their Tables I must tell them that if they doe it out of pure charity it is sinfull because there is error in the action if out of any vaine glory it is more sinfull if out of a desire of gaine it is most sinfull Of all which our poly-pragmaticall Ministers in all likelihood that cannot containe themselves within the limits of their owne callings goe not free and unfaultie Marcilius Ficinus Lib. de Trip. vita Apolog. a Priest and well learned in the mysteries of Physicke endeauoring to prove the lawfulnesse for Divines to exercise Physicke concludes that they must doe it Charitatis gratia for charities sake And is not this thinke you the marke that our practicall Ministers ayme at I will not condemne all but so many of them as I know deale in physicke as they doe sometimes for a Parsonage they take not fees directè like Physitians but indirectè under the name of a Druggie medicine or perhaps a strange elaborated Quintessence exhaust the patients purse much more then the generous and learned Physician And if you will looke into their lives you shall finde some of them to be prophane others especially those whose braines swell and are overheated with Quintessences to be heady proud contentious and yet after a puritanicall fury holy To the best of them I say as Saint PAVL did to Archippus Take heed to your Ministerie If the best learned and such as bend their whole forces thereunto are but sufficient to undertake the practice of Physicke what shall bee judged of the rabblement of Emperickes and other unworthy and distracted Practicioners Well the time will come when wee shall be all convented to yeeld an account for all our actions wee shall not bee able to conceale any of them from God at whose name wee should tremble the great Iudge of all the world to whom the very secret motions of our hearts are manifest and who will reward every man according to his worke Know then whatsoever thou art that it is not all gaine that is gotten except it be well gotten and with a good conscience which I wish all men and by name such as usurpe the practice of Physick to the ruine hurt of many to lay to their hearts as a cordiall Antidot against all unlawfull gaine and bee reformed But is the fault altogether in them that usurpe the practice of Physicke No verely It is as much if not more in the absurdity of them that expose their bodies they care not to whom and if they chance through the benefit of nature and a strong constitution to recover or for that the cause of the infirmity was formerly by some learned Physician removed as it oftentimes happens a great cure is wrought the report whereof with the light vulgar and other base minded people is so prevalent as that it is able to raise one from being a parish Clarke to the title of a great Physician and yet all this while the Cure if there were any was but accidentally rashly or preposterously effected to the great injury of nature and shortning of the dayes though the ignorant Patient vnderstand it not But if the Cure or rather the Hurt shall by an out-landish Empericke or Surgeon that apud nos turnes Physician and that no meane one neither bee effected the more admirable For verely such is the inconstancy folly and perversnesse versnesse of most our people that a Physician how learned and honest soever and blessed of God in his courses cannot vnlesse hee bee Outlandish or at least in his birth and education altogether a stranger and remote bee in any good esteeme with them for they must have physicke from farre Nihil praetiosum domi the proverbiall saying is not more ancient then true Rara sunt chara Sed mundus vult decipi decipiatur The men of this world are in their worldly affaires wise and doe with the Chinoys see with both eyes and will rather then lose one foote of land retaine the best counsell that can bee had but when their health quae cum omnibus mundi copiis non est commutanda shall by sicknesse bee called into question an illiterated Empericke a peremptorie usurping Apothecary an ambitious Surgeon scarse the supersicies of a Physician perhaps a parish Clarke or a sorcering Horse-leach or any other of what condition soever whether Insidell or Christian whether vertuous or full of all impiety it matters not is a Physician meet enough to encounter with sicknesse death's Champion O genus hominum insulsum quibus Helleborum porrigendum ut purgato cerebro desinant delirare Dolendum sanè in Repub. literata that the noble Art of Physicke should by the toleration of unworthy Practicioners be disgraced and the people hurt Wee have lawes to prevent this evill utinam vitam habuissent I wish they had their due execution but I doubt not but that our most gratious learned SOVERAIGNE wil at length cast an eye of reformation and respect upon the disgraced faculty of Physicke which Kings and Princes in former times by their owne proper studies greatly graced and represse such as under colour of helping destroy many of his people absque poenae metu and so reduce the noble Art of physicke no its ancient splendor and dignity as it is to be seene at this day in some well governed Common-weales in that respect But having taxed divers I must looke to have some scandalous and malicious imputations cast upon my selfe not onely from them that are taxed but also from a Grand Caitiffe-fordian Momus who with his Foule Mouth and Doggish Teeth hath mightily defamed mee and delacerated the former Impressions of my Via recta ad vitam longam As for the former sort I passe not I have delivered my minde freely and I know I speake the truth and if I should bee commended of One that is full of all impiety that is a common Rayler Slanderer and Detractor and under whose lippes is the poyson of Asps I should cry out Quid mali feci But I lightly regarding the obliquity of malevolent and detracting Spirits conclude with the honest Reader to whom I wish these my labours very profitable APRIL 22. 1603. Vale Et sis mihi ut ego tibi VIAE RECTAE AD VITAM LONGAM PARS SECVND A. Of Sleepe and VVatching SECT I. That Sleepe may be taken for the health of the body how many things ought such as are studious of their health to observe therein FOure First the Time secondly the Place thirdly the Positure or lying of the body and fourthly the quantity of Sleepe Of all which in their order But first I will set downe the commodities of moderate and seasonable sleepe which next to nourishments that sustaine the body is most profitable and necessary For it helpeth the digestion The commodities of sleepe recreateth the mind repaireth the spirits comforteth and refresheth the whole body and is for all crudities even a present remedy for it concocteth not onely the
miserable and life not to bee preserved Whether drying and warming of the bed Pelueignito a little before the entring thereinto bee expedient and necessary And what is to bee done after the sleepe for the health of the body before wee betake our selves to our ordinary and necessary businesse SOme Captious Scoffing and Caitiffe-sordian-like Momus will perhaps suppose these two Quaeres to bee idle and supersluous but I lightly regarding His obliquity doe for the good of them to whom I write this Treatise follow my method and adde them as an Appendix to this Section To the former therefore I answer that for Students for the Aged and all such as are weake by nature and that lead a tender and delicate course of life the custome of warming the bed is for two reasons very expedient and necessary in the cold moist seasons of the yeare The first is that the Body upon putting off the garments may not on a sodaine be affected with the externall cold The second is because the interiour heat is comforted by the externall the concoction holpen and all superfluous moysture the better consumed But I approve not this custome to such as are healthfull and strong because it will debilitate their Bodies and make them over nice and effeminate It remaineth therefore that it is only convenient for Students for the Aged and all such as are weake and tender by nature To the second I answer that after you have taken sufficient and competent rest it is good before you arise out of your Bed that you gently rub and stroake downward your breasts and sides but your necke shoulders backe armes hand-wrists pin-bones Frications thighes and legges more strongly with your owne hand or with an hot linnen cloath doubled and heated for the purpose or cause them to be rubbed because it quickeneth the Blood and strengtheneth the parts by exciting the naturall heate When you are risen and before also extend and stretch out your armes legges and whole body that the animall spirits may bee dilated to the exteriour parts and the limbes by that meanes corroborated then walke a little up and downe that the superfluities which shall bee in the stomacke and other parts may the more speedily descend and bee avoyded and bee very diligent to excrete the Vrine and depose the excrements of the Belly and let not with lesse diligence the superfluities of the nose by exsufflation and of the breast by expectoration bee purged forth for nothing is more hurtfull to the Body then the retention of the excrements That done wash and plunge your eies in cold water for that not onely cleanseth away the filth but also cleareth and preserveth the sight And let the mouth bee cleansed with cold water and a little vinegar added thereto and the gummes and teeth rubbed with a Sage leafe or two dipped therein or washed and cleansed with the infusion aforeshewed and after rub the teeth hard with a course dry cloath for this purifieth the breath and preserveth the teeth from corruption Then let your head bee well combed that the pores may bee opened to avoide such vapours as yet by sleepe are not consumed And in the cold and moyst seasons of the yeare let the head also be well rubbed with a course linnen cloath somwhat heated for therby the naturall heat is excited the pores opened vaporous and rheumaticke superfluities discussed and difflated Rubbings of the head and necke mornings with an hot cloath very effectuall against rheums and cold infirmities of the sinewes and consequently the braine and animall spirits exceedingly comforted Of this therefore as also of rubbing the necke in like manner I wish Students and all such as are subject to rheumes palsies and such like affects of the sinewes to have a speciall care All which being done for the body let not your better part passe neglected but before you betake your selfe to your studie or such business as your place shall require consecrate halfe an houre at the least unto Almightie GOD by pouring forth your thankefull soule unto him for his gracious protecting you from infinite dangers and calamities that might have bin befallen you untill this present time with a true confession of your sinnes with an hearty and unfained repentance for them and with a sincere and setled purpose and determination for the amendment of your life in that poore and uncertaine pittance of time that shall remaine wherein besides your never enough thankefulnesse for blessings received let the remembrance of your sinnes bee bitter unto you and cast not away your Soule by fashioning your selfe after this Pharisaicall and most sinfull time but be holy upright uncorrupt mercifull peaceable to shut up all in a word labour by all meanes to have alwayes a cleare conscience towards God and towards man and never forget that all your actions how secret soever or pharasaically cloaked shall in that great and fearfull day of accompts be revealed Wherefore in all your actions remember your end and ever blesse God and beginne the day with a morning sacrifice to him and then he will blesse the day vnto you and direct all your actions to the glory of his most sacred name the good of your country and preservation of your owne soules and bodies O Exercise and Rest SECT 2. Why ought Students and all such as are studious of health and that lead a generous course of life to have speciall regard of exercise and of avoiding immoderate rest And as touching exercise that it may bee rightly used how many things ought to be observed therein EXercise is so necessary to the preservation of health in Students and all such as live a restfull and generous life as that without it they cannot be long healthfull and without sicknesse The commodities of exercise and the discommodities of immoderate rest for by exercise and moderate motions the naturall heat is encreased the spirits excited and dilated the concoction and distribution holpen the humours attenuated the expulsion of all excrements furthered the whole body strengthned and youth prolonged Of the contrary by immoderate and sluggish rest the naturall heat is extinguished the concoction of the meats and distribution to the parts hindred the humours corrupted the excrements retained the whole body dulled and effeminated infinite diseases occasioned and old age hastned and all by reason of crudities and great store of noysome humours thereby ingendred and therefore idlenesse and immoderate rest is not unworthily ranked among the causes of cold diseases And this is found true by dayly experience in agresticke men and all such as lead a laborious course of life who for the more part live longer and in better health and strength then they that live in bodily rest or enjoy a generous state of living Wherefore it is very behoveable for Students and all such as lead not a laborious course of life to support by exercise and voluntary motions their health and not by being too indulgent of their
by how much fatter and grosser the body is by so much the naturall heat is diminished Wherefore for exciting the naturall heat and dissolving the superfluous moisture of the body which is the cause of grossenesse I advise the plegmaticke and all such as are apt to be grosse to accustome themselves in the mornings to speedy walkings and that up against hils or other steepe places and at other times convenient to strong and laborious exercises yet with this caution therein that they doe not so much exceed the meane as to cause over-much wearinesse and weaknesse to the body Of the contrarie to the cholericke To leane and cholericke bodies easie and light exercise is convenient and all such as are of a drye and leane state of body easie and light exercise is convenient and that also no longer to be continued but till the colour and flesh is somewhat ruddy and the sweat beginnes to breake forth For if they should proceed further or use more quicke and vehement motions the spirits would bee soone exhausted the body distempered and brought into an Atrophy or Consumption They therefore that are of a very hot temperature and of a leane and dry state of body ought not at any hand to use any strong motions or exercise of body but walking bowling and such like easie motions are abundantly sufficient for them As touching exercise also The time of the yeare ought to be respected in the exercise the time of the yeare ought not altogether to be neglected for in the summer by reason of the ambient heat of the ayre lighter exercises are more convenient then at other times In the Spring the exercise ought to bee somewhat stronger that the superfluities which by reason of the winter are congested in the body may be resolued But in this season let such as are of an hot temperature of body beware lest by over-much motion they over-heat and distemper it But in the Autumne and especially in the winter strong and laborious motion of the body is most convenient because it dissolveth and dissipateth grosse humours helpeth the breathing by removing the obstructions of the brest occasioned by the moisture of the season and is therefore specially necessary and profitable for grosse and phlegmaticke bodies I will conclude this Section by adding one caution to be observed after exercise and which is of very great moment A eaution to be observed after exercise that is that the body take not cold after the exercise because it greatly weakneth the naturall heat the braine and the sinewes and induceth oftentimes swoundings by a sudden obstruction of the pores and barring in of vaporous moisture that should by them breathe forth And thus much concerning the true use and utility of exercise Now for those that cannot exercise their bodies at convenient times by reason of great weaknesse frication or rubbing of the body Quae inter exercitationi et omni modam quietem media est may well be used in stead of exercise Frication the necessity and utility thereof for it exciteth the naturall heat of the parts openeth the obstructions of the skinne and flesh draweth the humours from the superiour parts to the inferior from the inward to the outward from the noble to the ignoble whereby great comfort and utility is brought to weak and sickly bodies Moreover it procureth sleepe but the belly and the stomacke must not be perfricated because it will trouble the concoction offend the head and occasion the distribution of crudities into the body The application of a double cloath vpon those parts well heated for the purpose during all the time of frication is very necessary for the conservation of the heat of those parts and discussing of wind Neither must the reynes of the backe be rubbed unlesse there be a sensible feeling of cold and winde in them and then they must bee gently stroked lest overheating them obstruction and nephriticke passions bee occasioned The manner of using fricacies must bee with the hand or a course linnen cloath first softly and easily afterwards faster and harder as the tendernesse of the skine shall permit untill the flesh shall as it were swell and bee somewhat ruddie then desist for a mediocrity even in frication must bee observed As for the time the morning and evening are best for fricacies and what parts are fittest for frication I have shewed towards the end of the precedent Section To conclude fricacies are very needfull and profitable for the aged the impotent and such as are barred of exercise by reason of dayly and waighty businesse Of Excretions SECT 3. Why doth the health of the body much consist in the due and daily avoyding of the generall excrements THE generall excrements of the body are the stoole the urine and the sweat and because they are altogether unprofitable being excrements not onely in quantity but also in quality they ought every day to the case and health of the body to bee avoyded for being retained longer then is fitting they become very troublesome and pernicious to the body Wherefore such as are studious of their health must bee very carefull daily and opportunely to avoide the excrements of the belly and bladder And if your belly shall bee naturally soluble Health doth greatly consist in a soluble belly account that in regard of your health for a great felicity For they that have their belly naturally loose and open so it bee not immoderate and more then their state of body in regard of the grosenesse or tenuity thereof shall require are not easily affected with sicknesse whereas of the contrary they that have the same bound up and have seldome the benefit of nature that way have for the most part often conflicts with sicknesse I say for the most part in regard of exceeding hot cholericke bodies who in regard of their strong naturall heat that concocteth with few superfluities have commonly costive bodies and yet enjoy perfect and absolute health Wherefore I advise all such as are studious of their health to have speciall care that their belly expurge it selfe daily twise or once at the least And how beneficiall it is for the health to procure sweat by exercise I have shewed in the former Section and therefore I shall not here neede much to insist therein Nature verely hath to no other purpose made the skinne full of pores but that there should bee free passage through it for sweat and insensible vaporations I shall not here need to shew that it is not convenient for very hot and dry bodies to provoke sweat or of the contrary for cold moist and Phlegmaticke bodies very needfull nor yet in procuring of sweat that there must bee speciall care had as in all other kinds of evacuations that it bee not immoderate deject the strengths for all this is at large shewed in the former Section Besides these generall excrements there are also particular as those of the braine and brest
which being retained and not liberally excreted doe greatly annoy and affect those parts Wherefore the excrements of the braine must daily bee avoyded through the mouth by spetting and excreation through the nose by exsufflation and also somtimes by sternutation especially in the mornings and those of the breast by coughing expectorated And thus much for excretions Of Perturbations or Passions of the minde SECT 4. Seeing that the Passions of the minde are inevitable secundum naturam nobis succrescant why are they reputed as morbificall causes and hurtfull to the Body I Will nothere stand to discourse of the objects of Perturbations nor how the sensitive facultie is the fountaine of them nor how they are the naturall motions of the heart and that by meanes of the spirits which are the primary instruments of the soul as things altogether impertinent for this place but how they are to bee reputed as morbificall causes and hurtfull to the body Animi passiones dum intra modum consistunt neque animam à consuetis naturali moderatione virtute dimovent non animi perturbationes sed actus jure dicentur and in this respect they are said to be inevitable secundam naturam nobis succrescere to bee naturall utiliter à natura dari These Passions Cicero Leves perturbationes optimè dixit Verum cum modum excesserunt hominis decentem harmoniam elegantiam ac modum naturali debitum mutaverint tunc quidem animi passiones seu perturbationes jure optimo dicendae sunt vitandae ut corpori animae noxiae The Passions therefore of the minde are not to bee reputed hurtfull or numbred among the causes of sicknesse but when they shall exceed and bee imoderate and so become perturbations indeed for then they alter the body weaken and overthrow the faculties thereof I will instance in some Immoderate joy Immoderate joy relaxeth the heart and causeth such an effusion of the spirit as that oftentimes ensue fickness and great debility of the body sowndings and as wee read of some pusillanimicke or faint hearted persons Sadnesse and feare death it selfe Sadnes and Feare of the contrary do streiten the heart weaken the spirits and naturall heate and cause them to bee contracted to the heart by meanes whereof the digestion of the meats and distribution is hindred and the remote parts left destitute of heate and from hence proceedeth that vacillation or trembling of the limbes in them that are affected with feare Moreover sadness and feare in continuance dry the body resolve the strengths presse the heart and induce melancholicke sicknesses by exciccating the blood and spirits neere the heart Here some may demaund that if trembling of the limbs proceed from the defect of heat in the parts and if feare draw the heate and spirits inward especially to the heart why the heart doth tremble in theÌ„ that are affected with feare Whereunto it may bee answered that although fear force the heat spirits inward yet it compels them not to the heart strong and lively but weakened abated Nam in metuentibus crassescunt spiritus sanguis fiuntque imbecilliores frigore and that by reason of the imagination which is earnestly bent and troubled in preventing and withstanding the imminent mischiefe and peril And from hence it is that the heart is not onely streitned and doth tremble in feare but also that many swound die and are exanimated with sodaine fear the heat and spirits being extinguished by overmuch blood conglobated in the heart Dum enim anima timore concutitur ut vitae consulat sanguinem spiritus custodiae gratia repentè ad interiora ad cor praecipuè quod corporis quasi princeps est invocat contrahit Anger stirreth up the natural heat Anger breedeth choler and inflameth the blood and spirits And here it is to be observed that though Anger be reputed a morbificall cause and hurtfull to the bodie yet not alwaies and alike to all bodies for to phlegmaticke bodies it is sometimes very necessary to the preservation of their health because the naturall heat being therewith stirred up and encreased doth the better concoct discusse and consume their crude and moist superfluities The like may bee also said of other perturbations whence it is manifest Animi passiones posse mutare corpus affectus ejusdem contrarietate sanare ob id utiliter à natura dari But Anger to all other especially to hot and dry bodies is very hurtfull because it vehemently heateth the Bodie drieth it and resolveth the strengths Wherefore seeing that the affections and perturbations of the minde are of such force for the overthrowing of the health and welfare of the Bodie I advise all such Salubre consilium as are respective of their health to bridle all irrationall motions of the minde by the reason and understanding and labour by all meanes to obserue a mediocritie in their passion wherein consisteth the tranquility both of minde and body which of this life is the chiefest happinesse To conclude this Section and to adde a period to this worke among all the affections of the minde beware chiefly of sadnesse for it dryeth the bones and embrace moderate joy for both body and mind are bettered therby and that your joy may be joy indeed strive without halting to enjoy with all the joy of a good conscience by living soberly uprightly and godly in this present world Non enim habemus hîc manentem civitatem For wee have here no continuing place of abode but we seeke one to come whose maker and builder is GOD who as Peter saith 1 Cap. 2.9 Hath called us out of darkenesse into his marvelous light and destinated us to eternity FINIS THE TABLE A. ANger the effects thereof Page 29. B. Belly naturally soluble greatly availeable to health Page 26. E. Exercise why must Students have a special regard thereof Page 17. The commodities of exercise Page 17. Three things to bee observed in exercise Page 19. The fittest time for exercise Page 19. A caution to bee observed before exercise Page 19. The discommodities of untimely exercise Page 20. The measure of exercise 1 how long we should exercise Page 21. The discommodities of immoderate exercise Page 21. Phlegmaticke grosse bodies need oftner and stronger exercise then other Page 22. To leane and cholericke bodies easie and light exercise is convenient Page 23. The time of the yeare ought to bee repected in exercise Page 23. A caution to be observed after exercise Page 24. Excrements why doth the health of the body much consist in the due and daily avoyding of them Page 2â— F. Feare the effects therof Page 28. Frication the necessity and utility thereof Page 24. I. Ioy if immoderate the effects thereof Page 28. Ioy that it may bee ioy indeed Page 30. P. Passions or perturbations of the minde seeing they are inevitable secundum naturam nobis succrescant why are they reputed as morbificall causes and hurtful to the body Page 27. Mediocrity in the Passion best Page 30. S. Sadness the effects thereof 28 most hurtfull of all affections Page â—0 Sleepe that it may be taken for the health of the body how many things ought such as are studious of their health to observe therein Page 2. Sleepe the commodities thereof Page 1. The three principall faculties of the body are greatly holpen and refreshed by sleepe Page 2. The night why most convenient for sleepe ibidem Three things necessary to quiet sleepe Page 4. The great discommodity of morning sleepe Page 4. Sleeping at noones the discommodities thereof Page 5 Sleeping at noones not to bee prohibited at all times nor to all bodies Page 5 Sleeping at noones hurtfull to all corpulent bodies Page 6. Five conditions to bee observed in sleeping at noones Page 6. What place most convenient for sleepe Page 7 The head and necke in sleep must carefully be defended from cold Page 7. What positure of the body is best in sleepe Page 8 VVhether sleeping upright upon the backe or groveling upon the belly be altogether unwholsome Page 8. To sleepe upon the belly when and for what bodies profitable Page 9. Whether it be expedient to sleep with the mouth a little open Page 9 How long wee should sleep Page 10. Why doe cholericke and melancholicke bodies require longer sleep then the phlegmaticke Page 12 Little sleep best for phlegmaticke and grosse bodies Page 13. Why must the sanguine bee very wary of immoderate sleep Page 13. The discommodities of immoderate sleepe Page 13. What is to be done upon the sleep for the health of the body Page 14. R Rubbings of the head and necke mornings very effectuall against theumes and cold infirmities of the sinews Page 16. W. Watchings if immoderate the hurts thereof Page 13. Vntimely watchings most pernicious to students Page 3. FINIS
ease and rest infringe their strengths and subvert their state of body But moderate rest and in convenient time observed hath also its commodities for when the body is tired through over much labour and strength faileth and naturall moisture decayeth then rest for a time recovereth strength reviveth the spirits and refresheth the limbes So the mind wearied with cares and studies hath need of remission and relaxation without which gratefull vicissitude the vigor neither of mind nor body can long be preserved according to that of the Poet Quod caret alterna requie durabile non est Now that exercise may be rightly used for the health of the body Three things to bee observed in exercise three things are to bee observed therein The Place the Time and the Measure The place where exercise is to be used doth chiefly concerne the ayre which must be cleare and pure not vaporous or putride which as in habitation so also in exercise is greatly to be regarded for the pores and passages of the body being open by exercise the ambient ayre cannot but enter in and be also by reason of the violence of breathing vehemently drawne to the heart which if it shall be grosse vaporours or impure cannot but very greatly offend the head breed rheumes annoy the heart and corrupt the whole body wherefore it is not good to exercise but in a good and wholesome ayre Now for the time fit for exercise Hip. teacheth us plainly in three words Labores cibum praecedant The fittest time for exercise Let exercise be used before meat The time then most convenient for exercise must needs be when both the first and second digestion is complete and that the time approcheth to eate againe But from the exercise to the eating there must alwayes intercede a little time of rest as halfe an houre or thereabout especially it the exercise be any thing violent that the spirits and limbes may be refreshed and the humours in the body quieted and setled Before exercise this caution must alwayes very carefully be observed A caution alwayes carefully to be observed before exercise that the excrements of the belly and bladder be expulsed that none of them by the violence of heat kindled by exercise be drawne into the habite of the body whereby the bloud may be corrupted and very perilous obstructions occasioned Wherefore it is not good to exercise before the meate pre-assumed be well concocted and the excrements of the belly and bladder carefully deposed I will not here restraine any to certaine houres of the day for exercise but as their occasions shall give leave so as it be done according to these three rules that is After the excrements are avoided In a wholesome ayre and before meat Whereunto I will adde a fourth And not in the fervent heat of the day Ne duplici calore afficiatur corpus that the body be not at once affected with the outward heat of the ayre and the inward heat of the body raised by exercise wherefore in exercise let the fitnesse of time be alwayes observed The discommodities of untimely exercise For untimely exercise doth greatly hurt the body as to exercise immediately after meale or before the meat be concocted for thereby the naturall heat is drawne from the inward parts to the outward the concoction consequently marred and the whole body repleted with crude and noysome superfluities Hence proceed obstructions impostumes scabs and oftentimes ulcers as is to be seene in divers that unadvisedly labour or exercise immediately after meat or before it be sufficiently concocted VValking after meat very profitable Yet to rise up after meat to stand and to walke softly is very good for by this meanes the meates doe sooner descend to the bottome of the stomacke and the naturall heat is also somwhat stirred vp whereupon doth follow the speedier and better concoction Wherefore I cannot but very greatly commend walking after dinner in the Summer season in a cold arbour and after supper in the temperate and hot seasons of the yeare in open plaine fields or in sweet meadowes nigh to pleasant rivers for the digestion is not onely holpen thereby but the spirits are also delighted the whole body refreshed and the fumes arising from the stomacke discussed And if your state of body be such as that you cannot walke after meale yet stand at least according to the old verse Post pastum stabis passu mollive meabis To conclude this point I doe here therefore counsell all students and such as live generously to labour neither in body nor mind immediately after meat for as of the body so also of the mind ought the exercises to be seasonable for untimely studies doe soone weaken the strengths both of body and mind but to spend an houre in gentle walkings and pleasant discourse And thus much concerning the time convenient for exercise Now I come to the measure of exercise The measure of exercise 1. how long we should exercise a meane wherein as in all other things is best which by two notes may chiefly be discerned The first is by the bursting forth of sweat and hot vapours the other by the wearinesse of the limbes for when the skinne shall be wet with swear it shall be good to desist from exercise lest by proceeding therein The discommoditie of immoderate exercise not onely the spirits and good humours be exhausted but also the fat annexed to Liver Reines and Intestines whereby the naturall heat of those parts is preserved bee melted or at least caused to putrifie by meanes whereof if sudden death ensue not as oftentimes it doth the concoction is weakned and the body become sickly withered and imparient of cold And when the agilitie of the limbes shall beginne to faile it shall be good to desist lest over-much wearinesse and feeblenesse should ensue Here therefore it is to be advertised how great and laborious exercises doe evilly dispose the body and subvert the state thereof and that the best and most profitable exercises for them that are sound and healthfull are walking bowling Et parvae pilae ludus the racket and such like easie exercises For it is certaine that for such as are health full it is sufficient by exercise to encrease the naturall heat to excite the spirits and expell the excrements which the aforesaid exercises doe well effect without any great trouble or lassitude of the body Wherefore the true measure of exercise is not to be overwearied therewith nor too suddenly to sweat and raise the spirits But a measure in exercise cannot rightly be limited without respect had to the constitution and state of body because the phlegmaticke Phlegmaticke and grosse bodies need oftner and stronger exercise then other and all such as are of a full state of body require more often and more laborious exercise then others for exciting the naturall heat discussing the superfluous moisture and abating the grossenesse of the body for