Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Page 2

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_ (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