The School of Recreation

The School of Recreation (1696
edition), by

Robert Howlett This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no
cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give
it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: 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
Author: Robert Howlett
Release Date: February 9, 2006 [EBook #17727]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
SCHOOL

OF
Recreation:
OR A
GUIDE
To the
Most Ingenious Exercises
OF
Hunting. Hawking. Riding. Tennis. Racing. Bowling. Fireworks.
Ringing. Military Singing. Discipline. Cock-Fighting. The Science of
Fowling. Defence. Angling.
By R. H.
London, Printed for H. Rhodes, at the Star, the Corner of _Bride Lane,
Fleet-street_. 1696.

The School of Recreation.
[Illustration]
Printed for Henry Rodes near Bride lane in Fleet streete.

The PREFACE TO THE READER.
_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._
_We find the Taste of Honey is delicious and desirable, yet Nature
over-burthened with too great a Quantity, Surfeits, and begets a
loathing of it. Wherefore to Conclude, I commend them as they are,_
viz. Suitable Recreations for the Gentry of England, _and others,
wherein to please and delight themselves. And so not doubting this_
Work will be accepted, as it was well meant to serve my Country-Men,
_I take leave to subscribe myself, Kind Reader_,
Your most humble and obliging Servant,
R. H.

OF HUNTING.
Hunting, being a Recreation that challenges the sublime Epithets of
Royal, Artificial, Manly, and Warlike, for its Stateliness, Cunning, and
Indurance, claims above all other Sports the Precedency; and therefore
I was induced to place it at the Head to usher in the rest.
But to come to the Purpose: The young Hunter, as yet raw in the true

Knowledge of this Royal Sport, with what is meerly necessary and
useful, without amusing him with superfluous Observations for his
Instruction: I shall therefore observe throughout this Treatise this
Method: 1. The several Chases or Games which fall under the First
Denomination, Hunting. 2. The genuine of Infallible Rules whereby we
are to direct our selves, for the obtaining the true Pleasure in
prosecuting the same, and the desired Effects of it.
Know than; the Beasts of Venery or Forest, are, viz. The Hart, Hinde,
Hare.
As likewise the Wild Beasts, or Beasts of Chace are, viz. the Buck, Doe,
Fox, Marten, Roe.
The Beasts of Warren, are, viz. Hares, Coneys, Roes.
Note, The Hart and Hind before spoken of, though they are of one kind,
yet, because their Seasons are several, are esteemed distinct Beasts; and
in the Hart is included the Stag, and all red Deer of Antlier.
And because I reckon it the most necessary part of the Hunter to
understand the Names, Degrees, Ages, and Seasons of the aforesaid
different Beasts of Forest or Venery, Chase, and Warren, I therefore,
present him with these following
Beasts of Forest, &c.
The Hart, the first year is called a Hind-Calf, 2 A Knobber, 3 A Brock
4 A Staggard, 5 A Stag, 6 A Hart.
The Hind the first Year a Calf, 2 A Hearse, 3 A Hind.
The Hare, the first Year