Having thus digged about eight foot deep, that so it may carry about six foot VVater, pave all the bottom and the Banks of the Pond with large Sods of Flot-Grass, laying them very close together, pin them down fast with small stakes and windings: This Grass is a great Feeder of Fish, and grows naturally under VVater. Stake down to the bottom of one side of the Pond divers Bavens and Brush-VVood-Faggots, into which the Fish may cast their spawn, and preserve it: In another place lay Sods upon Sods, the grass sides together to nourish and breed Eels.

The Pond being thus made, let in the Water, and now observe to store it thus: Put your Carp, Breame and Tench by themselves: Pike, Pearch, Eel and Tench (the Fishes Physician) by themselves; & for Food of the greater Fishes, as well as Meat for your greater Dishes, put good store of Roach, Dace, Loach and Menow; and Lastly to every one Melter put three Spawners, and in three Years the Increase will be great; and in five Years with difficulty destroyed.

At the end of three Years Sue your Pond; which you must ever continue so to do, for that the Roach, &c. will increase in such abundance, that eating up the sweetest food, will make your other Fish, as Carps, &c. be lean and hunger-starved: And therefore every Year view your Pond, and observe if any such Fry appears; and use your Discretion.

And because the Carp is a Fish of a general Acceptation, and is of a bon goust almost in every mans palate; and being by the aforesaid little Devourers and Multiplyers, very often Deceived in your expectation of a fat Carp, large and sweet; I shall insert here an excellent VVay of making Carps grow to an extraordinary Bigness in a Pond.

To make Carps grow large, &c.

About the Month of April, when you perceive your Pond grow low in VVater, rake all the sides where the VVater is fallen away with an Iron Rake, and sow Hay-seeds there, and rake it well; and at the Latter end of Summer you shall have good store of Grass: The Winter being come the VVater will encrease and over-top all the Grass, and there being VVater enough to carry them, the Carps will resort to the seeds, and feed briskly and grow as fat as Hoggs: Thus do every Summer, till you sue your pond, and no River Carp can surpass them.

Thus much of Fishing and Fish-Ponds.

Of Shooting

The Use of the Bow is of so great Antiquity, and of so important a Consequence for a defensive and offensive Armes, that I could not but a little consider, how needful the true knowledge of its Use was esteemed of Old, and how little it is accounted now. It is uncertain, as well as (almost) unknown, who was the First Inventor of the Bow; but if we examine the Probability there may be of its being derived from the Tyranical Government of Nimrod, that so Mighty Hunter before the Lord, we may Conjecture him to be the first Inventor of the Bow: For as he is called the First Founder of a Monarchick Government, by reducing and subduing a disordered People under the Government of himself; so was he likewise esteemed a Mighty Hunter in another respect, for that he Subdued likewise the Beasts of the Field; as is observed of him and his Character, by sundry Commentators on him and his Family. So that in the whole we may suppose him to be the Inventor, or first Finder out of the Bow, as a Weapon of an infallible Execution and mortal Efficacy on that account. Nor can I find any mention made of the Bow thro the whole Hystory of Genesis from Nimrod to Esau, they both being characterized with those Epithets of Mighty and Cunning Hunters, Men of the Field; who very well understood the Use of the Bow, as well for their Profit as Pleasure; the last of which is particularly hinted in the commands of Isaac to Esau, that with his Quiver and his Bow, he should Hunt and take that only Seasonable Dish, which might procure and entaile a Blessing on him and his Posterity. Nay, that Holy Patriarch Jacob himself, in his last Will and Testament to his Illustrious Family, bequeaths a singular Portion to his beloved Joseph, which the strength of his Bow had intitled him to. Gen. 48. 22.

Nor are we to doubt in what Estimation it was held to the Reign of David King of Israel, who thought it the most Necessary Qualification of his Subjects, to be very well versed in the Use of the Bow. The Bow which was the Famous Signal between his beloved Jonathan and himself, and made the private Testimonial of the undeserv’d Fury of his Maliciously & Enviously incensed Father Saul: By reason of whose eminent Skill, in the expert use of it, he chants forth his Mournful Elegy, The Bow of Jonathan returned not empty, from the Blood of the slain, &c. Nay further so useful (no doubt) he thought the Knowledge of the Bow was, and of so necessary a Consequence for a Defensive as well as Offensive Armes, that it is observable he issued out a particular Edict or Proclamation, commanding the general Learning its use throughout Judah. And the Use of it continued and still does in the East, as the only Weapon they are skilled in.

Dr. Heylin in his Cosmographical Description of the World, tells us, That the Czeremissi, a People living in great Forrests, without Houses, feeding on Honey & the Flesh of Wild Beasts & Clothed with their Skins, under the Empire of the Czar of Russia, are such excellent Archers, and so light of Foot, that they carry their Bows continually in their hands, and practise their Children so timely in it, that (after such an age) till they can hit a White that is set before them, they give them nothing to eat.

Further; it is recorded of the Parthians (and indeed all the Persians too) that their greatest Fame consisted in their skilful handling their Bows and Arrows, & were deservedly reckon’d the best Archers in the World, having the Art of Shooting backwards, and making their Retreat and Flight more pernicious and terrible, than their Charge and Onset. So that when Marcus Crassus in his expedition against them, was told by an Astrologer, that having found an ill Aspect in Scorpio, he presaged his Enterprize would prove unsuccesseful, Tush Man (quoth he) I fear not Scorpio, but Sagittarius.

And to descend to our own Countrymen the English, the frequent Victories they obtained over the French formerly, rendred them as famous and able Bow-men (next the Parthians) as were in the World.

But since the Ingenious Franciscan Fryer (Bertholdus Swart) appeared in Germany, his Sulphureous Brain has quite (or almost) blown up the Reputation of the Bow, and all other Ancient Devices and Engines of War, by his Accidental Invention of that Fatal Instrument the Gun, which he first communicated to the Venetians, Anno 1330. Who gave by these (then so called) Bombards, a notable discomfiture to the Genoys; and was next made use of by the Inhabitants of the Baltick Sea; And at the Siege of Callice Anno 1347. used by the English; who taught it the Mounsieur Frenchman, and he gratified him with the death of the Famous Leader, Thomas Mountacute Earl of Salisbury, shot at the Siege of Orleance, Anno. 1425. After which Spain learnt it, and the Jews and Moors from thence taught the Turk; and from the first Invention of large and unweildy, they were made fit for Walls and Hands; and in fine is a less expensive way of shedding blood than that of Archery is.

Thus you see how Ancient the Use of the Bow is, and how lately its Disuse began (I mean in relation to the Common-Wealth, as a defensive, or offensive Weapon) and how great the Ancient Fame of our English was in the knowledge of it: However the Glory of it is somewhat still preserved (though in a Pastime) by the Honourable City of London, whose Lord Mayor annually appears to see a Prize performed by Shooting with a Pound Arrow: And therefore all I have to say more, is, That it is deservedly placed amongst my Recreations, having Metamorphosed its Use, and become a Healthful Conserver, instead of Destroyer of mens Bodies. And is vulgarly distinguished into two sorts, the Long-bow, and the Cross or Crow-Bow.

I shall begin first with the Long-bow, whose Use is (now) thus to be understood. That it conduces much to the Health of our Body, disperses our stagnated Blood, extends our contracted Limbs, and renders the Members of our Bodies plyant, and flexible; and for the better obtaining these Effects, the following Rules are to be Observed.

Before the Archer goes to his Sport (to follow the Method of this Treatise) he must first provide himself with necessary Accoutrements, viz, The Bow which claimes his first Care, must be the best (as best is best Cheap) of Spanish or English Yew, (the VVithen, or Elme being the worst:) Next his Shaft, which must be of Birch, Sugar-Chest, or Brazeel, with Gray, or White Feathers.

Thus equipt, to the Field, and here we are to understand three sorts of Marks, viz, The But, which is a Mark that is level, and requires a strong Arrow with a broad Feather: The Prick, a Mark of some compass, of a certain distance, requires an Arrow that is strong, and nimble, with a middle Feather: The Rover, is an uncertain Mark, and Proportionable to the distance, suit your Arrows. But before you Shoot, hold a little, and hearken to your Charge.

First, The Archer must have a good Eye, to see and discern his Mark; attended with a Knowing Judgment, to Understand the distance of Ground, and in what compass his Arrow must Fly, and to take the true Advantage of a Side-Wind; and a Dexterity to give his Shaft a sharp strong and sudden Loose, and without hanging on the string, to draw his Arrow close to the Head, and in an instant deliver it.

Secondly, He must observe a Decorum in his standing Posture, that his Body be fair, comely, and upright; his left Foot a convenient stride before his right, with both his Hams stiff, his left Arm holding his Bow in the midst, stretch’d out streight; and with his three Fore-Fingers and Thumb of his right-hand, draw the string to his right Ear, the Notch of his Arrow resting between his fore and long Fingers of his Right-Hand, and the Steel of his Arrow below the Feathers upon the middle Knuckle of his fore-finger, on his Left-Hand, drawing it up close, as abovesaid.

The Cross-Bow (as I said in the Introduction to this Treatise) is of equal Benefit and Pleasure with the Long-Bow, when through an imbecillity in the Arm or Back, that will not be a suitable Recreation: This Bow must be made of the same Wood with the other, for Gafel carried upon a string, and the other end being placed in a Rest, furnish your self with strong and heavy Arrows, suitable to your Bows strength, and all the foregoing Marks, may afford you an equal Delight with the Former; but especially for Persons that have the unhappiness of looking asquint, it is an excellent Disposer of the sight, to a direct Line, and helps that Watermans quality of Looking one way, and Rowing another. Thus much shall suffice for Shooting.

Of Bowling

This is a Recreation of an Ancient Institution, the Lydians being thought to have been the first Inventors of Sphæromachia, which signifies Bowling, as well as Tennis-Playing; besides these they instituted several other Games, as the Dice, Tables, Cards, &c. Necessity, and Hunger enforcing them to that Ingenuity, as Persius well observes, Artis Magister, Ingenijque largitor Venter: For that Country being Oppressed with a great Dearth and Famine, in the time of Atis, one of the Progenitors of Omphale, they Devised these Games, that every second day playing at them, they might beguile their Hungry Bellies, and drive away the Tediousness of the Famine. And indeed, according to its Original institution, of infinite use for the diverting Melancholly, for Exercise of the Body, by runing and stirring in this Game, for helping likewise sundry Bodily Infirmities, as the Stone, Gravel, Reins, &c. For which aforesaid ends several Pious, Learned and Sober Persons have sometimes made up the Company of a Bowling-Green (tho I must confess rarely to be seen in those common Bowling-Allies and Bares, which too usually are pestered with Damming-Rooks, Cunning Betters, Crafty Matchers, and base Booty-Players:) Herein we may see the World moralized, or emblematically described, where most are short, over, wide or wrong-Byassed, and few justle in to the Mistress Fortune: On one side we find Heraclitus and his Followers fret, vex, rail, swear and cavil at every thing; on the other side Democritus, and his Company rejoice and laugh, as if they were created for that purpose. On one side you may see the Mimick screwing and twisting his Body into several Postures, which he perswades himself adds either to the Swiftness or Slowness of his Bowl; On the other side the senseless Orator, with his perswasive Intreaties of Rub, O Rub a little; Or, Flee, Flee, and the like, to hasten or retard the Speed of his Bowl; when if the stupid Bowl lend a deaf Ear to his Perswasions, then he belyes his Disobedience, by crying Short, Short, O Short, when tis gone ten yards over; and when tis bowled short of the Jack six yards, he cryes, Gone a Mile, a Mile, a Mile, &c. But not to detain you any longer in characterizing this excellent sport: (Excellent I mean if rightly used) I shall before I lead you into the Green or Bare, instruct you in some Rules, how to choose your Bowls.

The first and greatest Cunning to be observed in Bowling, is the right chusing your Bowl, which must be suitable to the Grounds you design to run on, thus: For close Alleys, your best Choice is the Flat Bowl: 2. For open Grounds of Advantage, the Round-Byassed-Bowl; 3. For Green Swarths, that are plain and level, the Bowl that is Round as a Ball.

The next thing requires your Care is, The chusing out your Ground, and preventing the Windings, Hangings, and many turning Advantages of the same, whether it be in open wide places, as Bares and Bowling-Greens, or in close Bowling-Alleys.

Lastly, Have your Judgment about you to observe and distinguish the Risings, Fallings and Advantages of the Places where you Bowl: Have your Wits about you to avoid being rookt of your Money: And have your Understanding about you, to know your best Time and Opportunity for this Recreation; and finally a studious Care of your Words and Passions, and then Bowl away, and you may deserve, Well have you Bowled indeed.

But methinks I cannot conclude here, without admiring how aptly a Bowling-Green is by the Divine Quarles characterized, in the following Verses, thus.

Thus much for Bowling.

Of Tennis.

This Recreation is of the same Date for its Antiquity of Invention with Bowling, and for the Violence of its Exercise to be preferred before it. This sport indeed is of so universal an Acceptance, that Majesty it self is pleased to design it its Recommendation, by tracking its laborious steps; and Princes and Lords admire it too for the most proper Recreation, to suit with Innocence, and true Nobility. Here the body is briskly exercised more than ordinary, and inured in Agility and Nimbleness; this renders the Limbs flexible and mettlesom, and adapts them for the most Vigorous Enterprize: It makes the languid and slothful, brisk and sprightful; and rejects Effeminacy and Delicacy, as contemptible and unworthy so Royal and Noble a Recreation: And so General indeed is the Estimation this Exercise of Tennis amongst most meets with, that it is reckoned one of the most absolute Qualifications of a well-bred Gentleman, throughly to understand this famous Game.

But why should we wonder at the general Love Gentlemen have for this Recreation, since it must be acknowledged, it challengeth as deserving a place in the Catalogue of violent Exercises, as any that goes before it in this Treatise; indeed it may be well rankt among those great Excellencies of Exercise which rendered the Lacedemonians, Famous to all Posterity for instructing their young Gentlemen and Noblemen in: Nay for ought I know it is a derivative Vertue which descended to the true English Gentleman, from that so excellent Method of Education used amongst the Warlike Nation the Gothes: Who (as Olaus Magnus informes us) amongst the greatest Severities, as Beatings and Wounds, Change of Heat into sudden Cold, lying (not on Downe but) upon Boards, coursely clad, and Feeding on Ordinary, but strong Food, used themselves to the most tedious, wearisome and Violent Exercises, as Riding, Darting, Shooting, &c. Wearing heavy Armes, Swimming on Horse-Back and in Armour; And had they been acquainted with this Exercise of Tennis, would not have omitted that neither: But I shall not enlarge any further on its Encomium, its being the Pastime of the most knowing and greatest men, shall stop any longer Eulogies my Pen can make on its Worth and Excellence. All I have to say is, I am heartily sorry, there are no Rules which fall within the Sphere of Demonstration, to be laid down for my Readers use, for the right prosecuting this Noble Game: Practice and Experience alone must be his Information and Direction, and not any Writing may be communicated to him: Only let me say this.

Tennis and Baloon are Sports which are play’d almost with the same Instruments; and therefore may be under one and the same Head: The first is a pastime, used in close or open Courts, by striking a little Round Ball to and fro, either with the Palmes of the hands (and then is called Pila palmaria in Latin) or else a Racket, made for the purpose, round with Net or Cat-gut, with a Handle: The other a strong and moving Sport in the Open Fields with a great Ball of a double Leather filled with Wind, and so driven to and fro with the strength of a Mans Arm, armed in a Brace of Wood: And thus much shall suffice to speak of the Baloon and Tennis; only let me desire you, let not this or any other Pastime disturb your Minds; divert you from the diligent and careful Prosecution of your own lawful Business; or invite you to throw away your Time and Money too lavishly and idley; nor engage you in any Passion; that so you may not offend God, dislike your Neighbour, nor incomode your Self and Family in your Well-being and Felicity; and then you may recreate your self without Fear, and in this Recreation observe the ensuing Morality of

The The Tennis-Court

Of Ringing

Since this Recreation of Ringing is become so highly esteemed, for its excellent Harmony of Musick it affords the Ear, for its Mathematical Invention delighting the Mind, and for the Violence of its Exercise bringing Health to the Body, causing it to transpire plentifully, and by Sweats dissipate and expel those Fuliginous thick Vapours, which Idleness, Effeminacy and Delicacy subject men to; I say for these and sundry other Reasons, I was induced to bring this of Ringing into the Company of Exercises in this Treatise, that I might as well recreate you with some health-conducing Pleasure at home, as I have carryed you abroad, and there endeavoured to please you in what Pastime your Inclinations may most peculiarly select.

Whosoever would then become an accurate Master of this excellent Art and Pleasure, and is very desirous to be esteemed an Elaborate and Ingenious Ringer, and be enrolled amongst that Honoured Society of Colledge Youths; I must beg Leave to instruct him before he enters the Bell-free, in these ensuing short Rules, which he must strictly observe. viz.

1. That as all Musick consists in these six plain Notes, La Sol Fa Mi Re Ut; so in Ringing, a Peal of Bells is Tuned according to these Principles of Musick: For as each Bell takes its Denomination from the Note it Sounds, by its being flatter or deeper, as, First, or Treble, Second, Third, Fourth, &c. as they are in number to Ten or Twelve Bells, the Last being called the Tennor; So must they successively strike one after another both Fore-stroke and Back-stroke, in a due Musical Time or Equidistance, to render their Harmony the more pleasant, and to make the Young Practitioner the better informed to observe the Life of Musick, and indeed of true Ringing, Time; and therefore is called, Round-Ringing.

2. As in Musick, so in Ringing there are three Concords, so called from their Melodious Harmony and Agreement, which Principally are these; Thirds, viz. 1 3, 2 4. &c. Fifths 1 5, 2 6 &c. Eights 1 8, 2 9, 3 10 &c. and these are the more pleasant according to the Number of Bells they are struck on, and as they are struck, whether seperately or mutually. From hence Changes are made, which is only a Changing place of one Note with another, so variously, as Musick may be heard a thousand wayes of Harmony; which being so obvious to common Observation, I shall not go about to demonstrate; for that if two may be varied two wayes, surely by the Rule of Multiplication, a Man may easily learn how many times 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 Bells Notes may be varied, which will run almost ad infinitum.

3. For the better observing the Ringing of Changes or Rounds, these three things are to be noted.

1. The Raising true in Peal.

2. Ringing at a low Compass; And

3. Ceasing in true Peal; All which three are the most essential Parts to render a Practitioner Excellent.

1. For Raising a Peal of Bells true, the modern & best Practice recommends the swiftest and quickest possible, every one taking Assistance to raise his Bell, as its going requires: The lesser Bells as Treble, &c. being by main strength held down in their first Sway (or pull) to get time for the striking of the rest of Larger Compass; and so continued to be strong pulled till Frame-high, and then may be slackned: The Bigger, as Tenor, &c. must be pincht or checkt over head, that the Notes may be heard to strike roundly and hansomely. Observe that all the Notes strike round at one Pull: I do not mean the First; but ’tis according to the Bigness and Weightiness of your Bells: However in raising a Peal, do not let one Bell strike before the rest, or miss when the rest do; this is contrary to the Strict Rules of true Ringing: And this is called Round-Ringing. Now if you design to raise a Peal of Bells for Changes, you ought to raise them to a Set-Pull, as the most proper for commanding the Notes, and he who is not well skilled to manage his Bell at a Set-Pull, will be apt to drop or overturn it, be in a Wood, and fruitlessly toil and moil himself. Therefore in practising the Setting of a Bell, cast your Eye about the other Bell-Ropes, during your managing your own, that you may accustome your selfe to manage it according to the Change.

2. For Ringing at a Low Compass, is thus observed: By keeping a due punctum or beat of Time, in the successive striking one after another of every Bell; the best Ringer being set to the Treble, that may guide and direct the rest of the Notes in their due Measure.

3. For Ceasing a Peal of Bells; Let them fall gradually from a set Peal, checking them only at Sally, till the low Compass renders it useless; and when so low, that for want of Compass, they can scarce strike at Back-stroak; then let the Treble-Ringer stamp, as a Signal, to notify, that the next time they come to strike at the Fore-stroke, to check them down, to hinder their striking the Back-stroke; yet Fore-stroke continued, till brought to a neat and gracefull Chime, which may be the Finis to that Peal.

Thus much in short, for Raising, Round-Ringing, and Ceasing a Peal of Bells; I come next to lead you forth into that spacious Field of Variety of Changes, and present you with Instructions that may be meerly necessary, for the right Understanding the several kinds of them.

Now in Ringing Changes, two of our best Senses, are to be employed, viz. The Ear, and the Eye: The Ear, Hearing when to make a Change; and the Eye directing the Bell in making it: The Bells being the Object of the Former, and the Bell-Ropes the Object of the Latter. And to render both the Eye and Ear Usefull in Ringing Changes, these Five things are throughly to be Understood

First. Endeavour to distinguish the Notes of a Peal of Bells, one from another while Ringing.

Secondly, Learn to apprehend the Places of the Notes.

Thirdly, Understand the Precendency of Notes.

Fourthly, How to make a Change in Ringing.

Fifthly, and Lastly. How to Practise the four fore-going Notions in General.

1. To know the Notes of a Peal of Bells asunder (which is easy in Round-Ringing) in Changes is thus: Get the skill of Tuning them with your Voice, by imitating their Notes while Ringing. Or if you are acquainted, either by your self or Friend, with some Singing-master, or one who has skill in Singing, get him to instruct you in the true Pitch of any Note, and aid your distinguishing them; otherwise you may be puzzled in this, to know which is Treble, which Second, &c. as in 532641, &c.

2. To know the Places of the Notes, is no way better to be apprehended than thus: The Practitioner ought to form an Idea in his Head of the Place of each Note, whether in a direct Line, or Obliquely; and representing them by a Figure in his mind, see (as it were) by the Eye of his Understanding each stroke of the Bell, as the Treble, 1. Second 2. Third 3. &c. so that as the Ear is to direct him, when to make the Change, so a right Apprehension of the Motion and Places of the Notes, ought to be a means to guide his Ear.

3. The Precedency of Notes, is of a very Obvious Demonstration; thus: In Ringing Changes, the Fore and Back-stroke, successively following one another, are properly said to Lye behind one another, according to their places of striking. Or in short, in 12345. the Note that leads either at Fore or Back-stroak, is said to Lye before the rest, and the last to be behind. As the 2 is said to lye behind the 1, so it lyeth before the 3, as the 3 lyeth behind the 2, so it lyeth before the 4. And so of as many as are Rung.

4. The manner of making a Change, is very common, and needs no particular, but general Rule; That it is made by moving one Note into anothers place, Up and Down, as Occasion requires; but all usually made by two Notes standing one next the other, as hereafter may be Observed.

Lastly, In your Ringing Changes, these two things (in which consists the practick part of this Art) are to be rightly considered. First, Readily to know which two Bells are to make the succeeding Change. And Secondly, to consider (if you are concern’d in it) what Bell you are to follow in making it. To understand which the more perfectly, you must imprint in your memory, the Method of the Changes prick’d in Figures, and to be expert likewise in setting them down divers wayes, and making any Figure a Hunt at Pleasure; and thus without pausing or hesitating to consider the Course, you may throughly understand the Methods; the Four preceding Observations being first perfectly understood.

There are two wayes of Ringing Changes, viz. By Walking them, as the Artists stile it; or by Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls: Walking is, when in one Change the Bells go round, Four, Six, or Eight times; which is a most incomparable way to improve a young Practitioner, by giving him time to consider, which two Bells do make the next succeeding Change, and in making it, what Bell each is to follow; so that by this means (by his industry) he may be capable of Ringing at Whole-Pulls; Which is, when the Bells go round in a Change at fore and back-stroke; and a new Change is made every time they are pulled down at Sally: This an Ancient Practice, but is now laid aside, since we have learnt a more advantageous way of hanging our Bells, that we can manage a Bell with more ease at a Set-Pull than formerly: So that Ringing at Half-Pulls is now the modern general Practice; that is, When one Change is made at Fore-Stroke, another at Back-Stroke, &c.

I have one Thing more to add in these introductory Rules, and that in short is this: He that Rings the slowest Hunt, ought to notify the extreme Changes; which is, when the Leading Bell is pulling down, that he might make the Change next before the Extreme, he ought to say, Extreme. By this means, betwixt the Warning and the Extreme there will be one compleat Change.

Of Changes, &c.

There are two kinds of Changes, viz. Plain Changes, and Cross-Peals; which Terms do denote the Nature of them; for as the first is stiled Plain, so are its Methods easy; and as the second is called Cross, so are its Methods cross and intricate: The First have a general Method, in which all the Notes (except Three) have a direct Hunting-Course, moving gradually under each other, plainly and uniformly: Plain are likewise termed single Changes, because there is but one single Change made in the striking all the Notes round, either at fore or back-stroke. But the Second is various, each Peal differing in its Course from all others; and in Cross-Peals as many Changes may be made as the Notes will permit. In short, as to Plain-Changes, I shall not dilate on them here, it being so plainly understood by every one that lately have rung a Bell in peal; All therefore I shall add is this, That any two Notes that strike next together may make a Change, which may be done either single or double, as you list. The single, by changing Two Notes; and the Double, by changing Four, i. e. Two to make one Change, and two another; which is however called One double Change, and not two Changes; because tis made in striking the Notes of the Bells once round. For the rest, common Observation and Practice bids me stop here, and demands a Clearing those dark Intricacies which attend Cross-Peals.

Of Cross-Peals.

Art, being a curious Searcher and Enquirer into the hidden and abstruse Arcana’s of Difficulties, having found out that dark and remote Corner of Obscurity, wherein the nature of these Cross-Peals lay at first invelopped, has exhibited by its Proselytes the ensuing Demonstrations of that which before lay mantled up in Doubt: And to effect this, these Favourites of Art have, like ingenious Architects, made Order and Method the Basis, on which the whole Structure depends: For in these Cross-Peals we must observe the prime Movement, which sets the whole Frame a going, and that is called the Hunt, which hath One constant Uniform Motion throughout the Peal, and different from that of the other Notes; and indeed by this the whole Course of the Peal is Steered. This keeps a continual motion through the other Notes, i. e. From Leading, to strike behind, and from thence again to Lead; which is called one compleat Course.

Some Peals upon five Bells consist of single Courses, wherein are ten Changes, and twelve Courses make the Peal. Others upon Five, consist of Double Courses, wherein are twenty Changes to every Course, and six Courses in the Peal.

Upon six Bells there are likewise single and double Courses, viz. Twelve Changes in every single Course, as in Grandsire Bob, &c. and Twenty-four Changes in every Double Course, as in Colledge Bobs, that being the first Change of every Course, wherein the Hunt leaves Leading: In short, judiciously observe the first Course of any Cross-Peal, and you will soon see the general Method of the whole Peal: All Courses in Cross-Peals agreeing in these following three Respects. First, In the motion of the Hunt. Secondly, In the motion of the rest of the Notes: And Thirdly, In making the Changes. Which three things being well (to omit Instances of Demonstration) and narrowly observed, will be very helpful both in pricking and ringing Courses; the first and third for directing you in Pricking them, and the first and second in Ringing them.

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 follow Second, then Fourth, and then Sixth; when it comes behind, First follows Second, in hunting down Fourth; and when hunted 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 Extreme at the first, second, or third single Bob; or the first, second, or third time, that the half and quarter-hunts dodg behind; the single must be made behind in either of these.

123456 214365 241635 426153 462513 645231 654321 563412 536142 351624 315264 132546 135264 312546 321456 234165 243615 426351 462531 645213 654123 561432 516342 153624 156342 513624 531264 352146 325416 234561 243651 426315 462135 641253 614523 165432

bob. 156423 514632 541362 453126 435216 342561 324651 236415 263145 621354 612534 165243 162534 615243 651423 564132 546312 453621 435261 342516 324156 231465 213645 126354 123645 216354 261534 625143 652413 564231 546321 453612 435162 341526 314256 132465

134256 312465 321645 236154 263514 625341 652431 564213 546123 451632 415362 143526 bob. 134562 315426 351246 532164 523614 256341 265431 624513 642153 461235 416325 143652 bob. 134625 316452 361542 635124 653214 562341 526431 254613 245163 421536 412356 143265

142356 124536 125463 152643 156234 165324 163542 136452 bob. 163425 136245 132654 123564 125346 152436 154263 145623 bob. 154632 145362 bob. 154326 145236

142563 124653 126435 162345 163254 136524 135642 153462 bob. 135426 153246 152364 125634 126543 162453 164235 146325 bob. 164352 146532 bob. 164523 146253 142635 124365 123456

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 Peales, as indeed needless; and my reason is this: Because I think the same Rules for Peales 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 ingenious and elaborate Ringers as here in London.

I shall begin then with Peales upon Six Bells, and herein in order, measure out the Delights on Peals from Six to Eight Bells, and setting out early, present you with

The Morning Exercise.

Doubles and Singles. The whole Hunt is the Treble, which Hunteth up into the Second, Third, and Fourth places, lying twice in each; and then lyeth still in the Sixth place, having dodged behind, and makes another, and then Hunts down as it Hunted up, and then leads four times. Observing the manner of its Pricking, and its Practice, may excuse any further defining it.

123456 213465 213456 231465 231456 234165 234156 243516 243561 245316 245361

254631 254613 256431 256413 265143 265134 261543 261534 216543 216534 126543 126534 162543 162534 164352

164325 bob. 163452 163425 165243 165234 156243 156234 154326 154362 bob. 153426 153462 152643

152634 125643 125634 124365 124356 142365 142356 146532 146523 bob. 145632 145623 143265

143256 134265 134256 136524 136542 bob. 135624 135642 132465 132456 123465 123456

This will go a 120 Changes, and by making Bobs, 240, 360, 720.

A Cure for Melancholy.
Doubles and Singles.

I should think it needless to explain the method of prick’d Peales, and give a large Definition of them, when their plain Demonstration might be sufficient; However, as the Old Phrase is, Because ’tis usual, something shall be said of this too.

The Treble is the whole Hunt, as in the former, and leads four times, and lyeth behind as many, and twice in every other place; the two Bells in the 3d. add 4th. places continue dodging, when the Treble moves out of the 4th. place; untill it comes down there again, and then the two hindmost dodge, till the Treble displaceth them; who maketh every double Change, except when it lieth behind, and then the double is on the four first, and on the four last when it leads. Every Single (except when the Treble lies there) is in the 5th. and 6th. places; or if possessed by the Treble, then in the 3d. and 4th. places: Every Bell (except the Treble) lies four times in the Second place: But enough; a word is enough to the Wise. See it here Deciphered.

123456 213465 213456 231465 231456 234165 234156 243516 245316 243561 245361 423561 425361 423516 425316 452136 452163 451236 451263 415236 415263 145236 145263

142536 142563 156423 156432 bob. 165423 165432 143652 143625 bob. 134652 134625 162345 162354 163245 163254 125634

125643 126534 126543 154263 154236 152463 152436 143526 143562 bob. 134526 134562 156423

156432 bob. 165423 165432 132654 132645 136254 136245 124365 124356 123465 123456

This will go Six-score Changes, but by making bobs, it will go 240, 360, or 720. The bob is a double Change at the leading of the Treble, in which the Bell in the 4th Place lyeth still.

London Nightingale,
Doubles and Singles.

The Whole-Hunt is the Treble, who lyeth four times before, and as many behind, and twice in every other place: The two hind bells continue dodging, when the Treble moves down out of the Fifth place, till he comes there again, the bell in the Fourth place lying still all the while: When the two hind bells aforesaid leave dodging, then the two First bells take their dodging places, till dispossessed again, by the return of the said Hind bells to their dodging; and then they Cease.

123456 213465 213456 231465 231456 234165 234156 243516 423516 243561 423561 245361 425361

245316 425316 452136 452163 451236 451263 415236 415263 145236 145263 154236 154263 126543

126534 162543 162534 153624 153642 bob. 156324 156342 134562 134526 bob. 135462 135426 142356

142365 124356 124365 136245 136254 163245 163254 125634 125643 152634 152643 164523

164532 bob. 165423 165432 143652 143625 bob. 146352 146325 132465 132456 123465 123456

This will go 120, and by making bobs, 240, 360, or 720.

Colledge Bobs.

In this bob, when the Treble leaves the two Hind bells, they dodge till it comes there again, and till the Treble gives way for the dodging again of the said two Hind bells, the two First bells dodge, but after Cease dodging, when the two Hind bells dodge.

123456 214365 124356 213465 231456 324165 321456 234165 243615 426351 246315 423651

246351 423615 243651 426315 462135 641253 642135 461253 416235 142653 412635 146253

142635 416253 146235 412653 421635 246153 241635 426153 462513 &c.

165432 bob. 156423 143526 bob. 134562 152364 153246 126543 125634 164235

162453 143652 bob. 134625 165324 bob. 156342 132546 135264 124365 123456

Another.

Here, every bell, when it comes to lead, makes a dodge before, then after one Change, it lyeth still; after it has made another dodge, it moves up into the 4th. place, where twice it lyeth still; and down again; except the Treble happens to dodge with it in the 4th. place, then it Hunts up behind. When the Treble moves down out of the 3d. place, the two bells in the 3d. and 4th. place continue there, till the Treble comes up thither again, the two hind bells dodging in the mean time.

123456 214365 124356 213465 231645 326154 231654 326145 362415 634251 364215 632451

623541 265314 625341 263514 236154 321645 236145 321654 312564 135246 315264 132546

135264 312546 132564 315246 351426 534162 351462 534126 &c.

153624 bob. 135642 153462 bob. 135426 153246 152364 125634 126543 162453

164235 146325 bob. 164352 146532 bob. 164523 146253 142635 124365 123456

Both these bobs will go One Hundred and Twenty Changes, and by making of bobs, they will go, 240, 360, or 720. And thus with little Variation, there are other bobs may be made after the same manner, and afford as Admirable Musick, as possibly can be made on bells. I shall therefore hasten to finish this dayes Work, only first present you with this one more called,

The City Delight:
Doubles and Singles.

The whole Hunt is the Treble, and lieth as before in the Nightingale: When the Treble moves out of the 3d. place, the Singles are made in the 2d. and 3d. places, till the Treble repossesses his 3d place, and then behind, till it moves up again out of the 3d. place. The two Hind bells dodge, when the Treble moves out of the 4th. place, till he returns again; the bell in the 4th. place lying still all the while.

123456 213465 213456 231465 231456 234165 234156 243156 234615 243615 246351 264351

246531 264351 265413 256413 265143 256143 251634 251643 215634 215643 125634 125643 152634 152643 154326 154362 bob. 153426 153462

156234 156243 165234 165243 164352 164325 bob. 163452 163425 162534 162543 126534 126543 124365 124356 142365 142356

145623 145632 bob. 146523 146532 143265 143256 134265 134256 135642 135624 bob. 136542 136524 132465 132456 123465 123456

This will go as many Changes as the last mentioned, by making bobs. And here I will shut up this dayes Peal, upon Six Bells with

The Evening Delight.
Doubles and Singles.

The Whole-Hunt is the Treble, and lyes as before specified, with this exception only: That it dodges in the 2d. and 3d. places, every time it Hunts up, and down. Observe when Treble goes to lead, and leaves of leading, the bells in the 3d. and 4th. places lye still, &c. Note the pricking this Peal.

123456 213465 231465 213645 231645 236154 263154 236514 263514 265314 256341 265431 256431 254613

245613 254163 245163 241536 214536 241356 214356 124365 142365 124635 142635 146253 164235 bob. 146253 164235 162453

126453 bob. 162435 126435 124653 142653 124563 142563 145236 154236 145326 154326 153462 135462 153642 135642 136524

163524 bob. 136542 163542 165324 156324 bob. 165342 156342 153624 135624 153264 135264 132546 123546 132456 123456

This Peal will go 120 Changes, and by making bobs, as many as above.

Note that in all the foregoing Peals upon Six bells, the bobs are double Changes, and made alwayes at the leadings of the Whole-Hunt. He that Rings the Half-Hunt, may best call bob in all Peales.

I come now to the Changes upon Seven bells, which though the seldom Practice of them might excuse my omitting them; yet because I promised to say somewhat of them, I shall be as good as my Word, (the Character of an Honest man) and present you with a couple of Examples, and then proceed to Peales upon Eight: But this I must crave leave to premise, That Variety of Changes may be prick’d upon Seven bells, as Triples, and Doubles, Triples Doubles, and Single Doubles, &c. and the same Methods may be prick’d upon Seven, as may be upon Five, the true difference of Proportion being observed; but to proceed.

Dodging Triples.