CHAPTER 31.
Of the exercising places.
That the place, wherein any thing is done, is of great force to the well or ill performing therof, and specially in natural executions, there can be no better profe, then that we se, not onely plantes and trees, not onely brute beastes and cattell, but also euen the bodies and myndes of men to be altered and chaunged, with the varietie and alteration of the place and soyle, so that for the better exercising of the bodies to the preseruing or recouering of health, it is verie materiall to limit some certainety concerning the place. Wherin not to dwell long at this time, bycause in the common place both for learning and exercising togither, I shall haue occasion to say more of this matter: these foure qualities are to be obserued in the place. 1. First the place where ye exercise, must haue his ground flowred so, as it be not offensiue to the body, as in wrastling not hard to fall on, in daunsing soft, and not slipperie. How angrie would a boie be to be driuen to scourge his top in sand, grauell, or deepe rushes? and so forth in the rest: as is most fit for the body exercised, with lest daunger and best dispatch. 2. The second, that the place be either free from any wind at all, or if be not possible to auoide some, that it be not subiect to any sharpe and byting winde: which may do the body some wrong, being open, and therefore ready to receiue forreine harme by the ayer. 3. Thirdly that the place be open, and not close nor couered, to haue the best and purest ayre at will, whereby the body becommeth more quicke and liuely, and after voyding noysom superfluities, may proue lightsome by the very ayer and soyle. 4. Fourthly that there be no contagious nor noysome stenche neare the place of exercise, for feare of infecting that by new corruption, which was lately cleared by healthful motion. Generally if the place connot be so fit and fauourable to exercise, as wish would it were, yet wisedom may win thus much, that he may be as well appointed, to preuent the ill of euery both season and circumstance, as possibility can commonly performe. When great conquests had made states almost, nay in deede to wealthie, and libertie of soyle giuen them place to chuse, they builded to this end meruelous and sumptuous monuments, which time and warres haue wasted, but we which must doe as we may, must be content with that, which our power can compasse, and if the worst fall, thinke that he which placed vs in the world, hath appointed the world for vs for an exercising place, not onely for the body against infections, but also for the mynde against affections, which being herselfe well trayned, doth make the bodie yeelde to the bent of her choice.
CHAPTER 32.
Of the exercising time.
Time is deuided into accidentarie and naturall, and naturall againe into generall and particular. The naturall time generally construed is ment by the spring, the summer, the haruest and the wynter: particularly by the howers of the day and night. The accidentarie time chaungeth his name still, sometime faire, sometime foule, sometime hoat, sometime colde and so forth. Of this accidentary time this rule is giuen, that in exercise we chuse, as neare as we can, faire weather, cleare and lightsome to confirme the spirites, which naturally reioice in light and are refreshed thereby: not cloudy, darke and thicke, wherein grosse humours make the bodie dull and heauie: againe when there is either no great, or no verie noysome winde to pearce the open pored body, nor to much forreine heat to enflame the naturall: nor to much cold to stiffen it to sore.
For the naturall time generally taken, Aristotle[47] would haue the bodie most exercised in sommer, bycause the naturall heat being then least, and the bodie therefore most burdened with superfluities, then exercise most helpes: both to encrease the inward heat, and to send out those outward dettes. Hippocrates[48] againe giuing three principall rules to be kept in exercise, to auoide wearinesse, to walke in the morning, maketh this the third to vse both more and longer exercise in the winter and cold weather, and most of his fauourites hold that opinion. The reason is, bycause in sommer the heat of the time dryeth the bodie enough, so that it needeth no exercise to wither it to much, where the aire it selfe doth drie it enough. Galene[49] a man of great authoritie in his profession, pronounceth thus in generall, that as temperate bodies are to be exercised in a temperate season which he countes to be spring: so cold bodies are in hoat weather: hoat in cold, moyst in drie, drie in moyst: meaning thereby that whensoeuer the bodie seemeth to yeeld towardes any distemperature, then the contrarie both time and place must be fled to for succour. Of these opinions iudgement is to chuse, which it best liketh. Me thinke vpon diuers considerations, they maye all stand well without any repugnance, seing neither Hippocrates nor Galene, deny exercise in sommer simply, and Aristotle doth shew what it worketh in sommer.
For the naturall time particularly taken, thus much is said, that it is vnwholesome to exercise after meat, bycause it hindereth digestion by dispersing the heat, which should be assembled wholly to further and helpe digestion. And yet both Aristotle and Auicene, allow some gentle walking after meat, to cause it so much the sooner setle downe in the stomacke, specially if one meane to sleepe shortly after. But for exercise before meate, that is excedingly and generally commended, bycause it maketh the naturall heat strong against digesting time, and driuing away vnprofitable humours, disperseth the better and more wholesome, thorough out the whole bodie, whereas after meate it filleth it with rawnesse, and want of digestion: bycause mouing marres concoction, and lets the boyling of the stomacke. Now in this place there be three thinges to be considered.