The Changes on four Bells.
Twenty four changes may be rung upon four bells: but the Learner may first practice the twelve changes, and the eighteen changes. In the twelve changes the notes are all to be hunted up after one another, which may be called the Twelve all over. First the treble-note must be hunted up, letter (a); then the second note must likewise hunt up, letter (b); next the third note must hunt up, letter (c); and lastly the 4th note also, letter (d).
| 1234 | |
| a | 2134 |
| 2314 | |
| 2341 | |
| b | 3241 |
| 3421 | |
| 3412 | |
| c | 4312 |
| 4132 | |
| 4123 | |
| d | 1423 |
| 1243 | |
| 1234 |
The four notes may also hunt down one after another. First, the 4th note must hunt down to lead: then the 3d note likewise, and so the 2d and Treble one after another, which may be term’d the Twelve all under.
Courteous Reader, in my directions to the course of each peal, I do there refer by letters to the examples; which I am forced to do, to prevent those confused breaks, and unhandsome spaces, which otherwise would have happen’d both in examples and precepts. Whatever letter I mention in my directions, refers to the like at the figures. For instance; in my directions to the twelve changes next before, I there directed the treble-note to be first hunted up, letter (a); which letter refers to the like letter at the first three changes of the twelve, where the Treble hunted up, as ’tis here again represented, and the like of the rest.
| a | 2134 |
| 2314 | |
| 2341 |
In the Eighteen changes, the Treble is a hunting note, but never hunts up farther than the 3d place; and when it lies there, the two first notes must make a change; and every time it leads, the two hindmost notes. First it hunts up into the 3d place, letter (a); the two first notes, Which are 2.3, make a change, letter (b); the Treble hunts down (c). The two hindmost notes make a change (d), the Treble hunts up (e). The two first notes, which are 3.4, make a change (f) the Treble hunts down (g); the two last notes, which are 3.2, make a change (h), which method being continued, will bring the bells round at the end of eighteen changes. The Eighteen changes may also be rung by hunting the 4th note down into the 2d place, and then a change to be made behind: the 4th note to be hunted up again into its own place, and then a change to be made before, which course being continued, will produce Eighteen changes.
| 1234 | |
| a | 2134 |
| 2314 | |
| b | 3214 |
| c | 3124 |
| 1324 | |
| d | 1342 |
| e | 3142 |
| 3412 | |
| f | 4312 |
| g | 4132 |
| 1432 | |
| h | 1423 |
| i | 4123 |
| 4213 | |
| k | 2413 |
| l | 2143 |
| 1243 | |
| m | 1234 |
The Six changes on three are the ground of the Twenty four changes on four; for one of the four notes hath a constant hunting motion through the other three, in the same manner as in the preceding Example, page [50]. and the three notes are to make the six changes in the same manner as I have before shewed in the changes on three bells; one of the six changes being always made every time the hunt lies either before or behind the three bells: therefore if the Learner do but rightly apprehend the course of the six changes, and also the manner of the motion of the hunting note, he will presently understand the method of the twenty four changes. The six changes in the twenty four, according to the terms of ringing are called Extream changes, and the three bells which makes them, Extream bells. So that in the twenty four changes, there is a hunt and three extream bells. Every time the hunt lies either before or behind the extream bells, an extream change must then be made. The extream changes may be made two ways, viz. either betwixt the two farthest extream bells from the hunt, or else betwixt the two nearest extream bells to it. In this Example every extream change shall be made betwixt the two farthest extream bells from the hunt, and the treble shall be the hunting note, which must first hunt up (a); then the two farthest notes from the hunt, which are 2.3, must make an extream change (b). The Treble must hunt down (c). The two farthest notes from the hunt, which are 2.4, must make an extream change (d). The treble must hunt up (e); the two farthest notes from the hunt, which are 3.4, must make an extream change (f). The treble-note must hunt down (g). The two farthest extream bells from the hunt, which are 3.2, must make an extream change (h). The treble must hunt up (i). The two farthest notes from the hunt, which are 4.2, must make an extream change (k). The treble must hunt down (l). The two farthest extream bells, which are 4.3, must make an extream change (m), which concludes the peal. Now the Learner for his satisfaction may take out the extream changes in the same order as they were made, as first at (b), then (d), and so (f.h.k.m.) and they will stand as they are here set down; where ’tis evident, that 2.3.4 have made the six changes according to the method of the first six changes on three bells, before set down, (page [48].) where the first change of that six was 213, and this being 324, is the same in course though the figures differ, and the rest of the changes in this six, are likewise the same in course and method with those.
| 1234 | |
| a | 2134 |
| 2314 | |
| 2341 | |
| b | 3241 |
| c | 3214 |
| 3124 | |
| 1324 | |
| d | 1342 |
| e | 3142 |
| 3412 | |
| 3421 | |
| f | 4321 |
| g | 4312 |
| 4132 | |
| 1432 | |
| h | 1423 |
| i | 4123 |
| 4213 | |
| 4231 | |
| k | 2431 |
| l | 2413 |
| 2143 | |
| 1243 | |
| m | 1234 |