There is one Difficulty to be removed e're I can come to prick down those Peals I design to be the Subject of the Discourse of this Epitome, and that is, How to make the first Changes at the beginning of each Peal; I mean to make the Second, Third, Fourth, &c. whole Hunts; and this In short is thus directed: In any Cross-peal the whole Hunt may move either up or down at the beginning; and the Motion of the whole Hunt, in the first Course of each of the following Peals will direct the first Motion of any Cross-Hunt, and by Consequence of making the first Changes in that Peal. Taking along with you this Observation.
That whensoever the first Change of any Peal happens to be single, it must be made at the back-stroke, to prevent cutting Compass, and the like when a double Change happens first in a Peal of Triples and doubles: But when it happens, that the first Change is made at the Back-stroke, then Consequently the Bells at the end of the Peal will come round at a Fore-stroke Change.
I shall omit speaking to any of the several Peals on four or five Bells; for that in my opinion little Musick is heard, though much Practical Observation is made, from them; and therefore shall begin with Grandsire-bob, as having mentioned it but just before in my general View I made of Cross-peals.
Grandsire Bob.
Bob Changes take their Name from this; viz. When the Treble leads in the Second and Third,
and the Fifth and Sixth's places, then they are called Bob-changes. In Ringing which you are to observe these Rules, viz.
Whatsoever Bells you follow when you Hunt up, the same Bells in the same order you must follow in Hunting down; as in the Changes here prickt, where the Treble hunting up First follows Second, then Fourth, and then Sixth; when it comes behind, First follows Second, in hunting down Fourth; and when hunting up follows Sixth in the same Order: The like may be observed in Ringing any other Bell, with this Difference betwixt the whole Hunt and the rest, viz. Every time the Whole hunt leaves the Treble's place, and hunts up, it followeth different Bells, from what it did at its first hunting up.
In the ensuing Peal here prickt are Eighteen-score Changes, wanting one. It may be Rung with any Hunts, and begin the Changes Triple and Double: You may make your extream at the first, second, or third single Bob; or the first, second, or third time, that the half and Quarter-hunts dodge behind; the single must be made behind in either of these.
Thus much for the Grandsire-bob; I shall next collect what London Peals I think most Harmonious, and agreeable, without troubling my self to go to Oxford, or Nottingham, or Redding, to enquire after their different Methods of Peals, as indeed needless; and my reason is this: Because I think the same Rules for Peals that are suitable to our London Genius, may challenge likewise an Acceptance amongst other Cities; provided their Steeples are furnished with as many, and as good Bells, and their Belfree's with as inge