persons do observe to _Ring_ the _Twenty-four changes_
with a _whole Hunt_, and _half Hunt_; but that is an imperfect
course; for there cannot be one _half hunt_ only, but there
will unavoidably be three _half Hunts_ in one and the same
_Twenty-four_; therefore I have set down the other way to
_ring_ it, by observing a _hunt_, and _three extream_ Bells,
which course is much more easie and true.
In the _Twenty-four Changes_ are contained the _six
Changes_; the _three Extream Bells_ in the _Twenty-four_
makes the _six Changes_ in course, every _extream change_
being one of the _six_, and the _Hunt_ hunting through each
of the _six Changes_, makes _Twenty-four_: For Example, take
the _three Extream_ Bells in the first _Twenty-four_ set
down before, which are 234, and set down the _six Changes_
on them, thus.--
234
324
342
432
423
243
234
Now take the first _Change_, which is 234, set the _Treble_
before it, and _hunt_ it through, thus.--
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The _Treble_ being _hunted_ up behinde, take the next
_Change_ of the _six_, which is 324, set it directly
under the _First_, and _hunt_ the _Treble_ down through
it, thus.--
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And so take each of the other _six Changes_, and _hunt_
the _Treble_ through them, it will make _Twenty-four_.
I will here insert two or three old _Peals_ on five Bells,
which (though rejected in these dayes, yet) in former times
were much in use, which for _Antiquity sake_, I here set
down. And first,
The _Twenty_ all over.
The course is this--every Bell _hunts_ in order once through
the Bells, until it comes behind them; and first the _Treble_
_hunts_ up, next the _Second_, and then the 3, 4 and 5, which
brings the Bells round in their right places again, at the end
of the _Twenty Changes_, as in this following _Peal_.--
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This Peal is to be Rang, by hunting the Bells down,
beginning with the Tenor, next the fourth, and so the
third, second, and treble, which will bring the Bells
round in course as before.
An Eight and Forty.
In this _Peal_, the _Fifth_ and _Fourth_ are both _whole
Hunts_, each of which does _hunt_ down before the Bells
by turns, and lies there twice together and then _hunts_
up again: The 1, 2 and 3 goes the _six changes_, one of
which is made every time, either of the _whole Hunts_ lies
before the Bells, as in the following _Changes_, where the
_fifth_ hunts down the _first_; and lying before the Bells,
there is a _change_ made between the 1 & 2, which is one of
the _six changes_; and then the _fifth_ _hunts_ up again
into its place, and the _fourth_ _hunts_ down, which lying
before the Bells, there is another of the _six changes_
made between the 1 and 3, and then the _fourth_ _hunts_ up
again, and the _fifth_ _hunts_ down next; in which course
it continues to the end of the _Peal_, each of the _whole
Hunts_ lying but twice at one time before the Bells, as in
these following _changes_.
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_Cambridge_ Eight and Forty.
Wherein it is observed, that the _Treble_ and _Second_ does
never come behind, neither does the _Fifth_ and _Fourth_
come before, as in the following _Changes_.
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The _Plain Changes_ on five Bells.
There are _Six-score Changes_ to be _Rang_ on _five
Bells_, which are to be _Rang_, by observing a _whole
Hunt_, a _half Hunt_, and _three Extream Bells_; the
course of the _whole Hunt_, is the same with the _Hunt_
in the _Twenty-four Changes_, and _hunts_ up and down
in the same manner. The _half Hunt_ moves once, that
is, over one Bell every time, the _whole Hunt_ comes
before and behind the Bells; but when the _half Hunt_
is removed either before or behind the _Extream Bells_,
then there is an _Extream Change_ to be made. For Example,
I make the _Treble_ the _whole Hunt_, and _hunt_ it up;
and the _Second_ the _half Hunt_ and _half hunt_ it up,
making every _Extream Change_ between the two farthest
_Extream Bells_ from the _half Hunt_; the _Extream Bells_
are the _Third_, _Fourth_, _Fifth_: Now observe, that whereas
in the _Twenty-four Changes_, an _Extream Change_ was alwayes
made, when the _whole Hunt_ came before or behind the _Bells_,
in these _Six-score_ _Changes_ an _Extream_ is alwayes to be
made, when the _Half Hunt_ comes before or behind the _Extream
Bells_; first the Treble is to be _hunted_ up, as in these
_Changes_.--
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The _whole Hunt_ being _hunted_ up, the _Second_, which
is the _half Hunt_, must be _hunted_ up over one _Bell_,
as in this _Change_.--
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The _half Hunt_ being removed up over one _Bell_, the
_whole Hunt_ must be _hunted_ down again, as in these
_Changes_.--
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The _whole Hunt_ being _hunted_ down, the _half Hunt_ is to
be removed up over the _Fourth_, which is the next _Bell_
to it.--
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