Of loude singing, and in what degree it commeth to be one of the exercises.

It were to much to wishe, that Musick were the most healthy exercise, as it is the most pleasaunt profession, bycause either to much delite would drowne men in it alone, or to much cloying would cause it be quite contemned. Wherfore as it may not diminish other of their due, by occupying to much roome, so by change after other, and distance in it selfe, it continueth in her owne credit. For both varietie refresheth, and distance reneweth, where still the same dulles, and continuance wearies. As Musick is compounde of number, melodie, and harmonie, it hath nothing to do with gymnastick and exercise, but serueth in that sense either for delite and pleasure, and exerciseth desire: or in some respectes concerneth the manering and training vp of youth in matter of knowledge, as I said before. Whervnto I was induced not onely by argument, and nature of the thing, but by great authorities of Plato,6 and Philo, of Aristotle,7 and Galene,8 and whom not? out of all antiquitie, which both allow of the thing in nature, and admit it in pollicie, into the best common weales, as a great worker of much good. But for as much as singing vseth the voice for her meane, and the voice instrumentes for her vtteraunce, and medleth with all sortes, and degrees in sounde base, meane, and triple, which in deliuerie do labour, and trauell the pipes, it is receiued among exercises of health, though it be not so forcible, nor can pearce so farre, as loude speaking doth, which doth not much care for any fine concent, so it vtter strongly, and straine within compasse: wheras Musick to the contrary standes not much vpon straining or fullnesse of the voice, so it be delicate and fine in concent. And yet in Aristotles9 opinion, it both exerciseth, and preserueth the naturall strength bycause it standeth vpon an ordinate, and degreed motion of the voice. We finde in our owne experience, that it sturreth the voice, spreadeth the instrumentes therof, and craueth a cleare passage, as it also lightneth the laborer, and encreaseth his courage, in carying of burdens. It was vsed in the olde time Physicklike, to stay mourning and greife, for the losse of deare freindes, or desired thinges. In curing diseases, which rise vpon some distemperature of the minde, the temperature of time iudicially applyed, hath bene found both a straunge and a strong remedie. Alwaye prouided, that whether ye say loud, or sing loud, ye neither say to long, nor sing to much, for feare of a worse turne, if any entraill teare, with to much straining, as some times hath proued to true, for the afflicted partie. But to make an ende of Musick at this time, though it be neither so strong, nor so stirring an exercise, yet it hath made a great purchace, that it is allowed for one, and therby esteemed a double principle, of more value, where her force is more, in matters of the minde, of very good worth, though of much lesse worke in the health of the bodie. Which seeing it is an exercise within dore, it gaineth with the place a good footing to grow fairer: for whether ye allow it for a cunning exercise, or an exercised cunning, it exerciseth cunning, and encreaseth by exercise.