3. The third kind I call the Armeball which was inuented in the kingdom of Naples, not many yeares agoe, and answereth most of the olde games, with the great ball, which is executed with the armes most, as the other was with the feete, and be both very great helpers vnto health. The arme in this is fensed with a wooden brace, as the shin in the other with some other thing for meeting with a shrew. The armeball encreaseth the naturall heate, maketh way for superfluities, causeth sound sleepe, digesteth meate wel, and dispatcheth raw humors, though it stuffe the head, as all vehement exercises do. It exerciseth the armes and backe chiefly, and next to them the legges, and therfore it must needs be good for such, as desire to haue those partes strong and perfit, to digest their meate at will, to distribute profitable iuice to the whole body, and to auoide needelesse matter, as well by sweate, as by any other kinde of secret euacuation. And yet it is very ill for a naughtie backe, for hoat kidneyes, for sharp vrine, and generally for any that is troubled with infirmities and diseases in those parts which are strained with stirring.
Thus much concerning the particular exercises, which I haue pickt out from the rest, as most reducible to our time and countrie, wherein I haue not followed the ordinarie diuision, which the training maisters and Physicians do vse, but I deuised such a one, as I tooke to be fittest for myne owne purpose regarding our soyle and our seasons. Neither haue I rekened vp the other antique exercises, but haue let them rest with their friends and fauorers, which be long ago at rest. For the tumbling Cybistike, the thumping Pugillate, the buffeting Cestus, the wrastling Pancrace, the quayting Discus, the barlike Halteres, the swinging Petawre, and such old memorandums, they are to auncient and to farre worne from the vse of our youth: the considering whereof may rather stirre coniecture, then stai assurance, what they were, when they were. And of these which I haue named, many be farre beyond boyes plaie, for whom alone I do not deale, but for all studentes in generall, neither yet do I exclude either any age, or any person, if I may profit any else beside studentes and scholers. Neither do I tie the trayne to these exercises alone, but alway to some though not alway to one kinde. The cause and consideration must leade all, which may bring forth the like, and why not the better vpon due and wel obserued circunstance? For though the general cause do direct much, yet the particular circunstance directeth more, being it self enformed in the generall iudgement. The most of these notes, which I haue alleaged, were giuen in Italie, Greece & Spaine, and that climate farre distant, and much differing from our degree. Wherefore our traine vpon consideration of the degrees in soyle, in temperature, in constitution, and such like, must appropriate it selfe where the difference is apparent. Therefore both to vse these exercises which I haue named, to the best, and to deuise other by comparison and circumstance, as cause shal offer, I will runne thorough those particularities, which either make by right, or marre by wrong applying, both all that I haue said, or that can be deuised in this kinde, to preserue health.
CHAPTER 28.
Of the circumstances which are to be considered in exercise.
There be six circumstances, which leade and direct all exercises, and are carefully to be considered of, by the trayning maister. For either the missing or mistaking of any one of them, may do harme to more then one, and the vsing of them with circumspection and warynes, doth procure that good to health, which this whole discourse hitherto hath promised.
The sixe circumstances be these, the nature of the exercise which ye entend to vse: the person and body which is to be exercised, the place wherin, the time when, the quantitie how much, the maner how, whereof I do meane to giue some particular aduertisements so as I do finde the learned physicianes, and wise health maisters to haue handled them in their writings, yet by the way least any man either dispaire of the good, and therefore spare the prouing, because the forme of exercise doth seeme so intricate, and there with all to much: or if he be entred in triall, and thinke he shall faile, if he misse in some litle, bycause the charge is giuen so precisely, to keepe al that is enioyned: I wish him not to thinke either the errour vnpardonable, to regard, or the thing vnauailable to health, if either all, or any one of these circumstances be not absolutely hyt. For as a perfit healthfull body is not to be found by enquirie, which is not to be hoped for in nature, bycause in so continuall a chaunge such a perfitnes cannot chaunce, our bodyes being subiect to so many imperfections: so is it no wonder for men to do what they may, and to wish for the best, though still beyond their reach. If any can come neare them, he breakes no right of vse, though he misse the rule of art, which alwaye enioyneth in the precisest sort, but yet resteth content with that which falleth within compasse of ordynarie circumstance. The reason is, art weyeth the matter abstracte, and free from circumstaunce, and therefore hauing the whole obiect at commaundemet, she may set downe her precept, according to that perfitnes, which she doth conceiue: but the execution being chekt with a number of accidentarie occurrences, which art cannot comprehend, as being to infinite to collect, must haue one eye to her precept, and an other to hir power, and aske consideration counsell, how to performe that with a number of lettes, and thwartings which, art did prescribe, either without any, or at the lest, with not so many.
CHAPTER 29.
The nature and qualitie of the exercise.