How to Study, 1636

Ramelli, Le diverse et artificiose machine (1588)

The best time for studie is early in the morning, when the Planets be favourable to our purpose… Diligent students… must apply themselves earnestly to reading and meditation for the space of an houre: then to remit a little their cogitation, and in the meane time with an Ivory Combe to kembe their head from the forehead backwards about forty times, and to rub their teeth with a coarse linnen cloth. Then to returne againe to meditation for two houres, or one at the least… As for the residue of the day is convenient rather to revolve things reade before, than to reade or muse of new… Nothing is more hurtfull than studying in the night… notwithstanding I know that such as bee good Students indeed doe spare no time neither night nor day from their bookes… Yet would I have none to study so much, that thereby they should fall into sicknesse, or become melancholick… I counsell all students oftentimes to refresh their wearied minds with some sort of melody. For so shall they drive away the dumps of melancholy, and make their spirits more lively to learne.

Thomas Cogan, The Haven of Healthe

Secrets for surviving the semester: astrology, good music, and fabulous hair.