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.—
1 2 3
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.—
2 1 3
The Treble being removed up over the Second, it must next be removed up over the Third, as in this Change.—
2 3 1
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.—
3 2 1
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.—
| 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 |
The Treble being now hunted down, the next is to be an Extream Change.—
1 2 3
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.—
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | 2 |
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.—
3 2 1
The Extream Change being made, the Third must be hunted up again.—
| 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
The Third being hunted up, another Extream must be made, which brings the Bells round in their right places.—
1 2 3