At nunc magnifico spectacula structa paratu Quid memorem, veteri non concessura Quirino, Ludorum pompa. &c.

In Italy they have solemn Declamations of certain select young Gentlemen in Florence (like those Reciters in old Rome) and publick Theaters in most of their Cities, for Stage-players and others, to exercise and recreate themselves.

All seasons almost, all places have their severall pastimes; some in Sommer, some in Winter; some abroad, some within; some of the body, some of the minde; and divers men have divers recreations, and exercises.

Domitian the Emperour was much delighted with catching flies; Augustus to play with nuts amongst children; Alexander Severus was often pleased to play with whelps and young Pigs. Adrian was so wholy enamoured with dogs and horses, that he bestowed monuments and tombes of them, and buried them in graves.

In fowle weather, or when they can use no other convenient sports, by reason of the time, as we do Cock-fighting to avoide idleness I think, (though some be more seriously taken with it, spend much time, cost and charges, and are too solicitous about it) Severus used Partridges and Quailes, as many Frenchmen do still, and to keep Birds in cages, with which he was much pleased, when at any time he had leasure from publike cares and business. He had (saith Lampridius) tame Pheasants, Ducks, Partridges, Peacocks, and some 20000 Ringdoves and Pigeons.

Busbequius the Emperors Orator, when he lay in Constantinople, & could not stir much abroad, kept for his recreation, busying himself to see them fed, almost all manner of strange birds and Beasts; this was something, though not to exercise his body, yet to refresh his minde. Conradus Gesner, at Zurick in Switzerland, kept so likewise for his pleasure, a great company of wilde beasts, and (as he saith) took great delight to see them eat their meat.

Turkie Gentlewomen, that are perpetuall prisones, still mewed up according to the custome of the place, have little else besides their houshold business, or to play with their children to drive away time, but to dally with their cats, which they have in delitiis, as many of our Ladies and Gentlewomen use Monkies and little Dogs.

The ordinary recreations which we have in Winter, and in most solitary times busie our minds with, are Cardes, Tables and Dice, Shovelboard, Chesse-play, the Philosophers game, small trunks, shuttle-cock, balliards, musick, masks, singing, dancing, ulegames, frolicks, jests, riddles, catches, purposes, questions and commands, merry tales of errant Kings, Queens, Lovers, Lords, Ladies, Giants, Dwarfes, Theeves, Cheaters, Witches, Fayries, Goblins, Friers, &c.

such as the old woman told Psyche in Apuleius, Bocace Novels, and the rest, quarum auditione pueri delectantur, senes narratione, which some delight to hear, some to tell; all are well pleased with.

Amaranthus the Philosopher, met Hermocles, Diophantus and Philolaus his companions, one day busily discoursing about Epicurus and Democritus Tenents, very solicitous which was most probable and came nearest to truth: To put them out of that surly controversie, and to refresh their spirits, he told them a pleasant tale of Stratocles the Physitians wedding, and of all the particulars, the company, the chear, the musick, &c. for he was new come from it; with which relation they were so much delighted, that Philolaus wished a blessing to his heart, and many a good wedding, many such merry meetings might he be at, to please himself with the sight, and others with the narration of it.

Newes are generally welcome to all our ears, avidè audimus, aures enim hominum novitate lætantur (as Pliny observes) we long after rumour to hear and listen to it, densum humeris bibit aure vulgus.

We are most part too inquisitive and apt to hearken after newes, which Cæsar in his Commentaries observes of the old Gaules, they would be enquiring of every Carrier and passenger what they had heard or seen, what newes abroad?

——quid toto fiat in orbe, Quid Seres, quid Thraces agant, secreta novercæ, Et pueri, quis amet, &c.

as at an ordinary with us, bakehouse or barbers shop. When that great Gonsalva was upon some displeasure confined by king Ferdinand, to the City of Loxa in Andalusia, the onely comfort (saith Jovius) he had to ease his melancholy thoughts, was to hear newes, and to listen after those ordinary occurrents, which were brought him cum primis, by letters or otherwise out of the remotest parts of Europe.

Some mens whole delight is, to take Tobacco, and drink all day long in a Tavern or Alehouse, to discourse, sing, jest, roare, talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot, &c. Or when three or four good companions meet, tell old stories by the fire side, or in the Sun, as old folks usually do, quæ aprici meminere senes; remembring afresh and with pleasure ancient matters, and such like accidents, which happened in their younger yeares: Others best pastime is to game, nothing to them so pleasant.

Hic Veneri indulget, hunc decoquit alea——

Many too nicely take exceptions at Cardes, Tables, and Dice, and such mixt lusorious lots, whom Gataker well confutes. Which though they be honest recreations in themselves, yet may justly be otherwise excepted at, as they are often abused, and forbidden as things most pernicious; insanam rem & damnosam, Lemnius calls it. For most part in these kind of disports ’tis not art or skill, but subtilty, cunnycatching, knavery, chance and fortune carries all away: ’tis ambulatoria pecunia,