Seventeenth Century How To Book for the Boy

Charlotte Mason recommends reading Mr. and Mrs. Quennell's History of Everyday Things in England as companions to history studies. These books treat of every day life and have information about subjects like dress, utensils, table manners, games, schools, tools,hobbies, and pursuits and so forth, of the day.

Toward that end, I think this would be a great book for my son to read this year for school (we've just gotten to the 17th century):
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

THE SCHOOL OF Recreation: OR A GUIDE To the Most Ingenious Exercises OF:

The School of Recreation.(TOC here is linked to the book at Gutenberg)

Printed for Henry Rodes near Bride lane in Fleet streete.

The PREFACE TO THE READER.

Of HUNTING.

Of RIDING.

Of RACING.

Artificial Fire-works

Military Discipline

Science of Defence

Of HAWKING.

Of BOWLING.

Of TENNIS.

Of RINGING.

Vocal Musick

Of COCK-FIGHTING.

Of FOWLING.

Of FISHING.

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._