Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Page 2

I'm a Jew)
If I don't think this to be true,
They see no more on't
than blind _Hugh_.
Well, let their tongues run _Titere tu_,
Drink
muddy Ale, or else _French Lieve_,
Whil'st we our Sport and Art
renew,
And drink good Sack till Sky looks blew,
So _Grandsire_
bids you All adieu.
R.R.
THE ART OF RINGING.
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_