The School of Recreation (1696 edition) Or a Guide to the Most Ingenious Exercises of Hunting, Riding, Racing, Fireworks, Military Discipline, The Science of Defence

Excerpt

Reader, in this small Book you will find such Variety of Recreations, that nothing of the nature ever appeared so like Accomplish'd in any one Volume, of what Largeness soever: For besides my own Experience in these acceptable and delightful Particulars, reduced under proper Heads, easy to be understood, and put in practice; I have taken the Opinions of those whose Ingenuity had led them to these Exercises in Particular or General, and are approved for the Performance of them in the exactest manner, whose judicious Approbations the more embolden'd me to a Publication of them: In which you will not only find Pleasure, and keep up a Healthful Constitution in moderately pursuing them, but in most or all of them find considerable Profit and Advantage, when you can spare leisure Hours from your Devotions, or to unbend your Cares after the tiresome Drudgery of weighty Temporal Matters; Not that I think it is proper so eagerly to pursue them, as if you made them rather a Business than a Recreation; for though in themselves they are harmless, yet a continual or insatiate Prosecution of any Thing, not only lessens the Pleasure, but may render it hurtful, if not to your self, yet in giving Offence to others, who will be apt to reflect upon such as seem to doat upon them, and wholly neglect their other Affairs.