The School of Recreation Part 11

Colledge Bob Major.

_Quadruples_ and _Triples_.

There is four wayes of p.r.i.c.king these. The first hath single Dodging behind, and is thus Peal'd.

The First.

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The Second.

This hath Single Dodging before and behind, thus p.r.i.c.kt.

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The Third.

This hath double Dodging behind, thus p.r.i.c.kt.

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The Fourth.

This hath double Dodging before and behind both thus.

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These may be p.r.i.c.k't several other wayes, but that I Omit here for Brevities sake; The _Dodging_ is without Intermission, except an hinderance comes by the _Treble_; as likewise between two Bells, until _Treble_ parts the Fray. The _Bobs_ are _Triple Changes_, as the _Treble_ leads; in the _1st._ _2d._ and _6th._ the Bell in the _4th._ place lies still at the _Bobs_, and in the _3d._ _4th._ and _5th._ that in the _2d._ place lies still.

Each of these will go 112 Changes, and by making Bobs 224, 336, or 672.

Colledge Triples Dodging both before and behind.

This Peal is the same for _Bobs_, as the _Bob Major_, and will go as many Changes by making Bobs, or otherwise, as any of the foregoing Four, and is thus Peal'd.

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The Wild-Goose Chace _Triples._

The Explanation shall follow the Peal; intending here to put an end to my _Epitome_ of the _Art of Ringing_, and therefore shall first present you with this p.r.i.c.k't thus.

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In this Change the 4th. Bell must first hunt up into the Sevenths place, and then the 4 and 8 alwayes dodge behind throughout the Peal, unless when obstructed by the _Treble_. The Bell that moves up into the 6th.

place, when the _Treble_ moves thence down, lies still there, till displaced by the _Treble_; during which time the two hind Bells dodge, and the _five first_ go a perfect _Hunting-Course_: And when likewise the _Treble_ moveth out the 5th. place the five first Bells go a _Hunting-Course_, till it comes down there again: By this method it will go 80 Changes, and by _Bobs_ 160, 240, or 480. The _Bob_ is made as in the foregoing Changes.

And here I thought to make an end of the Art of Ringing, but _Cynthius aurem vellit_, the young Pract.i.tioner, whose only Information is hereby aimed at, plucks me by the Sleeve, and tells me in the Ear, That tho Peals upon six, as _Triples_ and _Doubles_, &c. make excellent Musick upon Eight _Bells_, 4 8, 6 8, 4 1, or 1 8 lying behind: Or, _Triples_ and _Doubles_ upon the six middle _Bells_, the _Tennor_ lying behind; yet for him who is not arrived to such a perfection of Skill, at to Ring these compleat Peals, the most proper and easy for him are _Set-Changes_, which are founded on these _Grounds_.

First, _Placing the Bells Fifths_; thus: The 4 must hunt up behind the 7, the 3, behind the 6, and the 2 behind the 5; Or the one may hunt down under the other, as the 5 under the 2, the 6 under 3, and 7 under 4: Or if you will, first let a _Single_, next a _Double_, and then a _Triple_ Change be made on the Middle _Bells_, all coming to the same effect; for then the Changes will lye _Fifths_ thus, 1 5, 2 6, 3 7, 4 8.

In the Peal four _Concords_ are to be regarded, The first 1 5; the second 2 6. the third 3 7. and the fourth 4 8.

These four _Concords_ may go the Methods of any Changes upon four _Bells_; 1, 5 being taken for the _Treble_; 2, 6 for the _Second_; 3, 7 for the _Third_; and 4, 8 for the _Fourth_; and the _Concords_ may Change places with one another, as you list. In which this Observation is highly necessary, That the two Notes of every Concord must constantly attend each other in their Motion; that is, whenever one of the two Notes moves, the other must follow it.

Or Secondly, _Place the Bells_ Thirds; thus: The 6 4 and 2 must hunt up, or else the 3 5 7 down; or otherwise on the middle most _Bells_ let a _Triple_, _Double_ or _Single_ Change be made, they are to one effect; and then the _Bells_ will lie _Thirds_ thus, 1 3. 5 7. 2 4. 6 8. Herein are four _Concords_ observable; as in the former Peal, _viz_, 1 3. 5 7.

2 4. 6 8. These _Concords_ may go the Methods of any Changes upon Four _Bells_, 1, 3 being taken for the Treble; 5, 7 for the Second; 2, 4 for the third; and 6, 8 for the fourth; moving in the same manner as before shewed.

By these _Grounds_ Variety of excellent & Musical Changes are to be Rung; _Any Concord may be made a Hunt_, and to move up and down at the begining.

In Ringing these _Set-Changes_, the Note will lye sometimes _Fifths_, sometimes _Thirds_, and sometimes _both_, and then to _Clam_ them, is admirable Musick: Clamming is, when each _Concord_ strike together; which being done true the 8 will strike as but four _Bells_, & make a Melodious Harmony. You may _Clam_ two or three bouts, and then strike as many times Open, alternatively, one _Clam_ one Pull, and Open the next, _&c._

Thus much shall suffice for my treating of Ringing, and had not the Variety of its _Theme_, in which I was insensibly engaged, invited my Tast of something of every thing: I had not enlarged so much as I have; but I hope the pleasure it may produce, will attone for my dilating on so delightful a Subject; All I have therefore to add is, some _Advice_ to the _Ringer_, in the Lawfull prosecuting this _Recreation_; and that is this.

When G.o.d in _Israels Exodus_ out of _Egypt_, commanded _Moses_ to Consecrate _Aaron_, and his Sons, and invest them with those _Pontificial_ Vestments, according to the Pattern G.o.d had cut out, it is observable, that the _Robe_ of the _Ephod_, was with a particular Circ.u.mstance of Beauty to be Adorned, by hanging the _Hem_ of it with _Golden Bells_, and _Pomegranates_, each placed in an orderly Position, one by another round: This was the first inst.i.tution we can read of, for the Use _Bells_ in Sacred Offices; but the reason was this: Because in _Aarons_ Ministration before G.o.d, when he entered into the Holy Place, and when he came out, the Sound of the _Bells_ might be heard in the _Temple_, for a _Memorial_ to the Children of his People. This Use of Bells continue in the _Aaronical_ Order, to this day. From hence the _Christian Church_ likewise (of which the Church under the _Mosaic_ Dispensation was but a _Type_) has made Use of _Bells_, for the notifying the Time when the People are to a.s.semble, and made a Signal for convocating them together to the _Temple_; and herein differing from the _Mahometans_, in the _Steeples_ of whose _Temples_, are never found any _Bells_, but _Cryers_, Persons who with a loud Voyce call them to Prayers.

Now then let us make this Use of the Inst.i.tution of _Bells_. _First_, Let not only the _Musick_ and _Delight_ the _Bells_ give thee, invite thee to come to the _Temple_, to be partaker of that Pleasure they may afford thy Body, but let their _Musick_ invite thee to come thither when they call thee, to exercise thy Soul in Devotion; to G.o.d. Do not let thy frequent coming thither on _Week-days_ for thy Diversion, make thee absent thy self on _Sundays_ from thy Devotion; but let their Original Use make thee mindful of the _Sanctum Sanctorum_, the most Holy Place.

Do not let the _Sunday_ Mornings Peal engage thy presence then, and the _Ale-House_ have thy company afterwards. Be as quick in hearing the _Chyming_ for _Prayers_, as thou art in the _Notes_ for _Pleasure_.

_When ere the _Old-Exchange_ of Profit Rings, Her Silver _Saints-Bell_, of uncertain Gains, Thy Merchant-soul can stretch both _Legs & Wings_, How canst thou run, and take unwearied Pains?_

And shouldst thou not be as nimble, when the _Saints-bell_ of the Church sounds in thy Ears, and calls thee to attend the _Priest_, who now signifyes his entrance into the _Holy-place_, and invites thee to joyn with him in the Sacrifice of Prayers and Praises.

_Secondly_, Nor let the Bells be made thy Lullaby, to drown some Dissatisfaction, and so makes thee repair to the _Belfree_, (like the _Nurse_ to her _Whistle-Bells_) to quiet thy disturbed mind, and thus (as the Divine Poet excellently expresses it) to silence it with

Look, Look, What's here! A dainty Golden thing?

See how the dancing _Bells_ turn round, and Ring To please my _Bantling_! here's a _Knack_ will breed, An hundred Kisses; here's a _Knack_ indeed, _&c._

But let the _Altar_ have thy presence in Communion with G.o.d, in Prayers for his Grace, and Patience, to support any Calamity that may fall upon thee.

_Lastly_, Let the Bells put you in mind to contemplate on _Death_, and every time you Ring, think how long it may be ere one of these may be your turn to have to sound

_The Nine sad Knolls of a Dull _Pa.s.sing-Bell_, With the loud Language of a Nightly Knell._

This in short, is the use the _Ringer_ ought to make of this his Recreation, which if he makes duly and rightly, he may then Lawfully enjoy all the Benefit he can desire from it. And here I shall make an end of this Observation by way of Advice to the _Ringer_, which perhaps coming amongst Recreations may look unseasonable; But I know (at least presume) if I meet with an ingenious Reader, I shall need no Apology, for playing the Divine, in the directing the good Use of our Pleasures, and aiming at the furtherance of Virtue in all our Actions.

Thus much for _Ringing_.

Of Billiards,