Chapter 1

Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Daniel Emerson Griffith and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

TINTINNALOGIA:

OR,

THE ART OF RINGING.

Wherein Is laid down plain and easie Rules for Ringing all sorts of _Plain Changes_.

Together with Directions for Pricking and Ringing all _Cross Peals_; with a full Discovery of the Mystery and Grounds of each Peal.

_As Also_ Instructions for _Hanging of Bells_, with all things belonging thereunto.

_by a Lover of that ART._

A. Persii Sat. V. Disce: sed ira cadat naso, rugosaque sanna,

LONDON, Printed for _F.S._ and are to be Sold by _Tho. Archer_, at his Shop under the _Dyal_ of St. _Dunstan's Church_ in _Fleet-street_, 1671.

TO THE NOBLE SOCIETY OF COLLEDGE-YOUTHS.

GENTLEMEN,

I have seen a Treatise intituled, _de Tintinnabulis_--that is, of little Bells, the Language Latin, but pen'd by a _Dutchman_, being a Discourse of striking tunes on little Bells with traps under the feet, with several Books on several Instruments of Music, and Tunes prick't for the same; Then considering that the Well-wishers to either of them, took great pains to make plain the use of them, I thought it worth a Dayes labour, to write something on this Art or Science, that the Rules thereof might not be lost and obscured to some, as the _Chronicles_ before _William_ the Conqueror, being given only by Tradition from Father to Son. Wherefore I humbly intreat you favourably to accept this small Treatise, as a foundation whereon may be raised a famous Structure; and if any one objects a fault, excuse it with the Ringing term--He was Over-bell'd--So you will much oblige him that is a Well-wisher to your Recreation,

CAMPANISTA.

On the Ingenious Art of RINGING.

What Musick is there that compar'd may be To well-tun'd Bells enchanting melody! Breaking with their sweet sound the willing Air, And in the listning ear the Soul ensnare; The ravisht Air such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand Echoes still prolongs each close; And gliding streams which in the Vallies trills, Assists its speed unto the neighbouring Hills; Where in the rocks & caves, with hollow gounds, The warbling lightsome Element rebounds. This for the Musick: In the Action's Health, And every Bell is a _Wit's_ Common-wealth For here by them we plainly may discern, How that Civility we are to learn. The Treble to the Tenor doth give place, And goes before him for the better grace: But when they chance to change, 'tis as a dance, They foot _A Galliard, à la mode de France_. An Eighteenscore's a figure dance, but _Grandsire_ Hath the Jig-steps! & Tendrings Peal doth answer The manner of _Corants_: A plain Six-score, Is like a _Saraband_, the motion slower. When Bells Ring round, and in their Order be, They do denote how Neighbours should agree; But if they Clam, the harsh sound spoils the sport, And 'tis like Women keeping _Dover_ Court For when all talk, there's none can lend an ear The others story, and her own to hear; But pull and hall, straining for to sputter What they can hardly afford time to utter. Like as a valiant Captain in the Field, By his Conduct, doth make the Foe to yield; Ev'n so, the leading Bell keeping true time, The rest do follow, none commits a Crime: But if one Souldier runs, perhaps a Troop Seeing him gone, their hearts begin to droop; Ev'n so the fault of one Bell spoils a Ring, (And now my _Pegasus_ has taken Wing.)

Upon the Presentation of GRANDSIRE BOB To the COLLEDGE-YOUTHS, By the AUTHOR of that PEAL.

Gentlemen of the Noble Crew Of _Colledge-Youths_, there lately blew A wind, which to my Noddle flew (upon a day when as it Snew;) Which to my Brains the Vapors drew And there began to work and brew, 'Till in my _Pericranium_ grew _Conundrums_, how some Peal that's New Might be compos'd? and to pursue These thoughts (which did so whet and hew My flat Invention) and to shew What might be done, I strait withdrew Myself to ponder--whence did accrue This _Grandsire Bob_, which unto you I Dedicate, as being due Most properly; for there's but few Besides, so ready at their Q---- (Especially at the first View) To apprehend a thing that's New; Though they'l pretend, and make a shew, As if the intricat'st they knew; What _Bob_ doth mean, and _Grandsire True_, And read the course without a Clue Of this new Peal: Yet though they screw Their shallow Brains, they'l ne're unglue The Method on't (and 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_ (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_.--

123 132 312

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.--

2134 2314 2341

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.--

3241

The _Extream_ being made, the _Treble_ must be _hunted_ down again, as in these _Changes_.--

3214 3124 1324

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.--

1342

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.--

3142 3412 3421 4321 4312 4132 1432 1423 4123 4213 4231 2431 2413 2143 1243 1234

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 2134 2314 2341

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,

2431

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.

1243 2143 2413 2431 4231 4213 4123 1423 1432 4132 4312 4321 3421 3412 3142

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.--

1234 1243 2143 2134 2314 3214

_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.

1234 2134 2314 2341 3241 3214 3124 1324 1342 3142 3412 3421 4321 4312 4132 1432 1423 4123 4213 4231 2431 2413 2143 1243 1234

Second up, extream between the 2 nearest to it.

1234 1324 1342 1432 1423 1243 2143 2413 4213 4123 4132 4312 4321 4231 2431 2341 3241 3421 3412 3142 3124 3214 2314 2134 1234

Fourth down, Extream between the two farthest Bells from it.

1234 1243 1423 4123 4132 1432 1342 1324 3124 3142 3412 4312 4321 3421 3241 3214 2314 2341 2431 4231 4213 2413 2143 2134 1234

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.--

1234 2134 2314 2341

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.--

3241 3214 3124 1324

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_.--

12345 21345 23145 23415 23451 32451 34251 34521 34512 43512 45312 45132 45123 54123 51423 51243 51234 15234 12534 12354 12345

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.