Content to be their Gain:
Thus in the Tennis-Court,_ Love is
A Pleasure mixt with Pain.
_Of RINGING._
Whosoever would become an accurate Master of this excellent Art and
Pleasure, and is very desirous to be esteemed an Elaborate and Ingenious
Ringer, and be enrolled amongst that Honoured Society of =College
Youths=; I must beg leave to instruct him before he enters the
Bell-free, in these ensuing short Rules; which he must strictly observe,
_viz._
1. That as all _Musick_ consists in these six plain _Notes_, _La Sol Fa
Mi Re Ut_; so in _Ringing_, a Peal of Bells is Tuned according to these
Principles of Musick: For as each _Bell takes its Denomination from the
Note it Sounds_, by its being flatter or deeper, as, _First_, or Treble,
_second_, _third_, _fourth_, &c. as they are in number to _ten_ or
_twelve_ Bells, the last being called the _Tenor_; So must they
successively strike one after another both _Fore-stroke_ and
_Back-stroke_, in a due Musical time or Equi-distance, to render their
Harmony the more Pleasant, and to make the Young Practitioner the better
informed to observe the _Life of Musick_, and indeed of true Ringing,
_Time_; and therefore is called, _Round-ringing_.
2. As in Musick, so in Ringing there are three _Concords_, so called
from their Melodious Harmony and Agreement, which Principally are these;
_Thirds_, _viz._ 1 3, 2 4, _&c._ _Fifths_ 1 5, 2 6, _&c._ _Eights_ 1 8,
2 9, 3 10, _&c._ and these are the more pleasant according to the Number
of Bells they are struck on, and as they are struck, whether separately
or mutually. From hence _Changes_ are made, which is only a Changing
place of one _Note_ with another, so variously, as Musick may be heard a
thousand ways of Harmony; which being so obvious to common Observation,
I shall not go about to demonstrate; for that if two may be varied two
ways, surely by the Rule of _Multiplication_, a Man may easily learn how
many times 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 Bells Notes may be varied; which will
run almost _ad infinitum_.
3. For the better observing the Ringing of _Changes_ or _Rounds_, these
three things are to be noted.
1. _The Raising true in Peal._
2. _Ringing at a low Compass_; and
3. _Ceasing in true Peal_; all which three are the most essential Parts
to render a Practitioner _Excellent_.
1. For _Raising a Peal of Bells true_, the modern and best Practice
recommends the _swiftest and quickest possible_, every one taking
Assistance to raise his Bell, as its going requires: the _lesser_ Bells
as _Treble_, _&c._ being by main strength _held down_ in their first
Sway (or pull) to get time for the striking of the rest of larger
Compass; and so continued to be strong pulled till Frame-high, and then
may be slackned: The bigger, as _Tenor_, &c. must be pincht or checkt
overhead, that the Notes may be hard to strike roundly and hansomely.
Observe that all the Notes strike round at one Pull: I do not mean the
first; but 'tis according to the Bigness and Weightiness of your Bells:
However in raising a Peal, do not let one Bell strike before the rest,
or miss when the rest do; this is contrary to the Strict Rules of _true
Ringing_: And this is called _Round-ringing_. Now if you design to raise
a Peal of Bells for _Changes_, you ought to raise them to a Set-pull, as
the most proper for commanding the Notes, and he who is not well skilled
to manage his Bell at a Set-pull, will be apt to drop or overturn it, be
in a Wood, and fruitlessly toil and moil himself. Therefore in
practising the Setting of a Bell, cast your Eye about the other
Bell-Ropes, during your managing your own, that you may accustom your
self to manage it according to the _Change_.
2. For _Ringing at a low Compass_, is thus observed: By keeping a due
_punctum_ or beat of time, in the successive striking one after another
of every Bell; the best Ringer being set to the _Treble_, that may guide
and direct the rest of the Notes in their due Measure.
3. _For Ceasing a Peal of Bells_; let them fall gradually from a set
Peal, checking them only at Sally, till the low Compass renders it
useless; and when so low, that for want of Compass, they can scarce
strike at Back-stroak; then let the _Treble_-Ringer stamp, as a
Signal, to notify, that the next time they come to strike at the
Fore-stroke, to check them down, to hinder their striking the
Back-stroke; yet Fore-stroke continued, till brought to a neat and
graceful Chime, which may be the Finis to that Peal.
Thus much in short, for _Raising_, _Round-ringing_, and _Ceasing a Peal_
of Bells; I come next to lead you forth into that spacious Field of
Variety of _Changes_, and present you with Instructions that may be
meerly necessary, for the right Understanding the several kinds of them.
Now in _Ringing Changes_, two of our best Senses, are to be employed,
_viz._ The Ear, and the Eye: The Ear, hearing when to make a _Change_;
and the Eye directing the Bell in making it: The Bells being the Object
of the Former, and the Bell-ropes the Object of the Latter: And to
render both the Eye and Ear Useful in Ringing _Changes_, these Five
things are throughly to be Understood.
_First_, Endeavour to distinguish the _Notes_ of a _Peal_ of _Bells_,
one from another while Ringing.
_Secondly_, Learn to apprehend the places of the _Notes_.
_Thirdly_, Understand the Precedency of _Notes_.
_Fourthly_, How to make a _Change_ in _Ringing_.
_Fifthly_, and _Lastly_, How to Practice the four fore-going Notions, in
General.
1. _To know the Notes of a Peal of Bells asunder_ (which is easy in
_Round-Ringing_) in _Changes_ is thus: Get the skill of Tuning them with
your _Voice_, by imitating their Notes while _Ringing_. Or if you are
acquainted, either by your self or Friend, with some _Singing-Master_,
or one who has skill in _Singing_, get him to instruct you in the true
Pitch of any _Note_, and aid your distinguishing them; otherwise you may
be puzzled in this, to know which is _Treble_, which _Second_, &c. as in
532641, _&c._
2. To know the places of the _Notes_, is no way better to be apprehended
than thus: The Practitioner ought to form an _Idea_ in his Head of the
place of each _Note_, whether in a direct _Line_, or _Obliquely_; and
representing them by a _Figure_ in his Mind, see (as it were) by the Eye
of the Understanding, each stroke of the _Bell_, as the _Treble_, 1.
_Second_ 2. _Third_ 3. _&c._ so that as the _Ear_ is to direct him, when
to make the Change, so a right Apprehension of the _Motion_ and _Places_
of the _Notes_, ought to be a means to guide his Ear.
3. The Precedency of _Notes_, is of a very obvious Demonstration; thus:
In Ringing _Changes_ the Fore and Back-stroke, successively following
one another, are properly said to _Lye behind_ one another, according to
their places of striking. Or in short, in 12345, the _Note_ that leads
either at Fore or Back-stroke, is said to _Lye before_ the rest, and the
last to be behind, As the 2 is said to lye behind the 1, so it lyeth
before the 3, as the 3 lyeth behind 2, so it lyeth before the 4. And so
of as many as are _Rung_.
4. The manner of making a _Change_, is very common, and needs no
particular, but general Rule; That it is made by moving one _Note_ into
anothers place, Up and Down, as Occasion requires; but usually made by
two _Notes_ standing one next the other, as hereafter may be observed.
_Lastly_, In your Ringing _Changes_, these two things (in which consists
the practick part of this Art) are to be rightly considered, _First_,
Readily to know which two _Bells_ are to make the succeeding _Change_.
And _Secondly_, to consider (if you are concerned in it) what _Bell_ you
are to follow in making it. To understand which the more perfectly, you
must imprint in your Memory, the Method of the _Changes_ prick'd in
_Figures_, and to be expert likewise in setting them down divers ways,
and making any _Figure_ a _Hunt_ at Pleasure; and thus without pausing
or hesitating to consider the Course, you may throughly understand the
Methods; the Four preceding Observations being first perfectly
understood.
There are two ways of _Ringing Changes_, viz. By _Walking_ them, as the
Artists stile it; or by _Whole Pulls_ or _Half-pulls_: _Walking_ is,
when in one _Change_ the _Bells_ go round, _Four_, _Six_, or _Eight_
times; which is a most incomparable way to improve a Young Practitioner,
by giving him time to consider, which two _Bells_ do make the next
succeeding _Change_, and in making it, what _Bell_ each is to follow; so
that by this means (by his Industry) he may be capable of Ringing at
_Whole pulls_; which is, when the _Bells_ go round in a _Change_ at Fore
and Back-stroke; and a New _Change_ is made every time they are pulled
down at Sally: This was an Ancient Practice, but is now laid aside,
since we have learnt a more advantageous way of hanging our _Bells_,
that we can manage a _Bell_ with more ease at a _Set-pull_ than
formerly: So that Ringing at _Half-Pulls_ is now the modern general
Practice; that is, when one _Change_ is made at Fore-stroke, another at
Back-stroke, _&c._
He that Rings the slowest _Hunt_, ought to notify the _extream Changes_;
which is, when the Leading _Bell_ is pulling down, that he might make
the _Change_ next before the extreme, he ought to say, _Extreme_. By
this means, betwixt the Warning and the Extreme there will be one
compleat _Change_.
_Of Changes_, &c.
There are _two kinds of Changes_, viz. _Plain Changes_, and
_Cross-peals_; which Terms do denote the _Nature_ of them; for as the
first is stiled _Plain_, so are its methods easy; and as the second is
called _Cross_, so are its Methods cross and intricate: The First have a
general Method, in which all the Notes (except Three) have a direct
_Hunting-Course_, moving gradually under each other, plainly and
uniformly: _Plain_ are likewise termed _single Changes_, because there
is but one single Change made in the striking all the Notes round,
either at Fore or Back-stroke. But the Second is _various_, each _Peal_
differing in its Course from all others; and in _Cross-peals as many
changes may be made as the Notes will permit_. In short, as to
_Plain-changes_, I shall not dilate on them here, it being so _plainly_
understood by every one that lately have rung a _Bell_ in peal; all
therefore I shall add is this, that any two Notes that strike next
together may make a Change, which may be done either _single or double_,
as you list. The _single_, by changing two Notes; and the _double_, by
changing Four, _i.e._ Two to make one Change and two another; which is
however called _One double Change_, and not two Changes; because tis
made in striking the Notes of the _Bells_ once round.
_Of Cross-peals._
Or in these _Cross-peals_ we must Observe the _prime Movement_, which
sets the whole Frame a going, and that is called the _Hunt_, which hath
_one constant Uniform Motion throughout the Peal_, and different from
that of the other Notes; and indeed by this the whole Course of the Peal
is Steered. This keeps a continual motion through the other Notes,
_i.e._ from leading, to strike behind, and from thence again to Lead;
which is called one _compleat Course_.
Some Peals upon _five Bells_ consist of single Courses, wherein are ten
Changes, and twelve Courses make the Peal. Others upon five consist of
double Courses, wherein are twenty Changes to every Course, and six
Courses in the Peal.
Upon _six Bells_ there are likewise _single_ and _double_ Courses,
_viz._ Twelve Changes in every single Course, as in _Grandsire-bob_,
_&c._ and Twenty-four Changes in every double Course, as in _College
Bobs_, that being the first Change of every Course, wherein the _Hunt_
leaves Leading: In short, judiciously observe the first Course of any
_Cross-peal_, and you will soon see the general Method of the whole
Peal: All Courses in Cross-Peals agreeing in these following three
Respects. First, _In the Motion of the Hunt_. Secondly _In the motion of
the rest of the Notes_: And Thirdly, _In making the Changes_. Which
three things being well (to omit Instance of Demonstration) and
narrowly observed, will be very helpful both in pricking and ringing
Courses; the first and third for directing you in Pricking them, and the
first and second in Ringing them.
There is one Difficulty to be removed e're I can come to prick down
those Peals I design to be the Subject of the Discourse of this
_Epitome_, and that is, _How to make the first Changes at the beginning
of each Peal_; I mean to make the _Second_, _Third_, _Fourth_, &c.
_whole Hunts_; and this In short is thus directed: In any _Cross-peal_
the _whole Hunt_ may move either up or down at the beginning; and the
Motion of the _whole Hunt_, in the first Course of each of the following
Peals will direct the first Motion of any _Cross-Hunt_, and by
Consequence of making the first Changes in that Peal. Taking along with
you this Observation.
That whensoever the first Change of any Peal happens to be _single_, it
must be made at the back-stroke, to prevent _cutting Compass_, and the
like when a double Change happens first in a Peal of _Triples and
doubles_: But when it happens, that the first Change is made at the
Back-stroke, then Consequently the Bells at the end of the Peal will
come round at a Fore-stroke Change.
I shall omit speaking to any of the several Peals on _four or five
Bells_; for that in my opinion little _Musick_ is heard, though much
_Practical Observation_ is made, from them; and therefore shall begin
with _Grandsire-bob_, as having mentioned it but just before in my
general View I made of _Cross-peals_.
_Grandsire Bob._
_Bob_ Changes take their Name from this; _viz._ When the _Treble_ leads
in the _Second_ and _Third_, and the _Fifth_ and _Sixth's_ places, then
they are called _Bob-changes_. In Ringing which you are to observe these
Rules, _viz._
Whatsoever Bells you follow when you _Hunt up_, the same Bells in the
same order you must follow in _Hunting down_; as in the Changes here
prickt, where the _Treble_ hunting up _First_ follows _Second_, then
_Fourth_, and then _Sixth_; when it comes behind, _First_ follows
_Second_, in hunting down _Fourth_; and when hunting up follows _Sixth_
in the same Order: The like may be observed in Ringing any other Bell,
with this Difference betwixt the whole Hunt and the rest, _viz._ Every
time the Whole hunt leaves the _Treble's_ place, and hunts up, it
followeth different Bells, from what it did at its first hunting up.
In the ensuing Peal here prickt are _Eighteen-score_ Changes, wanting
one. It may be Rung with any _Hunts_, and begin the Changes _Triple_ and
_Double_: You may make your extream at the first, second, or third
_single Bob_; or the first, second, or third time, that the half and
_Quarter-hunts_ dodge behind; the _single_ must be made behind in either
of these.
123456 | _bob._ | 134256 | 143265 | 126435
------ | 156423 | 312465 | 142356 | ------
214365 | 514632 | 321645 | ------ | 162345
241635 | 541362 | 236154 | 124536 | 163254
426153 | 453126 | 263514 | 125463 | ------
462513 | 435216 | 625341 | ------ | 136524
645231 | 342561 | 652431 | 152643 | 135642
654321 | 324651 | 564213 | 156234 | ------
563412 | 236415 | 546123 | ------ | 153462
536142 | 263145 | 451632 | 165324 | _bob._
351624 | 621354 | 415362 | 163542 | 135426
315264 | 612345 | 143526 | ------ | ------
132546 | 165243 | _bob._ | 136452 | 153246
135264 | 162534 | 134562 | _bob._ | 152364
312546 | 615243 | 315426 | 163425 | ------
321456 | 651423 | 351246 | ------ | 125634
234165 | 564132 | 532164 | 136245 | 126543
243615 | 546312 | 523614 | 132654 | ------
426351 | 453621 | 256341 | ------ | 162453
462531 | 435261 | 265431 | 123564 | 164235
645213 | 342516 | 624513 | 125346 | ------
654123 | 324156 | 642153 | ------ | 146325
561432 | 231465 | 461235 | 152436 | _bob._
516342 | 213645 | 416325 | 154263 | 164352
153624 | 126354 | 143652 | ------ | ------
156342 | 123645 | _bob._ | 145623 | 146532
513624 | 216354 | 134625 | _bob._ | _bob._
531264 | 261534 | 316452 | 154632 | 164523
352145 | 625143 | 361542 | ------ | ------
325416 | 652413 | 635124 | 145362 | 146253
234561 | 564231 | 653214 | _bob._ | 142635
243651 | 546321 | 562341 | 154326 | ------
426315 | 453612 | 526431 | ------ | 124365
462135 | 435162 | 254613 | 145236 | ------
641253 | 341526 | 245163 | 142563 | 123456
614523 | 314256 | 421536 | ------ | ======
165432 | 132465 | 412356 | 124653 |
Thus much for the _Grandsire-bob_; I shall next collect what _London
Peals_ I think most Harmonious, and agreeable, without troubling my self
to go to _Oxford_, or _Nottingham_, or _Redding_, to enquire after their
different Methods of Peals, as indeed needless; and my reason is this:
Because I think the same Rules for _Peals_ that are suitable to our
_London Genius_, may challenge likewise an Acceptance amongst other
_Cities_; provided their _Steeples_ are furnished with as many, and as
good _Bells_, and their _Belfree's_ with as ingenious and elaborate
_Ringers_ as here in _London_.
I shall begin then with _Peals upon six Bells,_ and herein in order,
measure out the Delights on _Peals_ from _Six_ to _Eight Bells_, and
setting out early, present you with
_The Morning Exercise._
_Doubles_ and _singles_. The whole _Hunt_ is the _Treble_, which Hunteth
up into the _Second_, _Third_, and _Fourth_ places, lying twice in each;
and then lyeth still in the _Sixth_ place, having dodged behind, and
makes another, and then _Hunts_ down as it _Hunted_ up, and then leads
four times. Observing the manner of its Pricking, and its Practice, may
excuse any further defining it.
123456 |
------ | 265143 | 163425 | 125643 | 143256
213465 | 265134 | ------ | 125634 | 134265
213456 | 265143 | 165243 | ------ | 134256
231465 | 261534 | 165234 | 124365 | ------
231456 | 216543 | 156243 | 124356 | 136524
234165 | 216534 | 156234 | 142365 | 136542
234156 | 126543 | ------ | 142356 | _bob._
243516 | 126534 | 154326 | ------ | 135624
243561 | 162543 | 154362 | 146532 | 135642
245316 | 162534 | _bob._ | 146523 | ------
245361 | ------ | 153426 | _bob._ | 132465
254631 | 164352 | 153462 | 145632 | 132456
254613 | 164325 | ------ | 145623 | 123465
256431 | _bob._ | 152643 | ------ | 123456
256413 | 163452 | 152634 | 143265 | ------
This will go a 120 _Changes_, and by making _Bobs_, 240, 360, 270.
_A Cure for_ Melancholy.
_Doubles_ and _Singles_.
I should think it needless to explain the method of prick'd _Peals_, and
give a large Definition of them, when their plain Demonstration might be
sufficient; However, as the Old _Phrase_ is, _Because 'tis usual_,
something shall be said of this too.
The _Treble_ is the whole _Hunt_, as in the former, and leads four
times, and lyeth behind as many, and twice in every other place; the two
_Bells_ in the 3d. and 4th. places continue dodging, when the _Treble_
moves out of the 4th. place, until it comes down there again, and then
the two hindmost dodge, till the _Treble_ displaceth them; who maketh
every double _Change_, except when it lieth behind, and then the double
is on the four first, and on the four last when it leads. Every single
(except when the _Treble_ lies there) is in the 5th. and 6th. places; or
if possessed by the _Treble_, then in the 3d. and 4th. places: Every
_Bell_ (except the _Treble_) lies four times in the Second place: But
enough; a word is enough to the Wise. See it here Deciphered.
123456 |
------ | 452136 | 165432 | 126534 | 156432
213465 | 452163 | ------ | 126543 | _bob._
213456 | 451236 | 143652 | ------ | 165423
231465 | 451263 | 143625 | 154263 | 165432
231456 | 415236 | _bob._ | 154236 | ------
234165 | 415263 | 134652 | 152463 | 132654
234156 | 145236 | 134625 | 152436 | 132645
243516 | 145263 | ------ | ------ | 136254
245316 | 142536 | 162345 | 143526 | 136245
243561 | 142563 | 162354 | 143562 | ------
245361 | ------ | 163245 | _bob._ | 124365
423561 | 156423 | 163254 | 134526 | 124356
425361 | 156432 | ------ | 134562 | 123465
423516 | _bob._ | 125634 | ------ | 123456
425316 | 165423 | 125643 | 156423 | ------
This will go _Six-score Changes_, but by making _bobs_, it will go 240,
360, or 720. The _Bob_ is a double _Change_ at the leading of the
_Treble_, in which the _Bell_ in the 4th. place lyeth still.
London Nightingale.
_Doubles_ and _Singles_.
The Whole-hunt is the _Treble_, who lyeth four times before, and as many
behind, and twice in every other place: The two hind _Bells_ continue
dodging, when the _Treble_ moves down out of the _Fifth_ place, till he
comes there again, the _Bell_ in the _Fourth_ place lying still all the
while: When the two hind _Bells_ aforesaid leave dodging, then the two
_First Bells_ take their dodging places, till dispossessed again, by the
return of the said Hind _Bells_ to their dodging; and then they Cease.
123456 |
------ | 425316 | 162534 | 142365 | 164532
213465 | 452136 | ------ | 124356 | _bob._
213456 | 452163 | 153624 | 124365 | 165423
231465 | 451236 | 153642 | ------ | 165432
231456 | 451263 | _bob._ | 136245 | ------
234165 | 415236 | 156324 | 136254 | 143652
234156 | 415263 | 156342 | 163245 | 143625
243516 | 145236 | ------ | 163254 | _bob._
423516 | 145263 | 134562 | ------ | 146352
243561 | 154236 | 134526 | 125634 | 146325
243561 | 154263 | _bob._ | 125643 | ------
423561 | ------ | 135462 | 152634 | 132465
245361 | 126543 | 135426 | 152643 | 132456
425361 | 126534 | ------ | ------ | 123465
245316 | 162543 | 142356 | 164523 | 123456
This will go 120, and by making _Bobs_, 240, 360, or 720.
_College Bobs._
In this _Bob_, when the _Treble_ leaves the two Hind _Bells_, they dodge
till it comes there again, and till the _Treble_ gives way for the
dodging again of the said two Hind _Bell_, the two _First Bells_ dodge,
but after Cease dodging, when the two Hind _Bells_ dodge.
123456 |
------ | 243651 | 421635 | 152364 | 165324
214365 | 426315 | 246153 | 135246 | _bob._
124356 | 462135 | 241635 | 153246 | 156342
213465 | 641253 | 426153 | ------ | ------
231456 | 642135 | 462513 | 126543 | 132546
324165 | 461253 | _&c._ | 125634 | 135264
321456 | 416235 | 165432 | ------ | ------
234165 | 142653 | _bob._ | 164235 | 124365
243615 | 412635 | 156423 | 162453 | 123456
426351 | 146253 | ------ | ------ | ------
246315 | 142635 | 143526 | 143652 |
423651 | 416253 | _bob._ | _bob._ |
246351 | 146235 | 134562 | 134625 |
423615 | 412653 | ------ | ------ |
_Another._
Here, every _Bell_, when it comes to lead, makes a dodge before, then
after one _Change_, it lyeth still; after it has made another dodge, it
moves up into the 4th. place, where twice it lyeth still; and down
again; except the _Treble_ happens to dodge with it in the 4th. place,
then it hunts up behind. When the _Treble_ moves down out of the _3d_.
place, the two _Bells_ in the _3d._ and _4th._ place continue there,
till the _Treble_ comes up thither again, the two hind _Bells_ dodging
in the mean time.
123456 |
------ | 265314 | 132564 | 135426 | 164352
214365 | 625341 | 315246 | ------ | ------
124356 | 263514 | 351426 | 153246 | 146532
213465 | 236154 | 534162 | 152364 | _bob._
231645 | 321645 | 351462 | ------ | 164523
326145 | 236145 | 534126 | 125634 | ------
231654 | 321654 | _&c._ | 126543 | 146253
326154 | 312564 | 153624 | ------ | 142635
362415 | 135246 | _bob._ | 162453 | ------
634251 | 315264 | 135642 | 164235 | 124365
364215 | 132546 | ------ | ------ | 123456
632451 | 135264 | 153462 | 146325 | ------
623541 | 312546 | _bob._ | _bob._ |
Both these _bobs_ will go _One Hundred_ and _Twenty Changes_, and by
making of _bobs_, they will go, 240, 360, or 720. And thus with little
Variation, there are other _bobs_ may be made after the same manner, and
afford as Admirable Musick, as possibly can be made on _Bells_. I shall
therefore hasten to finish this days Work, only first present you with
this one more called,
The City Delight:
_Doubles and Singles._
The whole _Hunt_ is the _Treble_, and lieth as before in the
_Nightingale_: When the _Treble_ moves out of the _3d._ place, the
_Singles_ are made in the _2d._ and _3d._ place, till the _Treble_
repossesses his _3d._ place, and then behind, till it moves up again out
of the _3d._ place. The two hind _Bells_ dodge, when the _Treble_ moves
out of the _4th._ place, till he returns again; the _Bell_ in the _4th._
place lying still all the while.