As for healthy and strong bodies, they are to be esteemed not by absolute perfitnesse in measure and rule, which will not be found, but by performing all naturall functions, without any greife or painfull let: wherof in some places there is good plentie. For as generally in so many wayes to weaknesse, our bodies neuer continuyng any one minute in the same state, perfit health in the absolutest degree is not to be hoped for: so in the second degree of perfection, where no sensible let is, no felt feeblenesse, but all ordinaries excellent, though no excellent extraordinarie, there be many bodies to be found healthfull, lustie, and lasting verie long: as the soile wherin they brede and be is of healthfulnesse, and wholesomnesse. Such a praise doth _Galene_ giue to his owne, and _Hipocrates_[46] his country: Nay that is the common proofe, where small diet, and much labour accompanieth necessitie in state and good constitution in body. Now these healthfull bodyes, as they dayly feede, and digest well, so to auoide superfluities, which come thereby, bycause no meat is so meete with the body, as it turneth all into nurriture, they must of necessitie pray ayde of exercise, which must be neither to violent, nor to immoderate, but sutable to their constitution, as in the priuate description the particular exercise bewrayeth it selfe, and generally the generall reason suffiseth such a trayner, as can vse the consideration of circumstance wisely. In exercising of healthy bodies, there be fiue speciall thinges to be obserued. 1. The first is how they haue bene vsed, for looke wherewith they haue bene most acquainted, and therein, or in the like they will best continew, and with most ease. 2. The second is what age they be of, for old men must haue gentle exercises, children somewhat more stirring, yong men more then they, and yet but in a meane, bycause they are subiect to more harme by violence then either children or old men, for that hauing strong and drie bodyes, thicke and stiffe flesh, fast cleauing to the bone, and the skinne stretched accordingly, they are in great daunger of strong conuulsions, and diuers ruptures, both of flesh and veines, through extremities of exercise. 3. The third is the state of their body, because fat and grosse men, may abyde much more exercise, then leane may and so in other. 4. The fourth is their kinde of liuing, for he that eateth much, and sleepeth much, must either exercise much or liue but a while. And to the contrary, the spare feeder or great waker, needeth not any such kinde of physicke. 5. The fift is the temperature of their bodyes, for small exercise satisfieth drie or hoat bodyes, in any degree of eager heat. Againe colde bodyes may away with both vehement and very much, for moyst bodyes to auoide superfluities, exercise and labour is very good, so the bodies be not hoat withall, the humor very much and very soone turned into vapour, and that also neare to the lungues for feare of choking after much stirring. Hoat and dry admit no exercise, hoat and moyste, cold and dry admit some litle. But of all constitutions none is more helpt by exercise then the colde and moyst: because heat and clearing, the two effectes of exercise haue their owne subiect whereon to worke, which must be weyed in complexions, and states of the body.