The durable legacy by H.B. ...

Of Recreation.

Something of necessity you must allow your self, to swetten the anxieties and business of thy Life: But it is very fit that before-hand you consider what are the just ends thereof, and use it only in order to those ends: These are 1. The refreshment of the body, by convenient stirring it, and dispersing the humors, which otherwise would stagnate, and be a foundati∣on for diseases: The caution here is, that instead

of refreshing it, you do not wear and overtire it by spending too immoderately those necessary Spirits and moistures, which give desirable plumpness, beau∣ty, and strength to the body. And this refers not only to the violence, and long continuance of exercise, but to the frequency also. Assure your self that what is beyond moderation, tends rather to the impair than improvement of health: I have known divers, who by using overmuch exercise in their youth, have acquired leanness, and impotence be∣fore age hath come on, and made the latter part of their dayes unhappy, through lameness and aches, effects (which they would not foresee) of ungo∣verned exercise. 'Tis very little that the body of man requires as to health, and you shall find by truest observation, that they live longest and in best health who use but very little: living tem∣perately.

2. End of Exercise is the allevation of the mind, by imploying it in things of small moment, chearful and pleasant, not requiring that intentness and earnest thoughtfulness which business does, nor liable to so many cross, and adverse accidents: you must therefore exclude sports that require too great an intention of Spirit, either as being in their own nature difficult, or from the often using them, or the too long continuance of them, or from the loss that follows them, any of these frustrate the end of exercise: Remember that it ought to be but diver∣sion, and as a Parenthesis to business: That by re∣laxing the Spirits for a little time, which else would too soon be exhausted, the convenient employments of life may more delightfully and vigorously be un∣dertaken. Let me therefore caution thee, as having

seen the World before thee, and through the man∣ner of my education, and spent life, been inabled to advise thee, to avoid these evils, in that which is miscalled, Recreation; which if thou dost not de∣cline, will certainly procure thee much infelicity, and clog thy life with many unavoidable hazards, not without danger of Ruine in the end.

My First Caution is, that whatsoever estate is left thee, or thou acquirest, let almost the whole of thy time be taken up in business or rest: Except an interposition of some little vacancies for diver∣sion, agreeable to the ends above mention∣ed.

They are therefore blame worthy, and very ill advised, who spend the greatest part of their time in Sports, and Pastime, as most of the Gentry of England do, and many others: who framing to themselves no business, are every day casting about how idlely, and as they call it pleasurably to spend their time, in hunting, hawking; coursing, fishing, drinking, gaming, or other unprofitable wayes, and are ill at ease, and even sick, till they have found Companions, so to pass the day: All kind of busi∣ness to these is irksome: Their lives useless to them∣selves, their Families and Country: Their minds unfurnished with necessary knowledg that should make them serviceable in their Generation: Their Estates (of which they are but Stewards) mispent, and they disabled to provide for their younger Children; and all these consequential evils, the effects of not being used from their youth to some useful imployments, unto which their great estates and as it should be ordered, a generous breeding, with regard to common as well as particular profit,

should and might well adapt them. Hence arises the degeneration of the people of England in their manners, and vitiously acquired habits of mind: considering the influence the Gentry have (to go no further) upon the Farmers, and their under-Tenants. How unhappy has the frugality and industry of their fore-Fathers been, to acquire an estate for their poste∣rities, thus misimployed, as the fuel of their idle extra∣vagancies, and all because it is esteemed a kind of de∣rogation, forsooth, from their gentility to be bred up in the acquisition of useful knowledg, or some profitable imployment. It shall be therefore my care, my Son, and I would have the same purpose transmitted by thee to thy posterity, to be ingaged in, and to be in love with business.

Consider here, that being used to, and expert in business, it will become at least as pleasurable to thee, yea far more pleasurable, than all the Sports the idle Gentleman imployes his time in: Thou wilt take great content in the progress and product of every dayes affair, delighting thy self at night in the con∣templation thereof; and if thou meetest with any cross occurrences therein, being used to business, thou wilt know much better how to overcome the fame, and free thy self from the extricacies thereof: Whereas the idle Gentleman, ignorant in almost all matters out of the road of his pastimes, is upon eve∣ry little occasion disturbed, and distracted, and be∣comes often thereby a prey to a subtle Steward, or other Servant, or to the craft of a neighbouring Lawyer, seemingly his Friend, but indeed only his own, who is ever watchful, and glad of such an occasion. Now since that is to every particular person his pleasure, which he esteems so, it is bet∣ter

by far, to propose before hand, upon advice thus given, to make that so to thee, which is also both creditable and profitable, than to place it in that which is altogether vain, and of no reputation, and attended also with numerous evils, such as thou shalt confess them to be, when I shall presently have recited them unto thee.

2. Let thy Recreations and Sports never be for money, or at least for no more than what is inconsi∣derable, and whose loss cannot be felt, nor beget in thee any trouble or anxiety: A thousand inconve∣niencies attends the Itch of Gaming; rather believe my experience, than be convinc'd by thy own suffer∣ing. Some of them (that thou mayest have the greatest detestation against it) I will enumerate to thee.

1. It is attended with the common evil of all o∣ther Vices, to bewitch the mind, and beget such a dotage thereupon, that when thou seest the evil thereof, and hatest it, thou canst not decline it: especially if thou acquirest any skill therein, hope of gain will then prompt thee on, even against thy best Resolutions.

2. It will make the business thou undertakest in the course of thy life irksome to thee, partly from the tickling pleasure thou wilt take therein, and partly from its having been a hindrance to thee, in the acquiring those abilities should raise thy esteem and make the eminent in thy profession.

3. It will be certain and very considerable loss to thee, for if thou gainest the craft of play, and usest false arcts to cozen and deceive, thou losest this way most of all: That is to say, the favour of God and esteem of good men. If thou playest fair, trusting

to Fortune (besides that thou wilt be lyable to be cheated by others, who have made their livelihood depend upon it, and have no other subsistence, which sort of fellows in this City numerously abound) in the frequency and continuance of play, thou must be a certain loser: For reckoning Fortune but e∣qual, the very incident expence of Gaming will eat thee out: and that this is true is demonstrably evi∣denced, by the visible decayes of all those that use it fairly.

To this may he added the certain loss of what thou mightest in that time have gained in thy honest imployment.

4. It disposes thee insensibly to the being tainted with the other incident vices of Gamesters, as drink∣ing, swearing, proneness to passion, forwardness upon every slight occasion, and many other evils, which I hope in God thou wiltnever find verified in thy self.

5. Loss of time, and neglect of business, and ma∣ny mischiefs thereupon attendant.

6. Blemish in reputation, and that for the most part irreparable.

7. Impair of health, which the perplexity of thy mind upon losses, neglecting due hours of feeding and rest will bring upon thee.

8. Disorder it occasions in thy family, for want of thy constant eye and observance, and those dis∣respects thou drawest upon thy self, by their taking notice of thy ill hours and inclinati∣ons.

Many other evils, clear and undeniable I might enumerate, but here are enough to let thee see, and make thee detest that hateful and most mischievous

Vice of Gaming: Let me therefore upon my blessing warn thee, and from the tender affection, and true regard to thy good, beseech thee, never to play for money; or not for any thing of moment: nei∣ther at Dice, or Tables, or Cards, or design to have any craft or skill therein: It will be a difficult, and almost an impossible thing in thee to forbear, if thou becomest dextrous at any Game, and there∣fore wholly decline them: I advise thee thus with the greatest seriousness imaginable: The fiction of Ʋlysses's men, being bewitched with the charms of Circe, is but an embleme of this, as of other things men account pleasures: It is easier wholly to forbear than afterwards to decline. Remember likewise, how many useful things thou mayest be Master of, with the time is mispent upon play, each of them cre∣ditable and profitable: Whereas the subtleties of play, are diminutions of repute. And what an im∣prudent thing it will be found to be, that after Weeks, Months, and Years so mispent, the harvest is only, shame, loss, and poverty.

But because I did advise at first, that some recre∣ation might be necessary, you will expect that I should mention what I would approve, and what are most innocent and convenient. To this I shall say, that it is not for me particularly to prompt you, but leaving the matter to your own genius: I shall only give some general rules, and so pass this distast∣ful Paragraph.

1. Let them be innocent, not attended with any vice, or blemish in the exercise thereof: and this can hardly be, if money be the incen∣tive.

2. Engage in no pastime, that is to the ruine or hurt of any Creature, for consider that the destru∣ction of other Creatures was not designed for thy Recreation: And insomuch as they have fears and sense of pain, if by degrees thou becomest insensible thereof, thy tenderness and humanity will in time degenerate into fierceness and cruelty: Many Sports are comprehended here, to which depra∣ved custome, and inconsideration, will as others incline thee, if a Fathers commands, cannot pre∣vail, or the early and free use of thy own under∣standing.

3. Not too violent: as Tennis; and several o∣thers, as they may be too earnestly and too long used. These I prefer.

Moderate Bowling, for small matters, at season∣able times, and not too frequent; Shooting with the Long Bow, in the fields, with the same cautions, and ever in good Company: But above all I prefer walking with a Friend or good Companion: Suffici∣ent and the best exercise for the body, chearful also, and profitable for the mind: there, if they be of the same faculty, may be discoursed any part of their Art, their late readings, and more profitable expe∣riences: There one may assist the other in any diffi∣culties or intricate occurrences: There may be discoursed any point of Religion, of true and legitimate policy, of Morality, of History, of the humours and misbehaviours of men, of the excel∣lency of Truth, Friendship, Vertue, or whatever else offers it self a subject of profitable discourse, or inoffensive mirth: And how much this is beyond the unprofitable vanity of other pastimes, when thou canst well exercise thy reason, thou wilt easily

conclude: This is a Recreation that thou mayest use within doors also, when bad weather forbids it without: A Game at Chess, because it rarely is for money, neither depends upon chance, is allowable; but I would advise it should not be too often, be∣cause it too much intends the brain, and the end is but victory: in acquiring which either at this or any other Game, let it be with as little regret and disquiet to thy Adversary as may be.