They make bad Premisses and worse Conclusion.
Thus much for Bowling.
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
When as the Hand at Tennis Playes,
And Men to Gaming fall,