Epimanondas did. King Henry the Fifth of England was so swift in running, that he, with two of his Nobles (without Bow, or other Engine) would take a Wild Buck or Doe in a large Park. Alfo Harold, the Son of Canutus the Second, was Sirnamed Harefoot for his fwift running. And Ethus, King of Scotland, was of that fwiftness, that he almoft reached that of Stags or Grayhounds; and was therefore called Alipes, or Wing'd-foot. Philippides an Athenian, in the space of two days, did run 150 Roman Miles. And one Euclides, another of the fame Countrey, went and returned in one day 125 of the like Miles.

But those are the best Exercises, which (befides the refreshing of the Body) enable men to some other good Ends: As

Bowling,] It teaches Mens Hands and Eyes Mathematical Proportion : And (for a Home-Diverfion) the Play at the Billiard Table hath not its Peer: It exercises the whole Body moderately; the ftrength of the Arm judiciously: It directs the Hand Geometrically, and the Eye Optically: For the attaining to be an Exquifite Proficient in playing at it, depends wholly upon putting in practice that Axiome of Euclid in his Catoptignes; which demonftrates, that, The Angles of Incidence and Reflection are ever more equal.

Swimming hath faved many a man's Life, when himself hath been both the Ship and the Cargozoon. And fingle Perfons, by their dexterity in this Art, have not faved their own Lives only, but their Countrey alfo. For (as Livie relates) One Horatius Cocles, That, after a long time, he alone, had defended the Bridge over Tyber against the Hetrufcans, the Romans brake it down behind him; wherewith, in his Armour, he caft himself into the River, and (notwithstanding a shower of Darts and Arrows were sent after him) fwam with fafety into the City; which rewarded him with a Statue erected in the Market-place, and as much Land as he could encompass with a Plough in one day. And as refolute an Attempt was that of Gerrard and Harvey, two Gentlemen of our own Nation, who in the Fight at Sea in 1588. fwam in the Night-time, and pierced with Augres, or fuch like Inftruments, the fides of the Spanish Gallions, and returned back safe to the English Fleet. And Vincent in his Travails reports, That at Barlavento, Calo and Hifpaniola, he hath feen men ftay under water the space of three quarters of an Hour; and hath heard of those that would continue an whole Hour.

The forementioned Exercises are such as are generally used,

and

and do tend to the health of Mens Bodies; and for the prevention of feveral Maladies to which by Nature they are inclin'd. But there are other Corporeal Exercifes which are more Heroical, and fit only for the Recreation of Princes, and fuch Noble Heroes, whofe principal Ambitions tend to the defence of their King and Countrey: And fuch are, Horsemanship, Tilting, Tornamenting, Throwing the Bar, Wrestling, &c. Of which inftances might be given of many Emperors, Kings and Generals, who have performed great Exploits thereby. But leaving those of the Body, Ifhall proceed to fuch Recreations as adorn the Mind; of which thofe of the Mathematicks are inferior to none.

Now the Excellency of any Science (fays the Philofopher) may be judged of, (1.) By the Excellency of the Object: And (2.) by the Certainty of its Demonftrations.

First, For the Object; It is no less than the whole World: Not only of the Terreftrial, but the Cœleftial part thereof also. So that in this refpect it far exceeds all those empty and barren Speculations about Materia Prima, or Univerfale: In the Study of which so many do mispend their Younger Years.

Secondly, For the Demonftrations of thefe Sciences, they are as infallible as Truth it felf: And for this reafon alfo doth it exceed all other Knowledge which depend upon Conjectures and Uncertainty. Since therefore in these respects, it is one of the most Excellent Sciences in Nature, it may beft become the Induftry of Man, who is one of the belt Works of Nature. And for that end was he made with an Elevated Afpect, with Head and Eyes exalted: And for what reason, the Poet tells you,

Os Homini fublime dedit, Celumque tueri
Juffit, & erectos ad Sydera tollere vultus.

God gave to Man an upright Face, that He
Might view the Stars, and learn Aftronomy.

And thus the Kingly Prophet David, Pfal. 8. v. 3, 4. falls out into this Admiration, When I confider the Heavens, the Works of thy Fingers; the Moon and the Stars which thou haft created; What is Man, that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of Man that thou vifiteft him! Upon which Text, Sandys thus excellently Paraphrases.

When I pure Heaven, thy Fabrick fee;
The Moon and Stars, create by Thee

O! what is Man, and his frail Race;

That Thou should'ft fuch a fhadow grace!

Now thefe Sciences being fo excellent in themselves, and of fuch benefit to us, we cannot spend our leisure hours better, than in these Sublime Sciences. It was fo with Julius Cæfar, who amongst the Broils and Tumults of the Camp, made choice of this for his Recreation: As Lucan fays of him, Lib. 10.

·Media inter prelia femper

Stellarum, Calique plagis, fuperifque vacavit.

He always leisure found amidst his Wars,

To mark the course of Heaven, and learn the Stars.

And for this reafon likewife did Seneca, amidst the continual Noife and Buftle of the Court, betake himself to this Recreation.

O quam juvabat, &c.

O what a Pleasure was it to Survey

Natures Chief Work, the Heavens! Where we may
View the alternate Courfes of the Sun,

The Sacred Chariots, how the World does run:
The Moon's bright Orb, when she's attended by
Those scattered Stars, whofe Light adorns the Sky.

And thus let what I have already said concerning the Excellency, Utility and Benefit of these Mathematical Arts fuffice. It may be expected I fhould fay something concerning those which I have felected in the following Tractates: But for that I refer you only to the Table of Contents following: And for the ufing of them, make them as Ballaft to a Ship; to fix it, not to ftall it; so as to justle out its other Cargo of lefs weight, though of greater importance to Mundane fubfiftence. But I will deter thee (Reader) no longer in the Porch, but invite thee into the Inner Rooms; into which Ingredere ut Proficias: And so, for this time,

Farewell.

The

Of the making of Gold.

10 Of the Nature of Gold.

ERRA