cellencies of Exercise which rendered the _Lacedemonians_, Famous to
all Posterity for instructing their young Gentlemen and Noblemen in: Nay
for ought I know it is a _derivative Vertue_ which descended to the true
_English_ Gentleman, from that so excellent Method of Education used
amongst the Warlike Nation the _Gothes_: Who (as _Olaus Magnus_ informes
us) amongst the greatest Severities, as _Beatings_ and _Wounds_, _Change
of Heat into sudden Cold_, _lying_ (not on _Downe_ but) upon _Boards_,
_coursely clad_, and _Feeding_ on _Ordinary_, but strong _Food_, used
themselves to the most tedious, wearisome and Violent Exercises, as
_Riding_, _Darting_, _Shooting_, &c. _Wearing heavy Armes_, _Swimming on
Horse-Back and in Armour_; And had they been acquainted with this
Exercise of _Tennis_, would not have omitted that neither: But I shall
not enlarge any further on its _Encomium_, its being the Pastime of the
most knowing and greatest men, shall stop any longer _Eulogies_ my Pen
can make on its Worth and Excellence. All I have to say is, I am
heartily sorry, there are no _Rules_ which fall within the Sphere of
_Demonstration_, to be laid down for my Readers use, for the right
prosecuting this Noble Game: Practice and Experience alone must be his
Information and Direction, and not any Writing may be communicated to
him: Only let me say this.

_Tennis_ and _Baloon_ are Sports which are play'd almost with the same
Instruments; and therefore may be under one and the same Head: The first
is a pastime, used in close or open Courts, by striking a little _Round
Ball_ to and fro, either with the _Palmes_ of the hands (and then is
called _Pila palmaria_ in Latin) or else a _Racket_, made for the
purpose, round with Net or Cat-gut, with a Handle: The other a strong
and moving Sport in the Open Fields with a great Ball of a double
Leather filled with Wind, and so driven to and fro with the strength of
a Mans Arm, armed in a Brace of Wood: And thus much shall suffice to
speak of the _Baloon_ and _Tennis_; only let me desire you, let not this
or any other Pastime disturb your Minds; divert you from the diligent
and careful Prosecution of your own lawful Business; or invite you to
throw away your Time and Money too lavishly and idley; nor engage you in
any Passion; that so you may not offend God, dislike your _Neighbour_,
nor incomode your _Self_ and _Family_ in your Well-being and Felicity;
and then you may recreate your self without Fe