This Recreation is of the Same Date for its Antiquity of Invention with Bowling, and for the Violence of its Exercise to be preferred before it. This Sport indeed is of so universal an Acceptance, that Majesty it self is pleased to design it its Recommendation, by tracking its laborious steps; and Princes and Lords admire it too for the most proper Recreation, to suit with Innocence, and true Nobility. Here the Body is briskly exercised more than ordinary, and inured in Agility and Nimbleness; this renders the Limbs flexible and mettlesom, and adapts them for the most Vigorous Enterprize.

Tennis and Baloon are sports which are play'd almost with the same Instruments; and therefore may be under one and the same Head: The first is a Pastime, used in close or open Courts, by striking a little Round Ball to and fro, either with the Palms of the hands (and then is called Pila palmaria in Latin) or else a Racket, made for the purpose, round with Net or Cat-gut, with a Handle: The other a strong and moving Sport in the open Fields with a great Ball of a double leather filled with Wind, and so driven to and fro with the strength of a Mans Arm, armed in a Brace of Wood. And thus much shall suffice to speak of the Baloon and Tennis; only let me desire you, let not this or any other Pastime disturb your Minds; divert you from the diligent and careful Prosecution of your lawful Business; or invite you to throw away your Time and Money too lavishly and idley; nor engage you in any Passion; that so you may not offend God, dislike your Neighbour, nor incomode your Self and Family in your Well-being and Felicity; and then you may recreate your self without Fear: And in this Recreation observe the ensuing Morality of

The Tennis-Court.
When as the Hand at Tennis Plays,
And Men to Gaming fall,
Love is the Court, Hope is the House,
And Favour serves the Ball,
This Ball it self is due Desert,
The Line that measure shows
Is Reason whereon Judgment looks
Where Players win and lose.
The Tutties are Deceitful Shifts,
The Stoppers, Jealousy,
Which hath Sir Argus hundred Eyes,
Wherewith to watch and pry.
The Fault whereon Fifteen is lost,
Is Want of Wit and Sense,
And he that brings the Racket in
Is Double Diligence.
But now the Racket is Free-will,
Which makes the Ball rebound,
And Noble Beauty is the Choice,
And of each Game the Ground.
Then Racket strikes the Ball away,
And there is Over-sight,
A Bandy ho! the People cry,
And so the Ball takes flight.
Now at the length Good-liking proves
Content to be their Gain:
Thus in the Tennis-Court, Love is
A Pleasure mixt with Pain.