twelve in the Morning
When the _ Ave-Bell _ is heard , the Hearer must down on his Knees upon the very Spot ; nor is he allowed the small Indulgence of deferring a little , till he can recover a clean Place ; Dirtiness excuses not , nor will dirty Actions by any means exempt . This is so notorious , that even at the Play-house , in the middle of a Scene , on the first sound of the Bell , the Actors drop their Discourse , the Auditors supersede the indulging of their unsanctified Ears , and all on their Hearts , quite a different way , to what they just before had been employ 'd in . In short , tho ' they pretend in all this to an extraordinary Measure of Zeal and real Devotion ; no Man , that lives among them any time , can be a Proselyte to them without immolating his Senses and his Reason : Yet I must confess , while I have seen them thus deludeing themselves with _ Ave Marias _ , I you 'd not refrain throwing up my Eyes to the only proper Object of Adoration , in commiseration of such Delusions . The Hours of the _ Ave Bell _ , are eight and twelve in the Morning , and six in the Evening . They pretend at the first to fall down in beg that God would be pleas 'd to prosper them in all things they go about that Day . At twelve they return Thanks for their Preservation to that time ; and at six for that of the whole Day . After which , one would think that they imagine themselves at perfect Liberty ; and their open Gallantries perfectly countenance the Imagination : for tho ' Adultery is look 'd upon as a grievous Crime , and punish 'd accordingly ; yet Fornication is softened with the title of a Venial Sin , and they seem to practise it under that Persuasion .