Now in walking abroad there is consideration to be had to the soile. For walking by the sea side ye thinne and drie vp grosse humours, by riuers and standing waters ye moyst. Howbeit both these two last be naught, and specially standing waters. Walking not neare any water, as it is not so good as the walke by the sea, so it is much better, then walking neare any other water. Walking in the dew moystes and harmes.
It is good to walke where birdes haunt.
If ye walke in a place where birdes haunt, it is of great efficacie to cleare by the breath, and to disburden the bodie so, as if ye did walke in some higher ground. If there be no winde where ye walke, it cleareth by breath, it disperseth excrements, it slakes and nippes not, and is good for colicks that come of a cold cause. If there be winde, the Northern causeth coughing, hurtes the bulke, and yet confirmes the strength, soundes the senses, and strengthens the weake stomacke. The Southwinde filles the head, dulles the instrumentes of sense, yet it looseth the bellie, and is good to dissolue. The Westwinde passeth all the rest, both for mildenesse and wholesomnesse. The Eastwinde is hurtefull and nippes.
It is better to walke in the shade then in the sunne.
Daungerous walking vnder dewy trees.
What effecte the faire and cleare aire hath.
It is better walking in the shade then in the sunne: as it is naught for the headache to walke either in the cold or in the heat. And yet it is beter to walke in the sunne, then to stend in it, and better to walke fast, then slowly. Of all shades, those be the best which be vnder walles or in herboures. It is verie daungerous walking neare vnto dewye trees, for feare of infection by the sappie dew: bycause dew in generall is not so wholesome, it abateth the flesh, as wymen that gather it vp with wooll or linnen clothes for some purposes do continually trye. Now if the dew come of any vnwholesome matter, what may it proue to? The best walking in shadowes simply is vnder myrtle and baye trees, or among quicke and sweet smelling herbes, as wilde basell, penyroyall, thyme, and mynt, which if they be wild and of their owne growing be better to wholesome the soile, then any that be set by hande: but if the better cannot be, the meaner must serue. Againe in this kinde of walke the faire and cleare aire lighteneth, scoureth, fineth, procureth good breathing, and easie mouing. Darke and cloudie aire heauyeth, scoureth not by breath, and stuffeth the head.
Walking which taketh his name after the time.
Walking which is termed after the time, is either in winter or summer: in the morning or in the euening, before meat or after. The most of these differencies will appeare then playnest, when the time for all exercises is generally appointed, in consideration of circunstance, as shall be declared vnder the title of time. In the meane while walking whether in the morning or euening, ought still to go before meat.
The good of ye morning walk.