In a curious black letter book entitled "The benefit of the auncient Bathes of Buckstones, which cureth most greeuous Sicknesses, neuer before published; compiled by John Jones Phisition at the Kings mede nigh Darby, anno salutis 1572," is the following description of exercises and amusements adapted to the invalid.
To the sickly (says the author) small exercyse will serue, by reason of feeblenesse, not able too suffer pantynge, neyther verily so violent for them shalbee requysite. But if their strength will sustayne it, an exercyse conuenient for thyr callinge shalbee vsed
Trol in Madam. The Ladyes, Gentlewomen, Wyues, and Maydes maye in " one of the galleries walke ; and if the weather bee not agreeable to their expectacion they may haue in the end of a Benche, eleuen holes made, intoo the which to trowle pummetes or bowles of leade, bigge, little or meane or also of copper, tynne, woode, eyther vyolent or softe, after their owne discretion. The pastyme Trowle in Madame is termed.
Lykewise, men feeble the same may also practise, in another gallery of the newe buyldinges, and this dooth not only strengthen the stomack, and vpper parts aboue the mydryfe, or wast,but also the middle partesbeneath the sharp gristle and the extreme partes as the handes and legges, according to the wayght of the thing trouled fast, soft or meane.
Bowling. In lyke mannerbowling in allayes, the weather conuenient and the bowles fitte to suche game, as eyther in playne or longe allayes, or in suche as haue cranckes with halfe bowles, which is the fyner and gentler exercise.
Shoting the noblest exercyse.
Shootinge at garden buttes, too them whom it agreeeth and pleaseth, in place of noblest exercyse standeth, and that rather wyth longe bowe, than wyth tyller, stone bowe, or Ccrosse bowe.Albeit to them that otherwyse cannot, by reason of greefe, feeblenesse, or lacke of vse, they may be allowed.
This practise of all other manlyest, leaueth no part of the body vnexercised, the brest, backe, reynes, was, and armes, with drawing the thyghes, and legges, with running or going.
Wind ball, or yarne ball. The wind baule, or yarne ball, betwene three or foure, shall not be invtile to be vsed, in a place conuenient, eache keeping theirlimite for tossing, wherin may bee a very profitable exercise, by cause at all tymes they keepe not the lyke force in stryking, so that they shalbee constrayned too vse more violent stretching, with swifter mouing at one tyme than another, which will make the exercise more nymble and deliuerr, both of hand and whole body, therefore encreasing of heat, through swift moouing, in all partes the sooner.
Plumbes, or weightes. Plumbetes, of Galene termed alteres, one borne in eche hand, vp and downe the stayers, galeries, or chambers, according to your strength, maye bee a goode and profitable exercise: so may you vse wayghtes in lyke maner.
Bow lyne. A fyne hallyer, or bowe lyne, a foote or twoo hyer then a man may reache, fastened in length, some way, shall not bee vnprofitable, holden by the handes, thereby to streche them; very excellent, as well for stretching of the mydrife, interne panicles and wast, with all the rest of the partes, as also to preserue and defend them from apostemes, obstructions, and paynes thereto incident.
These exercyse of your owne power, I thinke, for thys place sufficient. Nowe we will shewe how they may bee profitable vnto you thorow others mouing; as well by waggon, charriet, horselitter, and ryding, as by cradle and chayor hanged, in sorte as to that vse may be best framedd, all very profitable, as they may bee exercised: much, little, or meane, close, or open in the ayre, as to the parties shall bee requisite: taking time likewyse in rocking by vice or engyne; or on the floure, which is more shaking, and therefore to them that may suffer it more profitable.
The other good to weaker persons, as that in frame, conueyed by pendent, from one to another, standing asunder according to the length of the engyne, three or iij fedome drawen from them to the other, swift, slow, or meane, long, short, or mean, as to the party shalbe conuenient. Omitting other deuises to opportunity, &c.
Eu. Hood
published in The Gentleman's Magazine 1824
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