as a Guide to direct the Practitioner’s apprehension in the ringing of them. So that although the art of changes is in it self a real thing, yet the notions by which they are reduced to practice on bells, are not so. For which reason, the several practitioners of this Art, before they can become expert, are fain to form in their minds imaginary notions to guide them; some after one manner, some perhaps after another, according to their several fancies, yet all tending, to render the methods of changes practicable on bells; and having once form’d in their minds such imaginary helps, they become expert in short time: and then no sooner do they understand the methods of changes prickt with figures, which they commonly discover at first view; but they are presently capable of ringing them readily on bells, which experience daily testifies. And hence it is, that oftentimes the Learners, although they perfectly understand the methods of changes prickt, and also can perfectly manage a Bell; yet for want of a right apprehension of the nature of changing the notes, which of themselves it may be they cannot soon attain, are therefore much puzzled in their first practice of ringing changes. Therefore as a guide, the Learner must first form in his mind a fit representation of the places of the notes; which I think cannot better be done, than by imagining each note to be a figure; as the Treble-note to be the figure 1, the second note the figure 2, the third note the figure 3, and the like of the rest. Then whensoever he hears a peal of bells ring, let him by strength of imagination conceit, that each note bears the shape of a figure; that is, at the same instant of time that the note strikes, he may imagine that it leaves the impression of the figure behind it, and that with the eye of his imagination he perfectly sees it: and likewise as the notes of the bells do all strike after one another at the fore-stroke, so he may imagine that they lie in a row in the shape of figures; and the like again at back-stroke. For instance: suppose that five Muskets were charged with five bullets, and that each bullet bears the shape of a figure; one Gun to be charged with the figure 1, another with the figure 2, and the other three Guns with these three figures, 3. 4. 5. Then supposing a straight line were drawn upon the wall, thus —————————— and that the five Muskets were by five men levell’d against the line, which is to be the mark for them to shoot at; the figure 1 to be first shot off, then the figure 2, and so the rest in order immediately after one another: now at the same instant of time that the Guns are heard to go off, the five figures would appear in a row upon the wall, thus. [Illustration: –1–2–3–4–5–] So in like manner when he hears a peal of five bells strike after one another at the fore-stroke, and again at back-stroke, he may imagine that at the very instant of their striking their notes appear to his apprehension in the