The Epistille that Alexandre sent to Aristotille the gret clerke. Cam. primum.

o Doctoure of gret rightwisnes and nobille gouernour, we signifie to thi gret wisdom that we haue founden in the lond of Perce many men the which habound gretly in wisdome, resoun, and vndirstondyng, welle sotille and perceyvyng, and hope forto haue lordship aboue alle othir, and forto gete Rewmes. Wherfore we purpose to putt hem alle to deth. But only thou certifie vs bi thi lettres, as thou semest most spedfulle vnto vs, for therbi wolle we worche, and noon othir wise.

The answer of the same Epistille ayen to Alexandre. Capitulum ijm.

and thou mowe chaunge the eyre of the lond, and the watris, and the ordinaunce of Citees, than do as thou hast purposid, and ellis nought. But gouerne þat

folio 3a

The prologe of him that translatid this book into latyne. Cam. iijm.

Philip, interpretour and vndirstondere of alle langagis. y haue knowe no stede, ne place, ne temple where philesofres haue customyd to make or vnmake alle werkis and secretis, that y ne haue sought hem. Ne y haue herd told of no wise mane þat had knowleche in scriptures of philesofris, that y ne haue visitid him vnto þe tyme y come to the knowleche of the [temple of the] sone that made Esculapideos: there y fond a man solitarie, fulle of gret abstinence and right wijs in philosofie, to whom y lowid me diligently, And bisought him that he wold shewe me the scriptures of the knowleche of the sone, the which he yaf me with good wille. And wite ye welle y fond alle that, that y desirid, and alle that y went fore to the forseid place, and alle that that y so moche desirid. I retornyd home with gret ioye,

folio 3b

folio 4a

folio 4b

Of the largenes of a kyng. Cam. 4m.

tHer are foure condiciones of kyngis. ther is a kyng that is large to him silf and large to his

folio 5a

folio 5b

Of largenes and skarsnes, and many oþir vertues. Capm. 5m.

kYng Alexandre, y telle the in certeyne that what kyng makith gretter dispences than the profites conteyne that longen to the crowne, he enclyneth him to fool largesse and nought to skarsnes. That kyng without dowt shalle sone be distroyed. And if he enclyne him to worshipfulle largesse, he shall haue perpetualle ioye of his Regne. And wite welle, dere sone, that y haue founde in techyngis and comaundementis of the gret doctour Hermogenes, that the grete souereyne clerte of vndirstondyng is plente of lawe, and konnyng is a signe of perfeccioun of a kyng, and þat previth whan

folio 6a

Of vicis and vertues, and of þe doctrine of Aristotille. Cam. 6m.

tHe substaunce of alle vertues of a kyngis regne is forto yeue to good men, and to foryeue wrongis, and worshipe hem that owen to be worshipid, and to do reuerence to hem that are worthi, and to thynke on meke deth, and to kepe hem fro ouermoche speche, and to lete passe wrongis into a tyme, and forto feyne him that he kan not bere the foly of foolis. Dere sone, y haue told the and shalle teche the many thingis whiche thou shalt witholde in thyn hert, and y haue stedfast trust, that as long as thou gouernest the as it is rehersid, thou shalt euyr haue shynyng clernes and sufficient konnyng to thi governaunce alle the tyme of þi lyf. And y shalle teche the the science of phisik abreggid,

folio 6b

Of entendement, that is vndirstondyng. Capm. 7m.

wIte thou welle, right dere sone, that vndirstondyng is cheef of the governaunce of man and helthe of thi sowle, and keper of vertues, and flemer of vicis, for vndirstondyng shewith vs what we owen to fleme, and what we owen to chese and folowe. It is the keye of vertues and roote of alle louabille goodnes and worshipe, and þe first instrument therof is desire forto haue good renowne. ffor he that desirith to haue good renowne, shalle be ouir alle glorious and worshipfulle, and he that desirith it feynyngly and ypocritly, that is to say without deservyng, he shalle in the ende be confoundid by yville renowne as he is worthi. A kyng owith principally forto gete and haue good renowne, more for the governyng of his Rewme than for him silf.

Of entencioun fynable of a kyng. Cam. 8m.

tHe bigynnyng of wisdoom and vndirstondyng is forto haue good renowne, bi the whiche remes and lordshipes are conquerid and getene. And if thou seke to conquere remes or lordshipes, and thou haue no good renowne, thou shalt fynde that the ende is and shalle be but envye. And envie is neuyr without lesyngis, the which is roote and mater of alle vicis. Envye engendrith yville spekyng, and of yville speche cometh hatrede: Hatrede engendrith vylenye, vylenye engendrith rankoure: Rankoure engendrith contrariete: Contrariete engendrith vnrightwisnes, vnrightwisnes engendrith batayle: Batayle yevith vp alle lawes and distroyeth citees, and is contrary to kynde and distroyeþ mannys body. And therfore, dere sone, bithynke the and

folio 7a

Of yvelys that cometh of bestly desires. Cam. 9m.

aLexandre, dere sone, leve bestly desires and flesshely, for they ben corruptible. fflesshely desires bowith the hert of mane to delitis, which are corrupcioun to the sowle, and it is bestialle without discreccioun. And he that ioyneth him to bodily corrupcioun, he corruptith the vndirstondyng of man. And wite welle þat suche desires engendrith flesshely loue: And flesshely loue engendrith avarice: Auarice engendrith desiris of ricchesse: Desiris of ricchesse makith a man without shame: Man without shame is prowd and without feith: Man without feith drawith to thefte: Thefte bryngith a man to endles shame,

Of the wysdome and ordinaunce of a kyng. Cam. 10m.

it is convenabille thing and rightfulle Iustice that good renowne of a kyng be in lovable konnyng and good manhode, and þat shalle make his name

folio 7b

Of a kyngis goodnes and holynes. Cam. 11m.

I Prey the foryete not þe lernyng that wijs philesofres haue spoken of, and that they seyde that it is fittyng that the royalle maieste be governyd aftir the rightis and the lawes, nought bi feynt semyng but in dede doyng, so that eche mane se and knowe the goodnes of the kyng and that he dredith god, and that he wolle governe him aftir goddis plesaunce; than shalle the kyng be worshipid and dred whan men seyne that he dredith god. And if he feyne him good man and holy, and is yville to his sugetis, he shalle be sett at nought of god, and be diffamyd of alle men, and his doughti deedis shulle cese, and the worship of the crowne shalle fayle, for yville werke may not long be hidde. What may y sey þe more, there is no tresoure ne othir thing in this world that is comperable to good renowne. And on that othir side, dere sone, it longith that thou do worshipe to clerkis and reuerence good men of Religioun, and avaunce wijs men that be of good lyvyng, and speke oft with hem, and axe

folio 8a

Of the purvyaunce of a kyng. Capitulum 12m.

it is nedfulle that the wijs kyng thinke oft of thingis that arne to come, so that he may wisely purveye and make contrary ordynaunce ayens hem, and þat he may the more lightly bere and susteyne þe contrarye aduersitees and aduentures; and also a kyng owith to be pitevous, and his yre and malice wisely to cover and refreyne, so that without good and discrete avisement he do nought that he thought to done in his male talent; and so may he knowe with resoun erroure, and with excellent discrecioun repelle it. ffor the most sovereyne vertu of wisdome that a kyng may haue it is governe him wisely, and nought do without discrecioun; and whan he saith a thing þat is good and profitable to be done, lete him do it diligently wisely and gladly with discrecioun, and so shalle he be euyr obeyd and dred in loue-drede of alle his lieges, and that is an high signe þat he is bilouyd of god.

Of clothyng of a kyng. Cam. 13m.

it is right welle semyng vnto a royalle maieste of a kyng, þat he be royalle and excellent in his array, so that euyr he shewe him in riche and precious clothyng, and þat his clothyng be of the most straunge cloth þat may oughwhere be founde; and þat is a gret prerogatif and an high dignyte þat he surmounte alle othir lordis, and royallis of his rewme in his royalle array; and therby his dignyte shalle be the more worshipid, and his myt

folio 8b

Of the countenaunce of a kyng. Cam. 14m.

dere sone Alexandre, it is a precious and an honurabille thing to a kyng forto kepe sylence and speke but litille but if it be nede, for it were bettir that the eeris of the peple were brennyng in desire to here the speche of her kyng than the pepille wofulle and wery in the listenyng of hir kyng, and the hertis envenymyd of his presence and his sight. And also a kyng owith not to shewe him ouer oftene to his peple, ne ouer oft haunte the company of his sugetis, and specially of chorlis

folio 9a

folio 9b

Of the rightwisnes of a kyng. Cam. 15m.

a kyng owith not to do no vyleny ne hyndryng to Marchauntis, but forto done hem right gret worshipe, for they go thorugh alle þe world bi see and londe, and þey wol report as they fynde, good or yville. And the kyng owith eythir bi him silf or bi his trewe depute to done even Iustice in yeldyng to every man that is his of right, and than shalle the worshipe and the ioye of the kyng encrese, and [he shall be] the more dowtid of his enemyes, and lyve and regne in prosperite and pees, and shall haue at his wille alle his desires.

Of worldly desires of a kyng. Cam. 16m.

alexandre, dere sone, desire nought worldly thingis that are passyng and corruptible, but thynke that thou must leve alle and go hens nakid. Caste than thi desiris vnto tho thingis that euer shulle laste, that is, the lijf of the world perdurable, where that euyr is myrthe and ioye without ende. leue þe noughti lyf of bestis that euyr lyve in filthis; trowe not lightly alle that that men wille telle the, ne be nought ouyr hasty in yevyng mercy vnto them that thou hast conquered, and evir thynke afore of thingis that are possible to come. Sett not thi desire to gretly in excesse of metis and drynkis, for it wolle norisshe the in slepe and slouthe, and stere the vnto lecherie, which is most destruccioun to mannys body.

Of þe chastite of a kyng. Cam. 17m.

nobille emperoure, sett nought thyn hert in lecherie of women, for þat is the lyf of swyne. Ioy and worshipe shalt thou noon haue, while thou governyst the aftir that lijf and aftir the lijf of vnresonable bestis. Dere sone, lecherie is destruccioun of body abreggyng of lijf and corrupcioun of vertues; Enemy to conscience, and makith a man oft femynyne.

folio 10a

Of pleiying of a kyng. Capitulum 18m. ^note.4

it is semely to a kyng sumtyme with his pryncis lordis and othir that ben honest gentiles, forto delite him in honest pleyes and myrthis, and forto haue many dyverse mynstralcies in his audience, and dauncyng and syngyng, for whan the kynde of man is reioysid in myrthe of kyndely nature, the talent of man takith therof gret strengthe and corage in alle manhode. Than if thou delite the in suche myrthe, loke that it be doone in honeste and pryvy place, and whan thou art in þi most myrthe kepe the wel from ouermoche drynke, but lete othir haue drynke at wille, and than shalle þou here many pryvy thingis discoverid, than take to the tho that thou lovist best, that they may reporte to the an othir day of that men seyne and tellen in here dronkenshipe; Onys or twyes ayere suffisith to haue suche maner myrthis. And euyrmore loke that thou holde alle thi lordis in gret worshipe as they ben of estate, and diuerse tymys make them ete with the on aftir an oþir, and yeue hem rewardis of Iewellis or of riche clothyng after that they ben of estate and worthi; and loke þat ther be no man of thi counselle ne famulier with the, but if he be rewardid with yeftis of thi largesse, for ellis makist thou not ther hertis toward the in trusty loue, nor savist not thyn estat.

Of discrecioun of a kyng. Cam. 19m.

dere sone, haue euyr thi countenaunce in sadnesse and vse not to laughe ouermoche, for bi ouermoche laughyng men that be wise chesen a foole, or ellis a man without sadnesse. And a kyng owith to do more

folio 10b

Of reuerence of a kyng. Cam. 20m.

alexandre, dere sone, the obeyshaunce of a kyng cometh thorugh foure thingis: for goodnes of þe kyng, for gentilnes, and for worshipe that he vsith, and for reuerence that he doth to hem that are worthi. Dere sone, vse these condiciones, and thou shalt turne the coragis of thi sugetis at thyn owen desire; and loke that no wrongis ne Iniuries be doon to thi peple, that thou yeve hem no mater to speke ayens the, ne do neythir, for oft the voys of the peple doth harme, if it be in malicious wille, and wite thou welle that the wisdome of þe kyng is the ioy of his dignyte, and of his reuerence, and is enhaunsyng of his rewme. Than reuerence and souereyne wisdome is aftir þat love be in the hertis of his sugetis. It is founden in bookis that a kyng is among his sugetis as is the reyne in

folio 11a

folio 11b

How a kyng shalle make Sugetis. Capitulum 21m.

i Prey the, dere sone, that thou oft enquere of þe necessite of thi sugetis, and bi thi power thou helpe hem at her nede. Also thou must chese a man þat is good and trewe, and that louyth god and rightwisnes, and kan the langage of thi sugetis, to whom thou commytte thi governaunce of thi sugetis, and that he governe hem pitously and in loue; and if thou do þus, thou shalt plese thi creatoure, and he shalle kepe thi Rewme, and the gladnes of the sugetis is kept þoru mercy of the kyng.

Of the mercy of a kyng. Cam. 22m.

dEre sone, y counselle the that thou gete gret purvyaunce of cornes and of alle othir vytaylis that the cuntre haue habundaunce therof, so that whan the tyme of derthe cometh thou maist with thi purveaunce and forsight helpe thi sugetis in her nede, and do crie and make knowe whan tyme is of thi vytaylis, and thi refresshyng thorugh thi Rewme in alle citees and borowes, that it may be fette of thi folke at nede, and this shalle be gret preysing to thi name, that so kanst ordeyne for the sauacioun of thi peple; than shalle þi sugetis with gret corage done alle thi comaundementis with fre hert and good wille, than shalle thi deedis falle (falle) ^note.5

folio 12a

Of peynes and vengeaunce of god. Capitulum 23m.

aLexandre, dere sone, among alle othir thingis kepe the wel fro shedyng of mennys blood, for that longith only to god, for he knowith þe hertis of alle men, and wot what euery man is worthi to haue. Therfore take not vpon the goddis myght but if thou haddist his knowyng therwith. The doctour Hermogenes saith that he that slethe the creature that is like to god, alle the vertues of hevene cesse neuer of criyng to the maieste of god, saiyng, "lord, thi servaunt wolle be like to thee, takyng on him hasty and sodeyne vengeaunce," and wite this wel that who so sleth any man without cause resonabille, god wol avenge the blood, for god saith him silf vnto the vertues of hevene, "lete be, lete be, for in me is the vengeaunce, and y shalle quyte it." And wite þou welle that the vertues of hevene leue neuer of criyng of vengeaunce for mannys deth, vnto the tyme that god hath herde hem and done his iustificacioun in vengeaunce doyng.

Of knowleche of þe same peynes. Cam. 24m.

dEre sone, wite welle that y haue had knowleche of moche disese in my tyme, and therfore haue oft in memorie the dedis of thi forne fadris, and thynke how they haue lyvid, and so maist thou se and knowe bi many goode examplis how þou shalt done in thi governaunce in tyme comyng of tho

folio 12b

fforto kepe þe feith. Cam. 25m.

also kepe wel thi feith and thi word euermore, and alle thi hestis that thou hast made and false neuer thi tonge, for

folio 13a

Of studie and wijsdome. Capitulum 26m.

dere sone, loke that ther be stodies and skolys in thi Citees; and comaunde alle men that þey sette her children vnto lettrure, and make hem be studyauntis in the nobille sciencis; and it longith to the to helpe and soccure alle that haue nede and haue no frendshipe, and thou must yeve sum prerogatif vnto studiaunt forto susteyne and helpe them in her stodiyng. And avaunce hem that are konnyng, be they pore or riche; preyse hem that are worthi, and worshipe hem that are worshipfulle;

Of the kepyng of a kyng. Capitulum 27m.

alexandre, dere sone, trust neuyr in women, in her werkis, in her service, ne in her company, ne dwelle thou nought with hem; and if þou must nede haue company of sum woman, loke that thou preve hir welle and longe, and in deuerse wise, or thou trust to moche in her, for a man þat is in the possessioun of a woman, he stondith as do iewelis in the hondis of a marchaunt, whiche that hath power to selle or to yeve tho Iewellis to whom him lust; right so doth

folio 13b

Of the difference of Astronomye. Cam. 28m.

dEre sone, y prey the and it may be done, that þou rise ne sitte, ete ne drynke, but if it be bi counselle of sum wijs mane that knowith the constellacions and þe course of the planetis; and vndirstond that glorious god hath made no thing without cause, but alle thyng with

folio 14a

folio 14b

Of the kepyng of helthe. Cam. 29m.

dEre sone, helthe is the most precious thing that longith to man, for it passith alle ricchesse, and alle helthe is [no] more

Of governaunce in seeknes. Cam. 30m.

dEre sone, have in mynde that alle wijs men and naturalle philesofris seyne that man is made of foure elementis, and foure contrary humoures, the whiche haue euer nede to be susteynyd bi etyng and drynkyng, and ellis þe substaunce shulde fayle, and if a man ete and drynke out of tyme or ouyr moche it makith him febille, and to falle into dyuerse seeknes and many othir inconvenientis, and if a man ete and drynke moderatly and temperatly he shalle fynde helthe to his lyf, strengthe to his body, and helthe of alle his lymes. The philesofres seyne that if a man trespace the god of nature in good lyvyng, be it in ouyr moche etyng or in ouyr moche drynkyng, in slepyng, wakyng, traveylyng or restyng, in letyng of blood or liyng, And he outrage in eny of these, he may not fayle of gret seeknes, wherof y shalle shewe my doctryne and remedie. These delicate men seyne that alle that men don is forto lyve, be it in etyng or drynkyng, in gaderyng of worldly ricches, or in flesshely lykyng, it is nought done but forto

folio 15a

In how many maners a man may kepe helthe. Capitulum 31m

i prey the, dere sone, that thou wille kepe in mynde this trewe and certeyn tretis, and knowe that helthe stondeth in two thingis; the first is, that he vse and kepe to ete and

Of dyuerse metys. Cam. 32m.

wHan the body is hoot and fulle of vapoures than are grete metis goode and profitabille, and that that shalle be diffied of that body shalle be of gret quantite, for the grete hete and vapoure of the body. And whan the body is smalle and drie, smale metis are goode and norisshaunt, and that that shalle be diffied of that body shalle be of litille quantite for the conditis that are strayte; and this is to take hede of, that a man vse metis and drynkis that longe to his complexioun, for and he be of hoot complexioun he shalle vse hoot metis temperatly, for and the hete euir growe and inflawme the body within bi surfete of ouyr stronge metis or drynkis, or bi any othir accident case, than contrary metis and drynkis are most helpeliche to his helthe; that is to sayne, colde metis and colde drynkis till that

folio 15b

Of the stomake. Capm. 33m.

whan the stomak is hoot and good, than alle metis arne good for them that arne hote and grete, for suche a stomak is like vnto a fire that brenneth thorugh gret habundaunce of woode; but whan the stomak is cold and febille, than is bettir esy metis and drynkis tille that he be stronger and in more hete.

Signes to knowe þe stomak. Cam. 34m.

sIgnes of an yville stomak is yville digestioun, and that makith the body hevy and sluggy, and the visage bolnyd, and suche a man yeneth often, and hath sumtime disese in his eyen, and he rowtith moche in his slepe, and hath the mylte soure and bittir and fulle of stynkyng watir, and so is engendrid ventositees and swellyng of the wombe, and þat makith noon appetite to ete; kepe the then, dere sone, from metis and drynkis that are contrary to the or thou maist not recover.

Of a pistille of gret price. Cam. 35m.

dEre sone, what is the cause that mannys bodie is corrupte? it is for dyuerse complexiones and humoures contrary that

folio 16a

Of the maner of travayle. Capitulum 36m

whan thyn houre of custome cometh that thi talent hath take the, haue a litille travayle or thou ete, in ridyng or goyng, or sum othir maner of laboure, and that helpith moche þe body, and dryvith away alle ventositees, and makith the body more light and stronge, and alayeth the hete of þe stomak, and

folio 16b

Of Abstinence. Cam. 37m.

whan thou etist be nought to hasty, but ete with leyser and good masticacioun, or thou take it downe alle though thou haue gret appetite, for and thou ete to sone or ouyr hastily, the yville humoures multiplien in the stomak, and the stomak is ouyr chargid, þe body grevid, and þe hert hurte, and that mete dwellith vndefied in þe bottom of the stomak.

Nought to drynke pure watir. Cam. 38m.

also, loke that thou drynke not pure watir whan thou hast eten thi mete, but if þou haue vsid it; for þe cold watir put upon thi mete coldith thi stomak and quenchith the hete of þi digestioun, and confoundith and grevith the body. and if þou muste drynke watir for þe grete hete of þi body or of þi stomak, take it attemperatly, and not ouirmoche attones ne to ofte.

Of the maner of slepyng. Capitulum 39m

whan thou hast take thi refeccioun ley the to slepe on a soft bed on thi right side þe tyme of an houre, and than turne the and slepe on þat oþir side as the thynketh good is, for the left side is cold, and hath nede to be chafid, and if þou fele any disese in thi wombe or in thi stomak, lete hete an hoot cloth,

folio 17a

Of kepyng of Custome. Capm. 40m.

tHou owist forto knowe that he that hath in custome forto ete twies a day, and he vse to ete but ones, it grevith him for that he vsith not his custome, for þe stomak is out of his wone. ffor he þat usith him to ete at a certeyne houre, and he bigynne

folio 17b

How a man owith to chaunge Custome. Capm. 41m.

and necessite constrayne the to chaunge custome, thou muste done it wisely, that is to say, litille and litille, and thus with helpe of god shalle thi mutacioun be good; but be ware that thou ete no tyme, but þou wite that thi stomak be voyde, and hath made digestion of his first mete, and this shalle thou knowe bi thyn appetite; and if thou ete and haue noon appetite, þe hete of thi stomak shalle kele, and if þou haue good appetite it shalle hete of nature and make good digestioun, and beware that thou ete anoon as thyn appetite is come, and ellis it shalle resceyue yville humoures, the whiche shalle turne þi brayne, and disese thyn hed; for who þat abitith ouyr longe aftir that his appetite is comen, his stomak enfeblisshith, and his mete profitith nought to his body; and if it falle so, þat þou maist haue no mete whan þou hast appetit to eat, and thi stomak fille so by resceyvyng of yville humoures, than loke that þou caste or thou ete, and sone aftir thou maist take thi refeccioun in sauf manere.

Of foure tymes of the yere. Cam. 42m.

hEre mayst thou see the foure tymes of the yere, and her foure qualitees, and her prosperite and difference, and contrarietees. The foure tymes of the yere are devidid thus. In ver, In somer, In hervest, and in wyntir. Ver bigynneth whan þe sonne entrith into the signe of þe Ram, and dewrith foure skore dayes and xiij, and xviij howres, and the fourthe part of an houre, that is, from the xiij day of marche vnto the xiij daye of Iune. In veer the tyme is so hote, þe wyndis risen,

folio 18a

Of prime temps, what it is .I. ver. cam. 43m.

pRime temps, that is, veer, is hoot and moyste; in this time sterith mannys blood and spredith into alle the membris of þe body, and the body makith it intemperate complexioun. In this tyme shulde chykenys be ete, and kydes and eggis, soure letuse þat men calle carlokis, and getis mylke. In this tyme is best to be lete blood, for onys than is bettir than thre tymes an othir tyme; and it is good to travayle and to haue thi wombe soluble, and than it is good to swete, to bathe, and to goo, and to ete things that are laxatijf, for alle thing that amendith bi digestioun or by blood letyng it shalle sone retorne and amend in this prime temps .i. veer.

Of somer tyme, what it is. Capm. 44m.

sOmer bigynneth whan þe sonne entrith into the signe of the Crabbe, and lastith iiijxx dayes and xij, and xviij howres, and the thridde part of an houre, that is, fro þe xiij day of Iune vnto the xiij day of septembre; in þis tyme are the dayes longe and þe nyghtis shorte. In alle cuntrees growe the hetis, and wyndis

folio 18b

Of hervest, what it is. Capitulum 45m.

hErvest entrith whan the sonne entrith into the first degre of þe signe of the balaunce, and durith .iijxx ^note.6 dayes and on, that is to say from the xiij day of septembre vnto the xiij day of Novembre. In þat tyme are the dayes and the nyghtis evene, and aftir þe nyght growith more, and the day lesse; the eyre wexith trobely, and þe wyndis entren into the Region of Septentrione, tymes chaungen and Ryvers discresen, and wellis wexen litille, the erthe and the trees wexen drie, and the beute of þe erthe and of þe ground fadith, and birdes sechen hoot cuntrees. Wilde bestis drawen to Cavernes, and serpentis sechen the hoolis where they may assemble and kepe her lyvyng; for wyntir is like an oold bareyne woman fro whom youthe is depertid. This tyme of hervest is cold and drie, in whiche risith þe black colre, than it bihovith to ete hot metes

folio 19a

Of wyntir tyme, and what it is. Ca. 46m.

wYntir bigynneth whan the sonne entrith into the first degre of þe signe that men callen Motoun, and dureth vjxx dayes, that is, from the xiij day of novembre vnto the xiij day of marche. In this tyme þe nyghtis are longe, and þe dayes shorte, the colde is gret, þe wynde is sharpe, leves fallen, and alle thingis lesen her grennes for þe more party. Alle bestis drawen to her resortes into diches and Caves of mounteynes for colde, þe eyre and the tyme is blake; and þe erthe as an oold woman broken with age and nere deed; wyntir is cold and moyste, and therfore it nedith to ete hoote metis, as chekenys, hennes, motoun, and othir hoot metes, and fatte ffiges, notes, and reed wyne, and be ware that thou be not laxatijf, and lete no blood, but it were the gretter nede, and enfebille not þi stomak with excesse of mete ne of drynke. Ne companye thou nought moche with women, but it be attemperatly. And bathis are goode to be vsid in tyme of colde. þe hete naturalle gederith togidre in the body, and there good digestioun is bettir in wyntir, and in ver than in hervest or in somer, ffor in hervest and in somer the wombe is colde, and þat

folio 19b

Of naturalle hete. Capitulum 47m.

alexandre, dere sone, aboue alle thingis kepe thi naturalle hete, for as long as naturalle hete is attemporat in thi body, thou shalt haue good hele and vndirstondyng. And vndirstonde þat in two thingis and maners deyeth a man, that on maner is naturalle, as age þat ouircometh man and distroyeth þe body; that othir is bi accident maner, as bi seeknes take thorugh mysgouernaunce, or hurtyng of egge tole, and many othir happis of aventure.

Of thingis that fattith the body. Cam. 48m.

dEre sone, there are thingis that makith the body fatte and moyste, that is, reste and replevisshyng of dyuerse metis and swete drynkis, as wyn that is dowsett, mede, and mylke, and slepe aftir mete, soft liyng, and alle good odoures, bathes of

folio 20a

Of thingis that makith þe body lene. Capm. 49m.

tHese thingis are they that makith þe body lene. Excesse of mete and drynke, ouyr moche travayle, moche stondyng in the sonne, moche goyng, moche slepyng afore mete, moche wrath, moche fere, and bathyng in watris þat be of Sulphure nature. Etyng of salt metes, drynkyng of oold wyn, ouirmoche to vse chambir worke. Ipocras seith that who so bathe him with fulle wombe shalle haue seeknes in the bowelis, and also he that lythe with women wombe fulle. And also he þat etith oft tymes hoot fisshe, or that drynketh mylke and wyne medlid, is able forto be a lepre, þus saith ypocras.

Of the first party of þe body. Capitulum. 50m.

the body is divided in foure partes, the first party is the hed. Whan superfluytees assemblen into þe hed and yville humoures, thou shalt fayle and knowe bi þese signes, thyn eyen shalle be trobille, thi browes shalle wexe grete, thyn eyen betene, thi nose thrilles wexe strayte, þan and thou fele this in the, take wormode, and do it in swete wyne, and lete it boyle with the Rote þat is callid Pollygony, so that by boylyng the wyne

folio 20b

Of þe secund parti of þe body. Cam. 51m.

tHe breste is the secund parti of þe body, and if seeknes come therin thus shalle thou knowe, þi tunge shalle be pricchid, þi mouth shalle be bittir, and þe mouth of þi stomak shalle be soure, and thi membres shalle ake, than it bihovith that thou ete but litille, than take a vomyte, and aftir þi castyng, take sugir rosett with aloe, and mastyk and chewe alle harde, and than mayst thou ete a good soule aftir as thyn appetit takith the. And aftir mete take an electuarie that is callid dyonysion, and if thou do not thus þi membres wolle ake, disese cometh in thi Reynes, and so folowith the axcesse and enpechyng of þi tonge, þe whiche wolle lette the to speke, and many othir seeknessis.

Of the thridde party of þe body. Cam. 52.

the thridde parti of þe body is þe wombe, many yville humoures cometh therin. And thus shalle thou knowe, thi wombe shalle swelle, and thou shalt ake of stiffenes þat cometh therin, þe knees wexe grete, and thou shalt go hevily and with disese. It bihovith the then to be purgid with sum light medicyne, as y haue seid aboue. And if þou do it not þou shalt haue akyng of thyn haunchis and of thi mylte, and in thi bak, and in thi ioyntis, and disese of þe flixe, and disese of thi lyvir, and yville digestioun.

Of the fourthe party of þe body. Cam. 53m.

the fourthe parti of þe body be the Ballokis, where superfluytees and yville humoures engendren, and thus thou shalt knowe, thyn appetit shalle wexe cold, and þou shalt wexe roynous on the ballokis, and on þe share. Take than mugwede,

folio 21a

I haue redde that ther was a kyng, and [he] made a gret assemble of alle the beste phisiciens in Inde, and in Grece, and comaunded hem to make him such a medicyn so nobil and profitable that ther shulde nede noon othir helpe to mannys hele. The Grekis seiden that who so euyr dranke euery morowe twies his mouth fulle of hoot watir þat it shulde make a man hoole, and þat him shulde nede noon othir medicyne. The phisiciens of ynde seiden that who so ete the graynes of whijt mylle fastyng with watir cresses it profitith moche, or who so ete eche morowe of alibi Amei 7 dragmes, and of swete grapis and Reysynes, he shalle haue no dowte of flewme, and he shalle haue the bettir vndirstondyng, and he shalle haue no quarteyne, and who so etith notes or ffygis with leves of Rewe, that day him thar drede of no venyme. And euyr peyne the to kepe the naturalle hete of thi body, for the distruccioun of thi body cometh of two thingis and two causis, that on is naturelle and þat othir is ayens kynde. The naturalle distruccioun is for the contrariete of complexioun of man, for whan age surmounteth, the body it must nedis noye. And that that is ayens kynde, it cometh of accident aduenture as by swerd, spere, ston, or any case that cometh of seeknes, by yville governaunce, and excesse of metis and

folio 21b

Of kyndis of ffisshis. Cam. 54m.

the fisshis that ben of thynne skyn, and norisshid in fresshe watir Rennyng is bettir and more holsome than any othir. Kepe the fro fische þat is hard skynned, for þat is werst, for it is norshyng of wynde, whiche is cause of moche disese.

Of nature of watris, Of nature of wyne, Of soure Syrupe. Cam. 55, Cam. 56, Cam. 57. ^note.7

alexandre, dere sone, it is holsome to take sowre Syrepe fastyng for flewme and yville humors that habounde gretly, and that Syrepe is an excellent remedy ayens flewme. And y haue merveyle þat man may deye þat etith bred of good whete and fresshe, and drynketh clene wyne of grape attemperatly, and kepith him fro ouirmoche etyng and drynkyng and travayle, and if seeknes come to suche a man, it is nedfulle to worche wisely and do to him as to a dronken man. Wasshe him with hoot watir, and aftir sett him on a Rennyng Ryver, so that he haue grene leves of wylowe about him, and anoynte his stomak with an oynement that men calle Triasendale, and lete him haue savor of encence and othir good spicis among. And if a man wolde leve the drynkyng of wyne that hath

folio 22a

Of the forme and maner of rightwisnes. Cam. 58m.

dEre sone, rightwisnes may not ben ouyr preysid, for it is of þe propir nature of glorious god, and it is made to sustene all Rewmes for helpe of his servauntis, and rightwisnes owith to kepe the royalle blood, and the richesse of the possessioun of sugetis, and governe hem in alle her nedes; and what lord doth thus, he is in that case like vnto god. Rightwisnes is forme and vndirstondyng, whiche god made and sent to his creaturis. and bi rightwisnes was þe erthe bildid, and kyngis made to mayntene it, for it makith sugetis obeyshaunte, and prowde men meke, and savith the persones from harme, and therfore seyne men of ynde that Iustice of a good lord is bettir to þe pepille than the habundaunce of goodis of the erthe, and bettir than the reyne that fallith from hevene. Onys it was founde writen in a stone of þe tunge of Caldee, that a kyng and rightwisnes are bretheryn, and that þe which on hath nede of an othir hath nede of þe same, and þat on may nought do without þat othir. ffor alle kyngis were made to mayntene Iustice and rightwisnes, for it is the helthe of sugetis. Dere sone, whan

folio 22b

folio 23a

folio 23b

Of þe secretary of a kyng. Capm. 59m.

dEre sone, it bihovith the to haue a secrete man to yefe attendaunce to thi privat writyngis, and to conceyve thyn entendement, and he must be a fayre speker, and on that kan comprehende thi wille in dewe ordir, and enditt fayre langage; for as a fayre Robe is worshipfulle to a kyng, so is fayre endityngis, emblisshyng of his maieste of lettris vndir his seele. And also he owith to be a man of good feith and trewe, and wijs to knowe thyn entendement, and take souereynly hede of þi worshipe, and þat no man be so prive with him, forto se þe lettris of thi secret, and loke þat alle officers be welle rewardid

Of a kyngis messangeris. Capm. 60m.

dEre sone, messangeres shewen the wisdome of hem that senden hem, and a messangere is the eye, the ere, and the tunge of the lord; than it bihovith a messangere to ben the most sufficient and cherfulle speker, wijs, honourable and lele, and that he loue þi ^note.8

folio 24a

Of governaunce of the peple. Capitulum 61m.

dEre sone, the peple and thi sugetis is the hous of thi memorie, and þi tresore by the whiche thi reme is conformyd, thi sugetis are thi gardyne, in the whiche are many trees, beryng diuerse frutes, on these trees are many braunchis, beryng frutis and sedis, and multiplien in many maners, and diffence and durabille tresoure of þi rewme. It nedith the than þat thi sugetis be welle governyd, and thou to haue in hert alle that is profitable vnto hem, and that no vylenye ne extorcion be done vnto hem, and that they be gouernyd aftir þe maners and oold customes of her cuntrees, and yofe hem such officers that entende not to ther distruccioun, but forto governe hem welle and iustly, and þat tho officers be of good condiciones, wijs, lele, and pacient, and if he be contrary,

folio 24b

folio 25a

Of ffysnomye of folke. Capitulum 62m.

amonge alle othir thingis caste the to knowe the mervelous science of ffysnomye, for therbi thou shalt knowe the natures and the condiciones of alle folke. And this science fonde a gret clerke that hight, ffysnomyas, the which serchid the qualitees and the natures of alle folke. In the tyme of this ffysnomyas reynyd the nobille and excellent doctoure ypocras. And for this ffisonomyas bare such a name of wisdome the disciplis of ypocras portreweden the liknes of her maystir, and bare it vnto fisnomyas, and bade him "Iuge the nature of him that that figure was lijk to"; and than he seide, "that man that is lijk to this figure, or þat þis figure

folio 25b

folio 26a

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Page [40]

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Page 41THE GOVERNANCE OF LORDSCHIPES.MS. Lambeth 501.A 15th Century Translation of the Secreta Secretorum.
(Soon after 1400.)

[Epistle dedicatory.]

folio 1a

To his lord most heg and in worschippynge of Cristes religioun most noble Guy sothely of Valence of þe Citee of Tripol glorious Bisshop, Phelip þe lest of his clerks hym and trew seruice of deuocioun recomendys. As mikel as þe mone ys more shinynge þan þe oþer sterrys, and as þe bem of þe sonne ys moor brygt þan þe ligt of the mone, As mekyl þe clernesse of oure wyt & þe depnesse of oure conynge passys all men þat now er on any syde þe see, as wel Barbarys as Latyns yn litterure. No-þer ys non of hool mynde þat may stryf aeyn þis sentence, ffor where þe Gyuer of graces, fro whom all goodis passys fort, to ilke man his goodis deles, It semys he has gyuen to þe oon þe gyftes of graces & of conynge, ffor yn þe er founden all þe graces of halowes, þe clennesse of Noe, þe strent of abraham, þe fait of ysaak, þe longe lastynge of Iacob, þe sofferynge of Moyse, þe stabilnesse of Iosue, þe deuocioun of hely, þe perfeccioun of helise, þe Benignite of dauid, þe wit of Salamon, þe pacience of Iob, þe chastite of daniel, þe ffaconde of ysae, þe perseuerance of Ieremi with all oþer vertu of halowes yn þi halynes most fully dwelles; it yn all fre conynges þou ys best lettridd, yn decretals of haly chirche & lawes wysest, In diuinite & moralite beste taugt. Wher-fore worthy ys þat oure swetnesse haue þe booke of thys werke, yn þe whilk some profitable þinges neg of all sciences ys contend. When y was with ow at Antyoche, and þis precious margarite of Philosophye ffouden, it likyd to oure lordschip þat it were translatyd out of þe tonge of arabye yn to latyn. Sothely y coueytynge mekly to bowe to oure biddynge & to oure wyl as y am holdyn to serue, þys booke þat latyns wantyd and ys founden with fewe arabyes I haue translatyd with greet trauaille ynto opyn vnderstandynge of latyn out of þe langage of araby, to oure hegnesse and

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Page 42worschipe som tyme expounande letter of letter, and som tyme vndirstandynge of vndirstondynge, ffor other maner of spekynge ys with arabys & oþer with Latyns.

folio 1b

þe wilke booke Aristotel þe wyseste Prynce of Philosofers made at þe askynge of kynge Alexander his disciple þat askyd of him þat he sholde come to him or elles þat he sholde shewe to him þe preuyte of diuers craftes, þat ys to say þe sterynge of wirkynges and power of sternes in astronomy, þe craft of alkenamy in kynde, and þe craft of kennynge kyndes & of wirkynge eschauntement in [piromancye] ^note.10 & gewmatry, þe whilke Aristotel for elde eldand, and heuynes of body mygt nougt goo, and yf all he hadde purposyd in all manere to hide þe preuytes of þes craftes forsayd, Noþeles he durste nougt ne sholde nougt aeyn say þe wyl and þe askynge of swylke a lord. He willand in party to make asset to þe Emperour; & in party þe preuytes of þe craftes to hide, he made þis booke, spekand by tokyns & ensamples, & lyke spekyngges techand outward by lettre philosofre techinge falland to lordlynes of lordes, to hele of body to be kepyd, & to profyt þat may nought be nombred of kennynge of heuenly bodis to be had. Inward he shewys to þe marg by toknys & preuyly to Alexander þe principal purpos þat he askyd him wit greet praiere, departand þis booke yn distinccons or bokes, ten of the whilke ylkon yn hym contentys, Chapytrys, and partyes termynd. And I yn þe begynnynge of þys booke haues gedird to gedyr & wretyn þe bigynnynge of þe bokes and all þe Chapitres of the titles, so þat þat ys askyd may mor redily be founden yn certeyns tetlys. GOODLY ffader, þys werke y haue translatid to oure glorye and worschipe þat þe mynde of me with ow more fast dwelle, and my deuocioun to oure seruice mekly shewe hym, prayand deuoutly, þat yn þys weke is founden profitable & acceptable, be hit assigned to his gyft þat gaf me grace to translate it, and to Aristotyl þat made it; And if þer be ougt founden nougt rigt or nougt conable sette, be it attornyd to myn vnconynge & vnwyt mor þan to my malyce.

folio 2a

And ouer oure ffaconde þat I wele knowe in enterpretacioun in wordes and yn properte of abundaunce of blisful spekynge do to amende þat ys to amende, þe mercy of god safe & hale longe kepe ow to þe glorye & worschipe of criste and Cristyn men, & after greet leng of tyme he make ow blysfully to come to euer lastynge ioye.

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Page 43

THE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK. ^note.11

• Cap. 1. Of aforspekynge of louynge of Aristotel ... ... [47]
• Cap. 2. Of a Epistyl fro Alexander to Aristotel.... ... [48]
• Cap. 3. [The answer of the same] ... ... ... [48]
• Cap. 4. Of aforspekynge of þe translatour of þis booke ... [48]
• Cap. 5. Of Aristotel epistel to Alexander ... ... [49]
• ^note.12 Cap. 6. Of kynges & þer maners yn largesse & aueryce ... [51]
• Cap. 7. Of largesse and oþer vertue. [Of þe evels þat comes of ffole largesse] ... ... ... [52]
• Cap. 8. Of teching of Aristotel yn vertue and vices ... [53]
• Cap. 9. Of þe endly entente þat kynges awe to haue ... [53]
• Cap. 10. Of euels þat seuen flesshly apetit... ... ... [54]
• ^note.13 Cap. 11. Of þe wyt of a kynge ... ... ... ... [54]
• Cap. 12. Of þe religiouste of a kynge ... ... ... [55]
• Cap. 13. Of his purueyance & his slegte ... ... ... [55]
• Cap. 14. Of þe costome of a kynge. ^note.14 [Of ornament cleþinge of kynge.] ... ... ... ... [55]
• Cap. 15. Of þe contynance of a kynge. [To eschewe mekyl Spekynge] ... ... ... ... [56]
• Cap. 16. Of þe rygt of a kynge ... ... ... ... [57]
• Cap. 17. Of his fynale entente ... ... ... ... [57]
• Cap. 18. Of þe chastite of a kynge ... ... ... ... [58]
• Cap. 19. Of þe solace of a kynge ... ... ... ... [58]
• Cap. 20. [Of the descrecioun of a kynge] ... ... ... [58]
• Cap. 21. [Of obedyence] ... ... ... ... ... [59]
• Cap. 22. Of þe similitude of a kynge ... ... ... [59]
• Cap. 23. Of þe socour and þe help of a kynge ... ... [60]
• Cap. 24. [Of þe purueyance of a kynge] ... ... ... [61]

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Page 44
• Cap. 25. Of þe mercy of a kynge ... ... ... ... [61]
• Cap. 26. [To kepe fayth and othes sworne] ... ... [62]
• Cap. 27. Of his kepynge ... ... ... ... ... [62]
• Cap. 28. Of auancement of study yn his londe ... ... [63]
• Cap. 29. Of þe kepynge of his Body [from women] ... [63]
• Cap. 30. [Of trysting noght only yn oon leche] ... ... [64]

folio 2b

• Cap. 31. Of þe sigt of oures in Astronomy ... ... [64]
• Cap. 32. Of þe profyt to kepe hele ... ... ... [66]
• Cap. 33. [Of þe composition of man of foure humours] ... [66]
• Cap. 34. Of kepynge of helthe ... ... ... ... [67]
• Cap. 35. [Of þe tokens of þe stomak] ... ... ... [68]
• Cap. 36. Of maners to kepe helthe ... ... ... [69]
• Cap. 37. Of kepynge of helt and manere of lyuynge ... [69]
• Cap. 38. [Of contynance afore mete] ... ... ... [70]
• Cap. 39. Of manere of slepynge ... ... ... ... [71]
• Cap. 40. [Of slepynge aftyr mete] ... ... ... ... [71]
• Cap. 41. Of kepynge of costome ... ... ... ... [72]
• Cap. 42. [To eschewe Engrutynge] ... ... ... [72]
• Cap. 43. Of þe ffoure tymes of þe ere; Of þer qualite and diuersite; Of veir ... ... ... [72]
• Cap. 44. Of Somer ... ... ... ... ... ... [73]
• Cap. 45. Of Heruest ... ... ... ... ... [74]
• Cap. 46. Of Wynter ... ... ... ... ... [74]
• Cap. 47. [Thynges that fattith the body] ... ... ... [75]
• Cap. 48. [Thynges þat feblys and dryes þe Body] ... [76]
• Cap. 49. [The Reule of Ypocraas] ... ... ... ... [76]
• Cap. 50. Of knowynge of ffoure principaly Membrys; Of þe euyle of þe heued and þe remedy ... [76]
• Cap. 51. Of þe euyle of þe brest and þe remedy ... ... [77]
• Cap. 52. Of þe euyle of þe pryue membrys & þe remedy ... [77]
• Cap. 53. [Opynyounns of dyuers ffesisyens] ... ... [77]
• Cap. 54. [Of þe kepyng of kyndly hete] ... ... ... [78]
• Cap. 55. Of knowynge of Metys ... ... ... ... [78]
• Cap. 56. [Of ffisshes] ... ... ... ... ... [78]
• Cap. 57. Of knowynge of waters ... ... ... ... [79]
• Cap. 58. Of knowynge of alle manere of wynes ... ... [79]
• Cap. 59. [Of þe euelys þat folwyn to mekyll of wyn] ... [80]
• Cap. 60. [Of venegre, and þe beste medicyn for dronkenesse] ... ... ... ... ... [81]
• Cap. 61. Of thinges þat strynghes þe body ... ... [82]

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Page 45
• Cap. 62. Of thinges þat wastys & enfeblys þe body ...
• Cap. 63. Of Bathes; Of ordinance of stuynge ... ... [82]
• Cap. 64. [Techyng to lyf hool withoute leche] ... ... [83]
• Cap. 65. [Of þe greet medicyne] ... ... ... ... [84]
• Cap. 66. Of makynge of hony to medecyns ... ... [84]
• Cap. 67. Of þe ffrste medecyne ... ... ... ... [84]
• Cap. 68. Of þe secounde ... ... ... ... ... [85]
• Cap. 69. Of þe þridde ... ... ... ... ... [85]
• Cap. 70.Off þe ferthe ... ... ... ... ... ^note.15
• Cap. 71. Of þe ffyft ... ... ... ... ... ^note.16
• Cap. 72. þe sext ... ... ... ... ... ... ^note.17
• Cap. 73. þe seuend ... ... ... ... ... ... ^note.18
• Cap. 74. þe egt ... ... ... ... ... ... ^note.19
• Cap. 75. Of þe greet medecyne, last and fynale ... ... ^note.20
• Cap. 76. Of latyng of blood, and of oures þerto ... ... [85]
• Cap. 77. [Off takynge of medicyn laxatyue] ... ... [86]
• Cap. 78. [Of doctryne of tokenynges] ... ... ... [86]
• Cap. 79. Off propertes of herbes and stones ... ... [87]
• Cap. 80. [Off þe stoon, þe Eye of Philosophers.] ... ... [87]
• Cap. 81. Off þe Oppynyoun of Hermogenes ... ... [88]
• Cap. 82. [Off þe vertu of precious stoones] ... ... [89]
• Cap. 83. [Off þinges vegetable] ... ... ... ... [89]
• Cap. 84. [Off þe trees þat hauyn kyndly vertu] ... ... [91]
• ^note.21 Cap. 85. Off right ... ... ... ... ... ... [92]
• Cap. 86. [Off þe makyng of þinges in order] ... ... [94]
• Cap. 87. [Off þe steryng of heuens] ... ... ... [95]
• Cap. 88. Knowynge of Sawle. ... ... ... ... [96]
• ^note.22 Cap. 89. [Off þe makyng of man] ... ... ... ... [97]
• Cap. 90. [Of sight]. Off þe V wyttes ... ... ... [97]
• Cap. 91. [Off harkenyng] ... ... ... ... ... [97]
• Cap. 92. [Off tastynge] ... ... ... ... ... [97]
• Cap. 93. [Off touch] ... ... ... ... ... [98]
• Cap. 94. [Off werkyng of wyttes] ... ... ... ... [98]
• Cap. 95. [Off perfeccioun of ffyue wyttes] ... ... [98]
• Cap. 96. [Off conseillers] ... ... ... ... ... [98]
• Cap. 97. [Off byholding engenderures] ... ... ... [99]
• Cap. 98. [To dyspys noght lytyll stature] ... ... ... [100]
• Cap. 99. [How þe kyng awe to ask conseyll] ... ... [101]
• Cap. 100. [Off putting vpberers in þe kyngs stede] ... [101]
• Cap. 101. Off Prudence to assaye a Conseller ... ... [102]

• ---

  Page 46Cap. 102. ffyuetene Vertue off a good Conseiller ... [103]
• Cap. 103. [þat man ys þe lesse werld] ... ... ... [104]
• Cap. 104. [Noght to haue trist yn man þat trowys noght þy lawe] ... ... ... ... ... [104]
• ^note.23 Cap. 105. To chese a Qweynte Scryueyn and Pryue ... [106]
• ^note.24 Cap. 106. To teche a Messagere ... ... ... ... [107]
• ^note.25 Cap. 107. To gouerne þy self ... ... ... ... [108]
• Cap. 108. [Of expendours] ... ... ... ... ... [108]
• ^note.26 Cap. 109. Off lederes off ostes and here ordinaunce ... [108]
• Cap. 110. [Of the horn of battle] ... ... ... ... [109]
• ^note.27 Cap. 111. Off auenture off Bataylles ... ... ... [110]
• ^note.28 Cap. 112. Knowynge by diuers tokenynges ... ... [112]
• Cap. 113. [Off colour] ... ... ... ... ... [114]
• Cap. 114. [Off byholdyng] ... ... ... ... [114]
• Cap. 115. [Off þe mysauentrous] ... ... ... ... [114]
• Cap. 116. [Off attemprance] ... ... ... ... [114]
• Cap. 117. Of heer of men ... ... ... ... ... [114]
• Cap. 118. Of eghen ... ... ... ... ... [115]
• Cap. 119. Of browes ... ... ... ... ... [115]
• Cap. 120. Of nees ... ... ... ... ... ... [115]
• Cap. 121. Of face. Of mouth ... ... ... ... [115]
• Cap. 122. Of þe temples ... ... ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 123. [Of þe eeres] ... ... ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 124. Of voyces ... ... ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 125. Of Mouynge of body ... ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 126. Of þe Throte ... ... ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 127. Of þe wombe. Of þe sholders ... ... ... [116]
• Cap. 128. Of þe armes ... ... ... ... ... [117]
• Cap. 129. Of þe palmes of þe hondes ... ... ... [117]
• Cap. 130. Of knees, Of þe soles of þe feet ... ... [117]
• Cap. 131. Of þe paas of men, & manere of goynge ... [117]
• Cap. 132. [Of þe tokenynges of good kynde] ... ... [117]
• Cap. 133. [Of oon wytnesse in Iugement] ... ... [118]

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Page 47

Cap. 1. [Of aforspekynge of louynge of Aristotel.]

folio 3a

folio 3b

Cap. 2. [Of a Epistyl fro Alexander to Aristotel.]

"O Noble doctour, gouernour of rigt, y do to vnderstonde to oure conynge þat y haue foundyn yn þe lond of Perse a ffolk þat is abundand of resoun and of persand vnderstondynge, & þay stody to haue lordschipe of oþer, whar-fore we purpos to slaa þam alle; þat þat semys to ow yn þys matere e sende vs by oure letters."

Cap. 3. [The answer of the same.]

And Aristotel answerd yn þis manere. "If þou may chaunge þe eir and þe watir of þat lond, and also þe ordinance of Citee, do þy purpos, and elleys gouerne hem wyt goodnesse, And vnderstonde hem wyt debonertee, and yf þou so doo, be þou seker with þe helpe of god þay all shall be subgit to þy likynges & biddynges, and be loue þou shall reigne vp-on hem pesabely wit victorye." Þis Epistel ressayued, Alexander did after his consaill & þey of Perse were most obeisaunt to hym of alle Naciouns.

Cap. 4. [Of aforspekynge of þe translatour of þis booke.]

Howe this Book was ffirst ffounden.

Iohan þat translatyd þis book Patrik sone ful wys, & leel enterpretour of langages sayd, "I haue nogt left vnsogt no stede no temple whare Philosophers vsyd to wryte & þaire pryue wirkynges to make, no no wys man þat y trowd þat vnderstood þe wrytynge of Philosophie, þat y ne sogt hym, to þe tyme þat y cam to þe Oracle of þe sone þat Esculapides mad for hym, where y fand oon solitarye man abstinente ful wys of Philosophie, and of greet conynge, to whom y mekyd me, and yn als mekel as y coude I seruyd and ful deuoutly y requerd hym þat he wolde shewe me þe secrete wretyn yn þat oracle; and he will-and did hyt, And omonge oþer doynges þe werke desird I ffand þere, and greet trauaylle and longe tyme

folio 4a

Cap. 5. Þe Epistle of Aristotel to Alexander.

sOune most glorious, most rigtful Emperour, god make þe fast in way of knowynge and felynge of þreut & vertues, & restreyn yn þe bestials apetites, & þi wyte ligten to his seruice and his worschipe, I haue ressayuid to worschipe þat fallys þerto, And fully y haue vnderstonde how greet desir & e haue of my persone þat y were with ow; e meruaille how y may absteyne me fro ow, And chalangys me þat y haue no þougt of oure besynes, wharefore y haue besyed me & hastyd me for þat cause to make a wrytynge to owre heignes, & it shal be a balaunce to all oure werkys dressand rigt myn absence fulfilland, And it shal be a certeyn reule to ow to what e wille as y sholde shewe ow if y were present with ow; e sholde nogt haue chalangid me sithen e woot and sholde wete, þat I leue nogt to to come to oure most cleer worschippynge for dispyt, But þat heuynesse of age and feblenesse of body hauys so vmbylappyd me, þat þey make me heuy and nogt able to goo; And ouer þat þat e equere and coueytis to wete, it is swilk a secre þat vnnethis mannys brest may it vnderstonde, how may it þanne be wrete in dedly skyns? To þat þat fallis to ow to enquere, and ys leful to me to trete me byhoues and of dette ys holden to answere, Als e of dette of discrecioun is

folio 4b

ys holdyn to enquere no more of me of þis secret þan y deliuere ow yn þis book, ffor yf e besely study it, rede hit, and fully vnderstond vt þat is content þer ynne, I trowe with outen doute þat non obstacle shal be by twen ow and þat þat e desire, ffor god hauys geuyn to þe so mekyl grace of vnderstondynge and rigtful wyt in letterure of sciences be my techinge byfore tagt þat by oure seluyn e mowe comprend & by fygurs vnderstonde all þat e aske to be tagt of, ffor þe desir of oure brynnand wyl shal opyn a way to gete oure purpos, & shall lede ow to þe ende desiryd by þe graunt of oure lord.

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Page 50Þe cause ys þat y will shewe to ow þis secree by liknes spekand to ow by ensamples, signifiances, and tokenynges; ffor y doute mekyl þat þis book come nougt to þe hondes of vntrew men and ynto power of proude men, And so shulde þis laste good and secree of lordschipes to swilk come þat souereyn god iugys vnworthi & enemys, And so y shulde be a trespasour to goddys grace, and breker of heuenly secree & of þe pryue shewynge. And þarefore vndir coniurisoun of goddis Iugement y haue discouerd to ow þis sacrament after þe manere þat it ys shewyd to me, And wete wel þat he þat secreet discouers & shewys preuyte, myshappe shal sone sewe him, wherfore if e do it þe same comynges e

folio 5a

shal lightly ryn in. But god fro all euelys, and swilke wirkes, & fro all vnhoneste by his mercy kepe ow, And after all swylke oþer þinges brynge to oure mynde þat sauand techinge þat y ofte sithes was wont to shewe to ow, and oure noble saule to enfourme, and þat shal be oure solas and mirrour of hele.

^note.29 Sustentement of kynges.

It most nede be of force þat ilk a kyng haue two helpes to susteyn his kyngdome, þe oon ys strengt of men to defende him and make his kyngdome stalworth, and þat may he nogt but whenne he is gouernour in rigt and lord yn his subgit, and þat his subgit of oon accord obeisse hem to his lordschipe. As for inobedience of subgit is þe mygt of lord put vndir and mad feble, & subget regnys, I haue shewyd cause þat subgit sholde be steryd to þaire lord to be obeisaunt, þe cause ys double, on ynward a-noþer outward; þe outward y haue declared before, þat ys to say þat þou despend þy good and Rychesse wysly, & make þy largesse after þe desert of ilk oon. And it byhoues þat kynges haue a-noþer queyntise, but þerof y shal make mencioun after yn þe chapitre of riches & helpes; þe seconde þinge is to drawe þe wil of his subgit to wirkynge, and þat awe to go before yn þe firste degree, And þe seconde helpe awe to haue two causes, oon ynward and a-noþer, outward, and þat ynward ys þat kynges awe helde and do rigt of poscessiouns, riches & purches þat rigt heir be maad þerof, and trewe successours. ^note.30 A cause ys foreyn þat ys to say sparand þe riches of subgit.

And þe inward cause ys þe secree of olde Philosopheres and of rigtful men þat glorious god before chose and his knowynge gaf hem, And if y gif ow þis secree with oþer þinges þat e shall fynde yn dyuers titles of þis book yn þe whilk e shal fynde greet Philosophie and conynge, ffor with Inne ys foundyn þe fynal cause of oure entent and oure purpos, principal & fynal, when e haue fully þe vnderstondynges of þe sentences, and of þe ensamples, þanne shal e pursewe fully & perfitely oure purpos desiryd. God þat ys most wys & glorious, he ligt oure resoun, and make cleer oure vnderstondynge to persayue þe sacrament of þis science þat e mowe se þer in. Þe toþer ys þat he make his riches to abounde largely in the soules of wyse men, & gif graces to vnderstondant & studiaunt, to whom no þinge ys inpossible, and with oute whom no possessioun is possible.

Book I

Cap. 6. Of maners of kynges.

^note.31 Kynges er ffoure, large to him and large to subgit, and kynge auers to hym and auers to subgit, And kynge auers to hym and large to subgit, And kyng large to hym & auers to subgit. Þe ytailes sayen it ys no vice to a kynge if he be auers to hym seluen, so þat he be large to

folio 5b

his subgit. Þe Indyes sayen þe same of a kynge þat ys auers to hym seluyn, and to his subgit good; þe perseyens affermen aeyn þat a kynge is nogt wort þat ys nogt large to hym seluyn.

Of largesse and Auarice.

Ws byhoues now sotely enquere of þes vertues and vices, and for to shewe what ys largesse & what auarice, and what errour ys yn largesse, & what euyl suys withdrawynge of largesse. ffor opyn þinge ys þat qualytes er to be despysed whenne þey disacord fro þeir mein; And we woot wel þat þe kepynge of largesse ys rigt herd, and his brekynge rigt ligt. If þow wylt gete þe vertu of largesse, behold þy power, þe tyme of mester, and þe desertes of men, And þanne shalt þow after þy pouere with mesure gif þy godes to þeym that hauys myster and er worthy. He þat oþer wyse gyues, synnes, and trespasys þe rule of largesse; ffor he þat gyues his good to hem þat hauys no myster, he purchases no louynge þerof, And whanne þay er gyuen to vnworthy þay er louyd; And he þat spendys his good

folio 6a

Cap. 7. Of þe euels þat comes of ffole largesse.

Alexander, y say stedfastly to þe, what kyng þat wille continue giftys yn surfaytes ouer þat his kyngdom wyl suffyse to hym, That kynge with outen doute shal be destroyed. Ouer þat y say to þe þat y neuer sesyd to say to þy heignes, þat for to eschewe Auerice and ffole largesse is ioye of kynges and longe lastynge of kyngdomes, and þat ys namly whanne kynges withholdys hem & withdrawes her hondys frome þe goodys and poscessicuns of her subgit, wher of it ys founden in þe book of þe greet doctour Hermogenes, þat souerayn and verray goodnes, nobeley, and vnderstondynge, & fulfyllyng of lawe & tokenynge of perfeccioun are yn a kynge þat withdrawys hym from þe siluer and poscessiouns of his subgit. What was þe cause þat þe distruccion of þe kyngdom of Ingelond. ^note.33 Whenne þat þe superfluyte of despens ouer passyd þe rente of citee, & þer rentys falliþ hem despense, þo þe kynge extendyd his hondys to oþer menys goodys and rentys, and þe subgit for þe wronge cried to hye god and glorious, and sente hem an hote wende, and torment hem stalworthly, and þe poeple dressyd hem aeyn hem, and þer names for euer dyd out of þe lond. And but yf glorious god had so ordeyned, þis lond hadde

Cap. 8. [Of teching of Aristotel yn vertue and vices.]

folio 6b

Cap. 9. [Of þe endly entente þat kynges awe to haue.]

Of vndirstondynge.

Wete þou þat vndirstondyng ys heued of gouernance, hele of saule, keper of vertue, Mirrour of vices; ffor we byholde yn hit þat þat ys to flee, and we knowe by it þat þat ys to be chosen. It ys growyng of vertu & rote of alle goodes loueables & worschipfull, And þe firste teching of vndirstondynge is couetyng of good lose, ffor he þat couetys trewly good lose he shall haue good name and glorious. And he þat coueytis yt fayntly, by shame he shal be confoundyd.

Of goode lose.

Goode lose ys principaly by hym self to be coueyted, ffor kyngdome awe nogt to be coueyted bot for good lose, And þerfore bigynny of wyt and vndirstondynge ys desir of good lose þat ys purchasyd by good gouernance and to wele lorde; and þerfore if gouernance or lordschipe for oþer cause be coueyted, it ys no purchas of no good lose, but of enuye. Enuye engendres lesynge, þat ys rote of alle euelys, & ys matir of vices. Lesynges engendrys detraccioun; detraccioun engenders haatredyn; haatredyn engendrys wronges; wronges engendrys vnreuerence;

folio 7a

Cap. 10. [Of euels þat seuen flesshly apetit.]

To eschewe fflessly delytes.

Alexander, bowe þy wyl fro bestials delices, fro fflessly appetit makes þe corages of men lyk to þe willys of bestys, wyth outyn resoun and discrecioun; and hit destruys the body, & makys heuy þy wyttes and þyn vnderstondynge. It ys to knowe þat flessly delyces engendrys flescly loue, and flessly loue Aueryce; Aueryce desir of richesse; desyr of richesse dredys no shame; to drede nogt shame makys foly takynge; ffoly takynge makys vntreuthe; vntrewthe theft; theft repreef, wherof comes cheitifty and takyng, þat brynges a man to shame and his distruccioun.

BOOK II.

Cap. 11. [Of þe wyt of a kynge.]

Of vertues þat kynges awe to haue.

First and principaly it is nedful to a kynge, þat touchand his owen persoun, þat good lose of his name sprede of his lowable wyt, and þat he wysly conten hym with his folk, and þerof he shal be louyd and worschipyd, and he shal be doutyd whanne þey seen hym in wyt eloquent and yn his werkys wysly doand. And a man may ligtly knowe, and by tokenynges perseyue whether wyt or no wyt be yn a kynge lordand; ffor what kynge þat puttys his kyngdom vndirlout to þe lawes of god, he reignes rigtfully and worschipfully to his lordschype. And he þat

Cap. 12. [Of þe religiouste of a kynge.]

yt y say als wys Philosophers and spekers of þe mygts of god sayen, þat first soueraynly it fallys to a kynge þat he attempre hym wit trewe stablement & lawes nogt in fenyd semynge but in opyn shewynge of dede, þat alle þe folk wete þat he doutys god mygtful, and þat

folio 7b

Cap. 13. [Of his purueyance and his sleghte.]

and yt ys nedfull to a kynge to þynk on auentures to come, and so ordeyne þat he suffre more ligtly aduersytes. Also it fals him to be pytous, & namly restreyne hym fro inordinat sterynges, and he do nogt yn dede with outen deliberacioun, and þat he sone and resonably knowe his errour and wysly repele hit, ffor it ys souerayn wyt yn a kynge to wel gouerne hym seluyn. Whanne a kynge sees any good or profit to doo, with discrecion do he hit nogt ouer latly ne ouer hastly, þat he be nogt sen hastyf ne slowe.

Cap. 14. Of ornement cleþinge of a kynge.

It mekyl byhoues and semes to a kynges dignite worschypefully be cled, and euyr more yn fayr apparell to apper & passe oþer in fayrhede; þerfore a kynge sholde vse cleþynge and

Cap. 15. [Of þe contynance of a kynge.]

To eschewe mekyl Spekynge.

folio 8a

folio 8b

Cap. 16. [Of þe ryght of a kynge.]

It ys gretly to eschewe to offende Marchaunt and do hem wronge, ffor þay er berers of louynges and gode name of kynges and kyngdomes þurg þe world. It ys to elde to ilk man þat his ys, ffor so er citee warmstoryd and rentys gyuen. So grewys kyngdomes, & glorye and worschipe to kynges; So dredys hem enemys, and er agayn standyd. So lyuys kynges peseabely and sekirly, and haue desir of her wylles.

Cap. 17. [Of his fynale entente.]

Þat kynges be nogt coueytous ne cruell.

Alexander, coueyte nogt þinges coruptibles & passant, þat þou most sone forsake. But gete þe stabyl richesse, a lyf þat may nogt be chaungyd, a kyngdome ay lastand dilatable. Euer ordeyn þi þougtes in goodnesse; eld þy seluyn glorious & vygerous; ffleg þe folowyng of bestys and lyouns, and hir fylthes. Be nogt cruel, but bonand to spare hem of whom þou hauys victorye; þink of auentures and cases to falle, ffor þou woot nogt what day to-morwe sal falle þe. Wille þou nogt folowe þy delyces yn etynge and drynkynge, in lichery ne longe slepynge.

Cap. 18. [Of þe chastite of a kynge.]

To eschewe licherye.

Worthy Emperour, bowe nogt þe to þe vse of women, ffor swylk a vse ys a properte to swyne. What ioye ys to þe to vse þe vyce of bestys þat hauen no resoun, and folwyn her dedys? trowe me wyth outen drede, þat lychery ys distruccioun of body, shortynge of lyf, corypcioun of vertue, trespas of þe lawe; And hit engendrys women maners, and at þe laste yt ledys man to þat euyll þat we haue be-fore sayd.

Cap. 19. [Of þe solace of a kynge.]

Of Instrument of Menstralcye.

folio 9a

Cap. 20. [Of the descrecioun of a kynge.]

Of reddour attempred.

It semes a kynge to haue discrescioun, and þat he content hym and hold hym fro mekyl lagynge, ffor oft laghynge takys away reuerence and engendirs elde. Also þou awe to wete þat a man ys more holden to worschipe þe kynge yn his court and yn his constory þan yn oþer place, ffor þare hymself awe of dette if

folio 9b

Cap. 21. Of obedyence.

Alexander, obedience of lordschipe we vnderstonde in foure maners, þat ys to say [in] religiousite, in ffrendschipe, in Curtasye, and reuerence. O Alexander, draw to þe þe good wylles of þy subgit, and putte away þaire vnrygtys and wronges. Gyf nogt matere to þe people to mysspeke of þe, ffor þat þe poeple may say, þay may som tyme ligtly doo; þerfore contene þe so, þat men may nogt say aeyn the. And þerby þou shalt eschewe here doinges. And ouer all þynge wete þat discrescioun of meknesse is ioye of dignite, reuerence of lordschipe and enhansynge of a kynge. It ys a souerayn wysdom þat þou make more þy reuerence dwelle yn þe hertys of þy subgit þan loue.

Cap. 22. Of lyknes of kynges.

Men redys þat kynges ar yn kyngdomes as rayn yn erthe, þat ys þe grace of god, þe benysoun of heuene, streng of þe erþe and helpe to alle þat leuyn; ffor by rayn ys way maad to merchant & helpe gyuen to biggers; And noþeles yn rayns fallys thondres & leuenynges, & ouer-drownynges þurg flodes, and greet tempestes yn þe see, and oþer many euelys comyn, þurg whilk many leuand creatures ar perschyd. Noþeles þes auentures disturbes nogt þe poeple to loue god yn his mageste, byhaldand þe tokenynges of his grace, & þe gyftes of his mercy, þat he

folio 10a

by rayne what þinge þat is makys whik, dede þinges reburgones, and

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Page 60he geuys hys benysoun in alle vertu. And þerfore þe poeple louys hit, and forgetys alle þe euelys byforepassyd. Also a kynge ys ensamplyd to þe wyndes þat heig god sendys out and ordeynes of þe tresour of his mercy, by whom he sendys out moystures to make cornes to waxe, frutes of trees to come swete, and Esperite taken hir strynge, and water desired ys ressayued; and to hem þat sailyn yn þe see opnys way, and many oþer goodys folwys of þe wyndes. And noþeles of wynd comys diuers perils and lettynges als wel yn þe see as yn þe land, and brynges ynward sorwys to mannys hertys. Richessys of men þurg tempestys it losys and takys away. By þe wyndes comes corrupcions of þe eyr and norschigt dedly venyms, and many oþer vnacordand þinges comes þerof; wher fore foreyns creatures prays þe mercy of her makere to take swylk euelys fro hem. Noþeles he suffres þe wyndes to lede and hold her cours þat he hauys stabillyd hem; ffor he hauys ordeyned by his wyt alle þinges yn euyn weigt and certeyn nombre and ordre, and he hauys stabelyd hem to seruyn his seruant, and þat passys out of his greet mercy and of his goodnesse þat may nogt be Nombred.

Ensample of þe same of somer and wyntyr.

Þis same lyknesse ys of wynter and somer þat God hauys lastandly stabyled of cold and hete by his souerayne forsygt to engendrure and norshynge for lastynge of temporel þynges and kyndly. If alle þat vnaccordand and dedly perils commen of coold of þe wynter and of hete of somer, yn þe same manere it fals in a kynge of whom many goodnesses commen ofte sythes, þat to his subgit dysplesys and heuys, and yt yt ys to hem greet profyt.

Cap. 23. [Of þe socour and þe help of a kynge.]

To helpe Meseyes.

folio 10b

Cap. 24. Of þe purueyance of a kynge.

Alexander, puruey þe yn tresour of cornes and greynes profitable to be eten, þat mowe suffyse in þy land yn tyme of hunger and nede; So þat whanne swilk a eer as it has costomed fallys, þy mercyful purueyance may helpe þy poeple and socour þy nedfull Citee; ffor þat tyme þow awe opyn þy garners and selers, & make opyn by þy kyngdom whete and oþer manere of cornes; þat ys a greet forwyt and a greet purueyaunce, þe warmstore of þe kyngdome, þe hele of þe poeple, and kepynge of Citee. Þanne shal þy comandement be wel keped, þy dedes louyd, and þy fayre purueyance be yn perpetuel mynde, ffor it helpys þe poeple by þy wys forsygt. And þanne shal alle men wete þy forsygt of þyn eyen, and by þat þay shal fully prayse þy mygtes and pytee, and doon to write þy heig Magestee.

Cap. 25. [Of þe mercy of a kynge.]

To eschewe Manslagter.

Alexander, ofte y haue warnyd þe, and it y warne þe, þat þow kepe my techinge; for if þow kepe hit, þy purpos shal wel chefe, and þy kyngdome be lastand, þat ys to wete þat þou eschewe to sheede mannys blood, ffor þat fallys al oonly to god þat vndirstondys þe priuytee of hertes and secret of ffolk. Tak nougt on þe godys offyce, ffor it ys nogt gyuen to þe to knowe his secrete; þarfore eschewe þou yn so mekyl as þou may to sheede mannys blood. ffor as þe noble doctour hermogenes wrytes, whanne þat a creature slees a creature lyk to hym, þe heig vertue of heuene cryen to goddys mageste and sayen, "lord, lord, þy seruant wille be lyk to þe;" And if he wyth wronge haue slayn hym, þe he makere shall answere, "suffre þat he sla, ffor he shall be slayn.

folio 11a

To haue ensample of antecessours.

Alexander, yn alle peynes haue knowyng; many maners of euelys þou hauys lered in assay, draw to þy mynde þe dedys of þyn ancestres; þou may þer-out drawe goode ensamples, And alle þynges passyd sal gyue þe certeyn techynge of swylk þynges command; dyspyse nogt a lesse man þan þi seluyn, þat a man

Cap. 26. To kepe ffayt and othes sworne.

Kepe þe þat þow breke nogt þy fayt gyuyn no Alliance confermed, ffor it ffallis nogt but for vntrewe men and ligt women of body. Hold trewly þy fayth hygt, ffor euer moor to all vntreuthe folwys euyl ende, And if al falle som tyme any good in alliance brokyn, Noþeles þe kynde þerof ys wyckyd in it seluyn and þe maner of wykkyd men, And wete þow wel þurg trew affiance dwellys folk togedre, and þerby ys inhabitacioun in citee, comunynge to-gedre of ffolke. Þe lordschype of a kynge ys worschippyd þerby, þurg þat er Castels holdyn, citee kepyd and kynges lordes. If þou take away fayth, þe folke tornys aeyn to hir olde staat, þat ys to say to þe lyknes of Bestys with-outen resoun. O kynge, kepe þe so trewly þat þou breke nogt þy fayt gyuen ne oth ne oþer alliance, if al it greue þe; wost þou nogt what Heremogenes wytnessyt --"Two espirytes er þat kepys þe, oon on þe rigt syde, anoþer on þe left syde, þat knowyn & representyn to þy makere trewly euerylke þinge þat þou doos." Þys sholde with drawe þe & eueriche man fro alle vnhonest wirkynges. Who destreyns þe to swere ofte? Þou shold nogt swere but for greet mester; A kynge, but he were mekyl and ofte requeryd, he ne sholde nogt swere. Ne wost þou nogt þat yt myssemys þi dignite

folio 11b

Cap. 27. [Of the kepynge of a kynge.]

Alexander, y wille þat þow wete yat yn þe ordinance of a kyngdom & of a empire þer ben techinges ful specyals and manerlys þat falles to þe to þe gouernance of þyn owyn meynee and of þe commyn poeple, but þay haue nogt hir stede here. Noþeles y shal deliuere hem to þe yn a certeyn stede of þis book,

Cap. 28. [Of auancement of study yn his londe.]

To fforþer studiant.

Ordeyne to þe wel lettryd men, and stable studyes yn Citee of þy kyngdome. Byhote and comaunde þy liege men þat þay make her sones lere sciences and letterure, and make hem to study in fre & nobles sciences, and þy purueyance awe helpe hem in sustynance. Do some auantage of good to hem þat profytabely studys, þat þou gyf þerby ensample and manere to oþer scolers to study; here her requestys, ressayue her epistles, And take entent to loue hem þat er to be louyd, and to reward hem þat er to be rewardyd; þer-by þou shalt drawe to þe lettryd men to enheye þi louynge, and þy dedys to make ay to laste in scripture. Þys manere ys to be praysyd, and þys queyntyse ys to be louyd; yn þis oon empyr shal be honured & a kyngdom worschippyd; yn þys

folio 12a

Cap. 29. To tryste nogt in women.

Alexander, haue þou neuer trist in wirkynges no in seruice of women, ne gyf þou no credence to no wymmen, and yf þe nedys of a woman, drawe to þe to here þat þow trowys trewe, and þat þou demys good; ffor yf a woman reule þy persone, þou

Cap. 30. Tryst noght only yn oon leche.

Alexander, yn a oonly leche trist þou nogt, for her may harme, and ligtly he may order vndirtake to brynge manys deth to effect. If it may be, be þay ten ^note.37 at þe leste, & make hem alle to accorde too oon purpos. And yf þow take a medecyne do it by þe conseil of many; And haue a trew man þat konnys þe maners of spyces and þaire qualitee. and whenne þou hauys mester, gedir þe by þe consaill of

folio 12b

Cap. 31. Of þe conseyl of Astronomye.

Alexander, kepe þy most noble saule heg, and to angeles pereugale, þat ys geuyn to þe, nogt to be maad vnhonest by þe, but to be enhyed and glorifyed, so þat it be nogt of condicions and maners of foles, but of þe wyse. O kynge debonure, if it mowe be, noþer ryse no syt, ete no drynk, no no-þyng doo withouten þe conseyl of a wys man in þe craft of Astronomy. ffor wete certaynly þat glorious god hauys maad no þynge yn vayn, no ydell yn kyndes. But alle þynges er maad yn certayn enchesoun and resoun, And by þys way vnderstood oure wys doctour Plato þe kyndes of partyes maad to-gedir of dyuers qualytes and colours and complexiouns in engendrure, by þe

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Page 65lyknes of þynges maad to-gedyr, and herby hadde he knowynge of sterrys and þynges formed; and I pray þe gyf no fayt to þe sawys of vnwysmen þat sayen þat men mowe nogt come to science of þe Planetys, ffor þay wat nogt what þay say; ffor noþyng ys hard to þe power of vndirstondyng, ffor all þynges mowe be knowe by þe way of resoun. Þere ben oþer, no lesse þan fols, sayn þat god haues purueyd and ordeyned alle þynges at þe ferste bygynynge, wherfore þay say it profites nogt to knowe þynges to come, sithen þay nedys moste come. And þerfore þay say, what ys þe science of þe sterres worth? þese er, as þe firste er, in gret errour, wharfore y say if all some þinges of force er to come, Noþeles if þay be wyten byfore þay

folio 13a

er moor ligtly suffred, moor wysly passand, and so in manere eschewed; ffor yn als mekyl als þey ar forsey yn oure knowynge, we take hem mor discretly to passe withoutyn heuynesse and most harme. Als by ensample, whanne men trowyn wynter þat it is cold, men ordeyns herbergage and cloþing, and warmstores of cole and woode, and of many oþer þynges; And þerfore whanne þe wynter comes, þay er nogt harmyd of þe cold. And yn somer of þe same maner þurg cold metys and dyuers spyses þay kepe hem fro þe hete of somer; and yn þe same maner, when men knowyn byfore eres of nede and hunger, þurg kepynge and holdynge of whete and of oþer þynges, men suffren þe tyme mor ligtly. Wherfore yt ys mekyl wort to knowe þingys before, ffor men mowe bettyr thole hem, and eschewe hem whenne þey knowe hem to come. Wherfore men ogte wyt byse prayers bysek þe hege destynour, þat he by his mercy torne þe euyls þat er to come, and þat he wille oþerwyse ordeyne, and for þat men awe to praye to goddys pitee in orysouns, deuociouns, prayers, fastynge, seruices, and almesse, and oþer goode dedys, bysekand forgyfnesse of hir trespas, and be rependant of hir synnes, And so þay shal mowe sothly trowe, þat god almygty shal turne fro hem þat þat þey drede.

Of þe partyes of Astronomye departyd in two ^note.38 partyes.

Torne we to þe word bygoon; It ys to wete þat Astronomye ys departyd yn þre partys, þat ys to wete yn ordynance of þe heuens and of þe speres, and þe disposicioun of þe planetes and departynge of signes, and of þair aloigenemen and of þair

Cap. 32. [Of þe profyt to kepe hele.]

Of Medicynes.

folio 13b

Cap. 33. Of þe [composition of man of] ffoure humours.

Þe wyse philosophers accorden yn oon þat man ys mad of dyuers elyment and of ffoure contrarious humours þat euer

folio 14a

Cap. 34. Off kepynge of hele.

folio 14b

Cap. 35. [Of þe tokenys of þe stomak.]

Þes er þe tokenys of a good stomak --ligtnes of body, clernes of vnderstondynge, stirynge appetyt. Of oon euyl stomak and wayk, þes er þe tokenys; heuynesse of body, sleuthe, bolnynge of þe vesage, ofte openynge of þe mout, heuynesse of þe eigen,

folio 15a

Cap. 36. [Of maners to kepe helthe.]

A lernyng to kepe hele.

For þe body of man coruptible ressayues his corupcioun of contrariouste of complexiouns & humours þat er yn him, I am auysed to wryte to þe in þis werk profitable þinges and necessarye, of þe conseils of þe craft of medicyns þat shal suffys to þe, ffor It ys vnhonest þat all maladyes of a kynge be shewyd to a leche; wharfore yf þow wele byhold þys techinge, and after þis precious ordre lyue, þou shalt haue no myster of leche, But it falle yn auentures of batailles, or oþer þynges þat a man mowe nogt eschewe.

Cap. 37. [Of kepynge of helth and maner of lyunge.]

Of contynance after slepe.

Alexander, whenne þou risys fro slepe þou salt goo a lytyl, & euenly streigt out þy membres, and kembe þy heued, ffor fort-strechynge of þe membres makys stalworth þe body, & kembyng of þe heued latys out þe smoke of þe stomake þat comes vp to hit yn tyme of slepyng. In somer, wass þy feet wit cold water, ffor hit restrenys and holdys þe hete yn þe body, and it shal make desire to etynge. After, clet þe yn good cleþynge and ordeyn þe yn good aparayll, ffor þy wyl kyndely shal delyt yn þe byholdynge and ffayrhed þerof, And þe vertu of þy shynynge lyf shal be comfortyd and gladyd þerby. After þou shalt frote þi tet and þy gomes with þe barke of oon hoote tree, and of drye kynde and of bitter sauour, for þat helpys mekyl to clense þe teth, & makys þe mout moyst, and clensys þe tonge, and claryfys þe speche, and sterys desir of etynge. Aftir þat stewe þe with stewynge couenable to þe tyme, for þat mekyl þrofytes. It opyns þe closynges of þe brayn, it makys þe necke grettere & þe armes fattere, þe face and þe sigt clerer, shaarpys þe wittes, and kepys a man þat he hore nogt sone. After

folio 15b

Cap. 38. Of contynance afore mete.

Whenne þou hauys wyl to ete, aftir þe oure of þy costome, vse a lytel trauaill yn ridynge, yn goynge, or som-þinge doynge, ffor þat helpys þe body, it dryues out wyndys, comfortys þe body and makys hit souple; yt kyndels hete of þe stomake, hit constreyns þe ioyntures, and makes þe superfluous humours to melte, and it makys þe fleume to falle yn-to þe stomake, hoote and drye. Many metys be sette afore þe, and after þy desyr ete whilke þe lykes with breed euenly raysed and perfitly thersyd. And take first þo þat þe awe first to take, As if a man ressayue yn oon mete a potage nesshe and laxatyue to þe wombe and anoþer holdand, If þe nesshe be first take, hit shal make more ligt digestioun, And yf þe holdynge be first etyn, and after þe nesshe, bothe shal be wastyd. Also yf a man take many potages nesshe and laxatyfe, yt nedys þat he take first a holdynge mete yn þe ground of þe stomake, þat ys mor stalworthe and more hoot to defye, ffor þat party ys moor fleshly and next to þe lyure, þurg whilk hete þe metys sethyn. And in þy etynge þow shalt reule þy hond, þat ys to say, to leue etynge whenne þy wyl and desir lastys yt to etynge; ffor of superfluyte of mete þe stomak ys maad strayt, þe body ys greued, and þe wyl ys hurt, and þe mete þat dwellys yn þe ground of þe stomak ys heuy & noyous. Also witdrawe þy wyl to drynke watir vpon þy mete,

folio 16a

Cap. 39. [Of manere of slepynge.]

Whanne þou hast wel etyn, goo lye vpon a nesshe bed, and slepe atemprely, and reste an hour vpon þy rigt syde, & after turne þe vpon þy left syde, and fulfylle þy sleepe vpon þat syde; ffor hit ys cold and nedit to be het. And yf þou fele þanne greuance yn þy stomake or in þy wombe, or any heuynesse, þis ys þanne þe medicyne; ley vpon þy wombe an hoot sherte and weyand, or ellys halfe to þe a hoot mayden; if þou fele a bitter balchinge yt is tokenyng of coldnesse of stomak, and þe medicyn ys þys, to drynke cler watir with a sope of vynegre, and spewe, ffor in-prisonynge of corupt mete yn þe wombe ys a greet distruccioun of þe body. And stirynge before þe mete sterith þe hete of þe stomak, but after þe mete þat ys noyous, ffor þe mete falleth doun er it be defyed in-to þe ynnere partyes of þe stomak, And þeroffe growyn wyndes withinne lokyn, costyfnesses and oþer euelys.

Cap. 40. Of slepynge aftyr mete.

And wetith þat slepyng byfore mete makyt a mannys body lene and dryes his moystures, but after mete if fillet him, stryngthes hym, and norschet hym. ffor whanne a man sleepet þe herte restyt; and þanne þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spredfort by al þe body to þe stomak & to þe Innere partyes of þe stomak; þanne ys þe stomak mad stalworthy to defye mete, And þanne kendly vertu & resonable askyt his reste, And þerfore some philosophers seyen þat mete at euen more profytet þan of þe mydday; ffor þe mete

folio 16b

Cap. 41. [Of kepynge of costome.]

Off þe costome of etynge.

Wete þou wel, þat he þat vsys him to ete twyes þe day, and he holde him to oon meel, yn certeyn yt shal harme hym. And also yn þe selue manere to hym þat hauys vsyd to ete but oon meel, and he begynne to ete twyes; ffor he shal wante defyinge of stomak, and so his mete dwellys nougt defyed. And he þat has vsyd to ete at oon certayn hour, and tarys his etynge to oon oþer hour, he shal take þat profytes nogt to his kynde, and mekyll greuys his kynde, ffor costome ys þe oþer kynde. And þerfore if any nede make þe chaunge þy costom, do hit discretly and wisly, þat it be lityl and litil, oon tyme chaungyd after anoþer, And so it shal be wel þourg þe helpe of god.

Cap. 42. To eschewe Engrutynge.

Kepe þe wel þat þou ete nogt anoþer tyme, vnto þou vnderstonde certanly þy stomak voyde, þat ys to wete, þat it be clensyd of þe ferste etynge, and þat shalt þow knowe by appetyt of etynge and by þy spatill rennand to þy mout; ffor he þat takys mete wyt oute myster, he shal fynde hys kyndly hete right cold and engelyd, And whenne he takys his mete yn þe tyme of aptyd, he shal fynde his kyndly hete hoot as fyr. And whenne þou hauys apetyd of etynge, ete þou sone; ffor but þou þanne ete soone, þy stomak shal fille hym wit euyl humours þat he drawys to hym of superfluytes of þy body, and þat shall trobbyl þy brayn with euyll fumosyte, so þat after whanne þou shalt ete, þy stomak ys but leukwarme, and þy mete shal be lytel of profyt.

folio 17a

Cap. 43. [Of Veir.]

Off þe ffoure seysouns of þe ere.

Purpos ys in þis stede shortly determyn þe ffoure seysouns of þe eer, and of þe qualyte & quantyte, and of þe properte of ilk oon seysoun, and of þaire variance. ffour tymes er of þe eer, þat þus er departyd. Veir bigynnes whenne þe sonne entres yn to þe toknynge of þe sheepe, and it lastys xxiiij & ix dayes, xxiij houres & þe ferthe part of oon hour, þat ys fro þe xe day of Marc out passand to þe xxiiije day of Iuyn. In þis tyme þe day and þe nygt ys of oon leng, þe body of man waxis hard, þe eyr waxys feyr, þe wyndes blowyn, þe snow resoluys, waters

Cap. 44. Off Somer.

folio 17b

Cap. 45. Off Heruest.

Heruest bygynnes whenne þe sonne entrys þe firste degree of þe tokenynge of weighes, and it lastys lxxxviij dayes and houres xxijty, & thre xv of oon hour, þat ys fro þe xxiiijty day of septembre to þe xxiij day of Nouembre. In þis tyme ys also þe day and þe nygt euyne, and yn þis tyme þe nygt bygynnes to grewe and waxe lenger, and takys of þe day; þe heyr coldeth, þe wyndes blawen out of þe nort, þe tymes er chaunged; fflodes decresys, fflodys waxen lytel, alle gren thynges faillen, ffrutys sesyn, and þe erthe losys his beaute; Bryddes drawan toward hote kyngdomes, and alle Bestes drawyn to her resset, and neddrys to her holys; þe Ampte getys liflode for wynter; þanne þe world ys lyk to a woman of full elde, nedand cloþing. Heruest ys cold and drye, yn whilk rysys þe blak colere; and it nedys þat

folio 18a

Cap 46. Of Wynter.

W[ynter bygynnes when þe sonne entres þe first de-gree of Archer, & it lastes lxxix days & xxiijte houres. þat [is, fro þe xxiijte day of Nouembre, to þe xxjte day of Marc.] In [þat tyme þe nyght lenghthys, þe days shorten, Coldenes waxes] g[ret, þe wyndes waxen scharp, þe leues of þe trees dryen & dyen: And for þe more party all þat was gren dyen & hardene as ston. þe gretter party of Bestes for mykyl cold & moistnes [flee] to þe wombe of þe erth / and to holes of hylles; & [for] coldnes & water þe heyr waxes dyrke, & þe tymes blake. Bestes trembles, þe vertu of þe bodys waxis feble, and þe world is as oon olde wyfe, a-cremet for eld, nakyd of cloþinge, neghand to þe deth. Wyntyr is cold & moist, in þe whylk it nedes man lyuyng to be bowit, þat is to wyt, to torne aeyn to hote meites, & to hote maters, as puletys, & motoun, & fruturs, & rostyd mallerdes, &

folio 18b

Alexander, þis precious diet þat I haue t]agt þe, kepe [it wele vp-on all þinges, with kyndely hete,] ffor als [long as atempre hete dwell in a man, hele las]tys, & long [tyme is kepyd. ffor in two maners a man waxes olde] & faylys: [þe first kyndely, þat oone due maner destrues & ouercomes k]ynde [of body with elde, & þe oþer is accident, þat comes of sekene]sse [& oþer euyl enchesouns.

Cap. 47. [Thynges that fattith & moistes the body.]

To Preserve Health.

THes fattyth & moistes þe body, Rist, sture, ettyng of swete meites, & dryngkyng of swete mylke, & hote wynes & mad swete, & slepyng aftyr eityng vpon soft beddes & wele sauorand, in steydes & tymes couenable, & to entyr in-to Bathes of Swet watyr, & lytill dwellyng þar-in; ffor long dwellyng in Bathes makys þe body feble, And in þe Bathes be sothen herbes wele sauorand, or oþer þinges of good sauor, after þe tyme: In wynter, alcitimum, or alloigne, þat is þe spyce of oon manere of floure of hote kynd: In somer, Rosys, violet, & what so is cold. kastyng be vsyd in ilke moneth oonys at þe lest, & most in somer: ffor out-kastyng wasshis þe body, & clensis þe stomake of roten & euyl humours, and if few humours ben in þe stomake it shall be comfortyd & fulfyllid of moisture & grece. And it is mykyl bettyr if a man haue with disposicion ioy, gladnes,

folio 19a

Cap. 48. Thynges þat ffeblys and dryes þe Body.

In þe contrarye manere, þes þynges dryes and feblys þe body; to ete litell and drynke mekyll; To trauaill besily, and stond yn þe sonne; to goo ouer mesure, to slepe byfore mete vpon a hard bed; to þynk mekyl, and to drede, and to entir yn bathis of vnclene water, and to drynke mekyl old wyn, and to ete salt metys; mekyll out-passynge out of þe wombe; to lete blood and passe mesure þerof; to haue euyl and drery þougtes.

Cap. 49. The Reule off Ypocraas.

Who-so engrutyd of mete, or costyf of body, entrys Bathes, may sone renne yn euyl of fflank, and of his entrailles. Who-so, his wombe full, knowys a woman, ligtly he rynnys yn-to perlesy. And also it noyeth mekyl, to renne after mete, or ryde mekyll. Who-so etys mekyl togeder mylk and fflesc, þay rynne yn lepre; Wyn & mylk on þe same manere wirketh.

Cap. 50. [Of þe euyle of þe heued and þe remedy.]

Off foure partyes of þe Body.

Mannys body ys departyd in ffoure partyes; þe firste partye ys þe heued. And whenne superfluyte ouer mekyll surhabundys to þe heued, þou shalt persayue it by þese tokyns, þat ys to wete, derknesse of þe eyghen, heuynesse of þe browys, greet sterynge of þe temples of þe heued, dynnynge of þe eres, stoppynge of þe nosestrylles. Whenne any felys yn him þes þinges com, tak effoentim, þat ys Eufrasy, with þe rotys of Pulegye, þat ys pulyol, and sethe hem yn swete wyn, to þe half wastyd, and hold ilke morwe of þis licour yn þy mouth, tyl þou fynde hele; And vse in his metys, mostard seed sothen, þe weight of a peny, with þe poudre dictamm, maad of twelf oynement, & þat at his slepynge. And yf he leue & dispyse þis, he mowe drede perilous syknesse, þat

folio 19b

Cap. 51. Off þe Brest.

Brest ys þe secunde partye; if superfluyte be gedryd ^note.40 þereyn, þes tokyns folwyn; þe tonge ys maad heuy, þe mout salt, and he felys his mete bitter in his brest, and werkyng of þe koge; þerfore hym byhoues ete lesse, and vse kastynge, and after þe kastynge to take ugere roset, and chewe of þe tree of Aloes, or som oþer perfyt aromatyke, after þe takyng of þe sugre Roset, with water of rosys, or perfyt wyn, or with a syrupe confortyf, and after ete with appetit; And after þe etynge take þe gretnesse of oon .. of electuarye Anisoun, þat ys maad of þe tree of Aloes, and Tansey. And he þat doth nogt þys, ligtly may renne yn Werkynge of his sydes, and Reynes, and many oþer euelys.

Cap. 52. Off þe Ballokys.

The ballockys er þe fferthe party of a manys body. Whenne superfluytes waxen in hem, þes tokenynges sewen; þe appetyt of etynge waxes feble, wit oþer eueles; he þat felys þat hauys mester to take þe herbe þat ys clepyd Ache, and Aueng, þat y vnderstonde Auence, and of þaire Rotys, and put þe herbys and þe Rotys yn whit wyn of good odour, and tak ilke morwe þerof, so þat yt be tempryd with water and hony, and withdrawe hym fro mekyll etynge. He þat leuys þys medicyn may drede werkynge of his genital and of þe longys, and of peryl of þe stoon.

Cap. 53. Opynyouns of dyuers ffesisyens.

Men redyn yn olde storys þat a kynge [gathered together] alle þe beste leches of Inde, and of Mede, and of Grece, And he enioyned hem to make a medicyn, þat yf a man vsyd hit, he sholde fele hit so profitable to nede noon oþer. And oon old Gregeys of hem shewyd and sayde, þat a mout-full of hoot water, ilk morwe twyes ressayued, sholde make a man so hool þat he ne sholde haue no mester to non oþer medicyne. Onoþer of Mede affermyd mekyl profyt to vse greynes melyens fastyng, þat er Gromell sedes; And y

folio 20a

Cap. 54. [Of þe kepyng of kyndly hete.]

Souerayn kyng, study in alle þe maners to kepe and witholde kyndly hete; ffor whenne hete and moysture ys attempre yn man, kyndly hete ys attempre and maade stalworthe, ffor hele stondys yn þes two þynges. It ys to wete yn þis place, þat corupcioun and distruccioun of body commyth yn two þinges; On ys kyndly, þe oþer ys aeyn kynde. Þe kyndly comyt of repugnance of contrarious qualyte and contradiccioun, þat ys to wete, whenne drynesse haues lordschipe of þe body; corupcioun aeyn kynde commys of chaunce, as of bataille, or of hurtynge to a stoon, or any oþer auenterous caas, or of seeknesse, or of euyl conseyll.

Cap. 55. Off knowynge off Metys.

Of metys some er sotyl, some greet, and some menee; some sotyl metys engendre sotyl blood cleer and good, as whete, chykenes wel fed, and eyren. Greet metys er good to stalwort men and hoote, and trauelynge men in fastynge, and to men þat vse to slepe after mete. Meene metys engendrys nogt bolnynges ne superfluytes, as lombe ffless, motoun and Capouns, and alle fflescys þat er hote and moyst. But it fayls in þes flesces, whenne þey er rostyd, ffor þerby þay bycomes hard, hoot, and drye; But whenne swylk fleschis ar rostyd, be þay sone etyn wit softe spyces, and þanne er þey profitable. Som flesc engendres malancoly, as boef, kyen, and greet fleschs drye and sharpe; but some of hem hauyn softe fflesc, þat er

folio 20b

Cap. 56. Of fisshes.

In þe selue manere, It ys to wete of ffisshes of lytyll substance, of thyn skyn, and of ligt chewyng, of waters þat ebbyn and flowyn, as yn Ryuers, þay er moor ligt and beter þan þay of þe see or of oþer swete waters. But eschewe fisces þat ben of greet quantyte, for þay er wont to be venemous, þo of hard skynes. Þys sayinge suffyse þe of ffysses, ffor yn þe book

Cap. 57. Off knowynge of Waters.

Hit ys to wete þat watirs ben profytable as wel to bestys as to man; And þenk how y taughte þe suffyciently of waters, And y shewe yt þe, þat alle watrys, as wel swete as bytter, drawyn þer first beynge of þe see; And þerof y maade þe oon opyn shewynge. Now it ys to wete þat most ligt and most heelfull watrys er þo þat er rynnand watres neg Citee, whenn þe erthe ys clene with-oute roche, and with-oute reke, þe water of þat stede ys ligt, ful good, and to be praysed; And waters þat spryngyn yn stony lond, and ys reky Abundandly, er heuy & noyant, yn þe whilk er frosshyn, and serpentys, and oþer venym, And þay ar vnhelfull, as þes stondyng waters; þe toknyng of goode waters er ligtnes, clernes, good colour, and good sauour, and whenne þay will sone be hoot and sone cold: And yn swyc water kynde hath delyt. And yn þe contrary manere, salt water, and bitter, and rekand, ar euyl, ffor þay drye þe wombe and corumpys it; hoote waters er heuy, ffor þay stonde and may nogt stire, And þarfore þe sonne dwellys long yn hem, And þerfore þay engendre þe blake colere, and þey make [þe] splen to waxe and þe longys. Waters þat of betyn to two londys er hote and vnhelfull, ffor þey holde yn hem partys of þe ert. Drynkyng of cold water fastynge, byfore mete, ys noyant þe body, & slekyns þe kendly hete of þe stomake, And drynkyng þerof after mete, makys hoot þe body, and engendres fleume; And yf mekyll be dronkyn, it corumpys þe mete yn þe stomak. But noþeles þe awe drynke cold

folio 21a

Cap. 58. Off kynde of wyns.

Hit ys to wete of kynde of wynes, þat þat wyn whos grape growys in hellys aeyn þe sonne, ys of moor drye kynde þan þat growys in playn and moyst valeyes, and stedys shadwyd; þe firste wyns er gode to olde men and to hem þat abounden in

folio 21b

Cap. 59. [Of þe euelys þat folwyn to mekyll of wyn.]

But of wyn þat ys takyn abundanly in greet quantyte, þes euelys folwyn: þe wytte waxis derk, it lettys þe vnderstondynge, it troblys þe brayn, and it makys wayk þe vertu of þe sawle, and kyndly vertu; it engendrys forgetynge, hit hurtys alle þe fyue wyttes þat sholde gouerne and dispose alle þe wyrkynges of þe body; it away-chasys appetyt, it makys feble alle þe Ioyntures of þe body, it engendrys bolnynge of membrys and blerynge of eyen, it kyndels þe colere, it destruys þe lyure, ffor it engrosys his blood, and it makys þe herte-blood blake. And þerof comys bolnynge, tremblyng, drede, hydousnesse, ouermekyll slepynge, sygtys of ffantasyes yn þe sleepe, corupcioun

Cap. 60. [Of venegre, and þe beste medicyn for dronkenesse.]

Alexander, no tyme be it noyous to þe, at morwyn fastyng, to take a soupyng of venegre, but nogt yn Iuyn, whenne humours surhabunden, and þe fleueme hauys lordschipe, for it ys helfull. And with þat, ypocras þe wyse commendyd merueillously good wyn, and sayd: "It ys meruail of a man how he may be syke or dye, whos mete ys

folio 22a

Cap. 61. Thynges þat strynghtes and makys fat þe body.

It ys to wete þat some þing stryngys and fattys þe body, some makys it megre and feble; some moystes, and some dryes þe body; and some þat geuys stryngthe and fayrheed, and some þat engendryn sleuthe and lachesse. Þay þat geuyn strynghe ar ligt metys and softe, and accordand to þe kynde, whenne þay er at couenable tyme and at mestir takyn, as it ys forsayd; þese fattys and moystes, Rest of body, gladnesse of wyl, lykynge companye, hote metys and moyste, drynkes of swete wyn, and ressayt of hony moyst, þat ys gadryd and norsshyd in Caulegedel; And no þinge ys so mekil wort þerto, as to slepe on softe beddys after mete yn cold.

Cap. 63. [Of ordinance of stuynge.]

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folio 23a

Cap. 64. [Teching to lyf hool with-oute leche.]

O Alexander, whenne þou hauys vnderstond þe teching þat y haue geuyn to þe, & in werke it fulfilled, It shall make þe lyf hool al þy lyfe with-oute leche, by þe helpe of god. It ys to wete þat greuous syknesse þat commen of hete or of peryodis, and of þe cours of þe mone, er kennyd whether þey be sshort or long, or ellys by þe tokenynges afore-goone, a man mowe knowe to what ende þay shal come; And y haue trewly leryd þe, and shortly shewyd þe, diuysyouns and þe knowynges of syknesse, Also yn watir ys a proued tokenyng in swylk þinges. But þe tokenynge byfore er moer profytable, mor sotfull and bettyr, Als y haue determynd to þe yn þe book of waters; And þes tokenynges er suffysant to hym þat holdys wel yn mynde þe techinge of þis book, And also as it ys continuyd [in the boke] þat y made of maad medicyns, and of wrogt waters, and oynement confit, and Emplastres, aftyr þe ordre and þe craft of gregeys, of yndoys, & of hem of Perse, en whom none esperience

folio 23b

Cap. 65. [Of þe greete medicyne.]

I neuere persayued, no y neuer sotly knewe who fonde it, But some sayn þat Adam was fyndere þeroffe, And some sayen þat Esculapydes, and leche Hermogenes, and Hirsos, & Sonasties, & Vatileos, and ebreos, & Diorys, and Taranour, glorious Philosophers þat er egte, to whom ys geuyn þe knowynge of secrete of science, þat were hyd to alle men. Thes er tho þat out sogt, an[d] disputyd of þinges þat er ouer kynde, of full, of voyde, of endyd, of vnendyd, and accordandly, & assemblyd to-gedir yn þe confeccioun of þis medicyn, þat may nogt be hopyd, and þay departyd it yn egt partyes. Noþeles, some affermyn þat ennoc knew þys secret by a uisioun, And þay will say, þat þis Ennoc was þe greet hermogenes, þat þe Gregeys praysen so mekyll, and louen, And þay gyf hym þe prys of alle science, secre and heuenly.

Cap. 66. [Of makynge of hony to medecyns.]

Off þe Receytes off Medicynes.

Wyt þe benisoun of god, take þe iowse of þe poume-garnet swete, xxv Rotes, and of þe Iowse of swet appelys, x Rotes, And of þe Iowse of clere Albamet, x Rotes, And all þese þynges be puttyd yn a vessell, so þat it be to þe half, and with discrecioun, of a softe fir witoute any reke, be þay sothen; All þe scome put away, to it be þicke becomen, And þis ys þe precious hony wherof Medicynes er maad, And þou shalt vse hit as it byfore ys sayd.

Cap. 67. [Of þe ffirste medecyne.]

folio 24a

Cap. 68. [Of þe secounde medecyne.]

Take of Merabole, galengan, Cabeli, þe bark put away, a Rote, of þe Meoule Carroble de babilone, þe ferthe part of a Rote, & of goode lycoryse wit-outen þe barke of alowe colour, Two vnces, and of greynes Meures, virocis sayd, yn her tyme, two vnces, And alle þes þinges be wel stampyd or brysyd, and put yn x Rotes of swete water, a day and a nygt, and sethe hem softly to þe half, and after lat þe sethinge be steryd and strenyd to it bycome cleer; And þanne put þar-yn after of þe firste hony two Rotes, & lat it eft sethe to yt bycome þykke, And after put yn of poudre of Mastyk, oon vnce, And of reubarbe, þe ferthe part of a vnce, And þis ys þe seconde medicyn; and his properte ys, to make stalworthe þe stomak, & destreyne & purge þe euyl and rotyn humours þat er in þe stomak wit outen abhominacioun or violence, And with outen any hurtyng; And ouer þat, it comfortys þe brest, þe hernys, and al þe body.

Cap. 69. [Of þe þridde medecyne.]

Tak of Emlege, Rote & half, & delilege of Inde, half a Rote,

folio 24b

Cap. 76. Off takynge of Medicynes of Bloodlate.

Alexander, kepe þe þat þou take no medicyn, no opyn no veyn, but of licence of þe science of Astronomy, ffor þe profyt of

Cap. 77. [Off takynge of medicyn laxatyue.]

Whenne þou wille take a medicyn laxatyue

folio 25a

Cap. 78. [Of doctryne of tokenynges.]

And whenne þou wyl gyf medicyn, wete þou yn what tokenynge þe sonne ys, and þat may þou kenne by þe monet þat ys present, if þou besily beholde þe tokenynges put yn þe present spere and writen; ffor if it be yn tokenynge coleryk, It byhouys þanne to make more scharpe þe medicyn; And yn þe tokenynge malencolien mekyll more. If it be yn tokenynge ffleumetyke, a lityll after þe qualyte & resoun of þe tokenynge: whenne þe sonne ys colurge O kynde of þe wombe ys costyf or laxatyue; Ouer þat it ys besily to loke whether þe mone be in tokenynge coleryke,

Cap. 79. Off propertes of herbes and stones.

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Cap. 80. [Of þe stoon, þe Eye of Philosophers.]

O Alexander, now at þe bygynnynge I wille delyure to þe, most greet secreet of secreet, & þe mygt of god helpe þe to fulfyll þe purpos, & to layne þe secreet. Tak þanne þe stoon hauynge soule, thriuynge, and fallynge to myn, that ys nogt a stoon, ne haues nogt kynde of stoon, But it ys lyk in manere to stoones of mynyd hilles, and of planet, and of þinges hauynge

folio 26a

Cap. 81. Off þe Oppynyoun of Hermogenes.

Oure ffader Hermogenes, þat ys full fayr in Philosophie and wel faire Philosophiant, says, "Sotfastnesse hauys him so, þat it ys no doute þat þinges by-neg answeres to þinges abown, And þinges abown to þinges bynet. And þe werkere of meruaylles ys oon god, ffro whem ilke merueylouse werk descendys, And so alle þinges er maad of oon all-oon substance, of oon all-oon ordinance, whos ffadyr ys þe sonne, and þe mone þe modyr, þat baar hym yn þe wombe consayued by þe Ere, þat ys þe pryue erthe. Of þys ys þe fader of enchantement, þe tresour of myracles, þe geuer of vertu. Of fire ys maad þe erthe, of suaille erthly þinge, ffor delye þinge ys more wort þan greet, and þynne more wort þan þycke, and þat done wysly and discretly, ffor it assendys vp fro þe erte to þe heuen, and it fallys doun fro þe heuen into þe erthe, and þare it slas þe souerayn vertu, and foreyn. So þanne ys lordschipe in fforeynte & soueraynte, and so shal þou be lord heye and lawe, ffor wit ow ys

folio 26b

Cap. 82. [Off þe vertu of precious stoones.]

And [this stoon ys ^note.43 ] of þe merueilles of þe werld þat with waters and wyndes fightes; ffor þou see [it] vprys vpon waterys whenne þay rynne with þe wyndes, and it bygynnys yn þe see sayd mediterreyne, whos properte ys þys: --If þou take þis stoon and put it yn oon oþer stoon, and bere it with þe, it may nogt be þat any hoste mowe laste aeyn þe, or aeynstande þe, but it shall faill fallynge byfore þe. And þar er two precious stoones of merueillous vertu þat er founden yn derk stedes, yn oon ys whit, þe oþer Reed, þat men fynden yn rynnand waters, of whom þe wyrkynges er swylk; þe whyt bygynnes to appere at þe settynge of þe sonne abown þe waters, and it dwellys on hem to mydnygt, and þanne it bygynnys to falle donward, And at þe risyng of þe sonne he comys to þe ground. Þe rede wirkes all þe contrary, ffor at þe sonne risynge he bygynnes to shewe hym to þe hour of mydday, and þanne he ys fallynge to þe doungate of þe sonne. And þe propertes of þes stoones er þes: If þou hynge of þe rede þe wegt of a moote vpon a hors of þin host, alle þe hors of þyn ost shal nogt cesse to henny to þou doo awey þe stoon. And þe white werkys al þe contrary, ffor a hors shal neuer henny whore he dwellys. And þer stones er mekyll wort in vsynge of wachis, and to þe vse of ostys; And also þes ar þer properte; If two men stryuen togedir, put þe whit stoon yn oon of here mouthes, or of þe toþer, and if rigt falle to him he shall sone speke, if he haue nogt þe rigt he shall be doume, to whilys þe stoon ys yn his mouth. And þe rede stoon wirkys all þe contrary. Now y shal determyn þe properte and vertu of stoones in eschauntement, and oþer þinges y shal after trete.

Cap. 83. [Off þinges vegetable.]

[O Alexander] ffor þou hauys knowynge full by myn oþer tretys afore, where y haue tretyd þe of þe kyndes and secret of creatures, þat ys of degree and ordinance of þe planetys, and after þe degrees and ordynaunce of

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Cap. 84. [Of þe trees þat hauyn kyndly vertu.]

Þat portable kynde, þat engendrys reuerence and honour, ys a tree whos leuys er lappyd to-gedir, his shape ys round, and his fruytes round, also his branches er moyst & [his odour most sweet]. he þanne, þat yn his name racys hit, and berys it with hym clanly, he shal purchace reuerence and honour. Þare ys another tree, þat bers longe leuys and moyst, þat hauyn whit lynys yn hem; he þat bers of þe substance of þat tree shal be enheyed. Also þare ys a tree þat hauys leuys

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Book III.

Cap. 85. Off Rigt.

Rigt ys a louable praysynge of propertes of þe heye simple glorious, wharefore swilk oon shulde reygne þat god hauys chosyn and stabyld on his seruant, to whom þe nedes and gouernance vpon subgit fallys to, þat awe to purueye and defende þaire poscessiouns, richesse, and blood, and alle þaire wirkynges als þaire god, ffor yn þat he ys lyk to god; And forþy it byhoues resemble and folwe þe heigenesse yn all his werkys. God ys wys and conynge, his louynges and his name er glorious yn hym, And þe gretnesse of his lordschipe ys gretter þanne alle tongys suffissent to determyn; þanne it ys to wete þat contrary of his rigt ys vnrigt; In rigt dwellys þe heuens, and er stablyd abouen þe erthe; In rygt was þe holy prophetys sent fort; Rigt ys þe shappe of vnderstondynge þat þe heye god makyd, and þare by ^note.44 alle creatures hauys dwellynge; ffor by

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Cap. 86. [Off þe makyng of þinges in order.]

And wete þat it ys þe firste þinge þat þe glorious hyest maade, a simple substance spirytuell yn þe ende of perfeccioun, yn spedynge of goodnesse, yn þe whilk þinge, vndirstandynge vpon all þinges ys first namyd, And after of þat substance [came another], lesse yn his degree, þat ys clepyd þe sawle; And of þe saule commys anoþer substance, þat ys clepyd þe yle, before þe mesurynge, þat ys vndirstondyd, in lenge, in brede,

folio 30a

Cap. 87. [Off þe steryng of heuens.]

And þer ar nyne heuens, oon in erthe, þe oþer amonge hem seluyn, ilk oon amonge oþer; þe firste & þe souerayne of þe speres, is þe spere couerant, and þanne with-ynne þat þe spere of þe sterrys; after þat þe spere of Saturne, and so to þe spere of þe mone, vnder whom ys þe spere of þe elemen, þat er fyre, Eyre, water, and erthe. Þe Erthe þanne ys yn þe myddyl stede of &;e oþer element, and it ys most thyk substance, a hool body & most thyk yn beynge; and þes speres wer ordeyned, some yn oþer and oþer yn hem self, as it ys sayd, after þe wit & þe ordynance of god symple, most glorious; yn ordinance of meruaill, and of ffayrheede ahournyd; And þes speres er steryd by sercles in þaire partys, And þe planetys, vpon þe ffoure element aftyr þaire body, nygt and day, wynter & somer, hoot and cold; & oon er mellyd in oþer, And þe thyne tempred togedir with þe thykke, and heuy wit ligt & hoote wit cold, and moyst with drye; And þanne of hem ys maad by lengthe of tyme all maner of kynde of composisiouns þat originals, minerals, vegitables, & bestyals. And originals er what þyng ys engelyd yn þe entrailles of þe erthe, and yn þe depnesse of þe sees, & in Cauees of hilles, & in ^note.48 fumosite stoppyd & [from vapours] vpsteyinge, and moystures engelyd, and in concauacion of Cauernes, In whom ertly Eyre hauys most lordschipe, as gold, syluer, Bras, Iryn, leed, and tynne; and stones, Margarites, Corale, Tuty, and alany, and swylk lyk, to hem þat er seene and knowyn, hauynge sawle. And all þys manere of engendrynge stirres hem, and felys, and passys fro stede to stede by hem seluyn, as þe strengthe of þe Eyre hauys yn hem more

folio 30b

Cap. 88. Knowynge of Sawle.

Now þe nedys if þow be knowynge vpon sciences and soth-fastnes of þinges þat er & be dwellynge, þat first þou begynne at þe knawynge of þyn owen sawle, þat is nest to þe and after to haue þe science of oþer þinges. Wete þanne, þat vche sawle is a spirituell stryngte, growynge of vnderstondyng at godys wylle, and it hauys two stryngthes rennynge to-gedre yn þe body, rigt as þe ligt of þe sonne yn þe partyes of þe Eyre; oon of þe stryngthes is a tokenynge, þe oþer ys wirkand, þat glorious god hauys inlightyd of vij strenges; of stryngthe attractyue, and retractyf, of stryngthe degestyf, and purgatyf, of strengthe nutrityf, and infirmatyf, and sustantyf. Þe wirkynge of þis last, (þat þe Auctour clepys vegetatyf, & I here strengt sustantyf),yn composicion of Mannys body, ys yn þe receyte of þe seed in þe mari, And it lastys in his ordenyng seuen Monthys, and after þat tyme fortward it ys mesurid of þe hyest glorious souerayn, & so spedde, þat god þanne puttys þerynne a leuyng saule & feling, fro þat stede to hys outpassynge to hys dwellyng place, and he folwys a gouernance to ffoure eer fulfillyd. And after he geuys hym to resonable vertu, þat þe name sencibilite ledys him to, And þanne he ressayues anoþer gouernance to xv eer fulfillyd, and þanne he ressayues a stryngthe of vndirstandynge þat ys renuciatyf of ffygures and semblance, & of temptacions sensibles, to þe fulfyllynge of xiiij er, And þanne comes to him a streng shewable, or Philosophable, þat byholdys shappys vndirstandable, & þanne he getys anoþer gouernance to þe fulfilynge of xxx eer, And þanne fallys to hym a reale willy vertu, and he ressayues anoþer gouernance to fulfillenn xl eer, and þanne comes to him a lele sett vertu of originals, wharof he ressayues anoter gouernance ll þe tyme

folio 31a

Book IV.

Cap. 89. [Off þe makyng of man.]

Whenne god þe hieste made man, & made hym most noble of alle creatures, he comanded him, and defendyd hym, wherof he hauys failyng & mede, he hauys stabyld his body rigt as a Citee, and he hauys put vnderstondyng yn hym, as a kyng sette yn þe moste noble and most souerayn stede of man, þat ys yn þe heued. And ouer þat he hauys sette v. portours to gouerne it, and to presente to him what þing ys myster to him, & whareby he mowe helpe hym, & to kepe him fro what þing may be noyous to him. And he hauys no perfeccion ne dwellynge but by hem; And he hauys stabyld to vche of þe v. portours, his wyt as his awen arbytour or Iuge, in whom he hauys auatage, and is disseuyrd fro oþer faytours, and hauys his owen propre maners, & some common to oþer. And of þe gederynge & accordance of þe Iugement, er þe substance and þe perfeccion of his werkys Engendryd.

Cap. 90. Off þe V wyttes. [Of sight.]

Þes v. pertours byfore-sayd er þe v. wyttes, þat dwellys yn þe eighen, yn þe eryn, yn þe nese, yn þe tonge, and yn þe hondes. þer ar x maners of þe wyt of þe eighen, ablenesse of sigt; ligt, and derknesse, colour, and body, lyknesse, setynge, remuynge, & negcomyng, sterynge, & rest.

Cap. 91. [Off harkenyng.]

Þe sensibilite of þe Eres er harkenyng of souns, and þerof er two maners, of sawle, and nogt of sawle; soun of sawle ys double, oon resonable, fallyng to man spekyng, anoþer vnresonab as hyneyinge of hors, chaterynge of bryddes, and swylk lyk souns. Soun nogt of sawle ys a rappyngge togedre of stones, hewynge of wode, and swylk lyk, þat hauen no lyf, as of þe thoner, of tympans, and oþer Instrument; and wote þat vche voys yn his ordre ys al hool whenne it ys stiryd yn þe Eyre þat berys it, & þat self noble spiritalte stirrys þerwit, so þat part mellys nogt with part, to at þe laste come to wyt and herynge, þanne er þey brougt to-geder to a vertu ymagynary.

Cap. 92. [Off tastynge.]

folio 31b

Cap. 93. [Off touch.]

Þe wyttys þat er þe hondes ys in atouchable & tastable stryng, and his cours ys yn hete, yn cold, and in sharpe þing, and softe; And it ys content but bytwen two skynnes, þe oon yn shewyng of þe body, þe oþer yn þat, þat it kepys to þe flesc.

Cap. 94. Off werkyng of wyttes.]

Þanne whenne any of þes wittes er getyn þat god geuys; of þe rote of þe harne, þare growyn ligt thynne skynnes as arayne webbys, & þey ar as a couerynge & a curtyn to þe gouernour. And whenne þat vche a wyt hauys in hym his represent, & commys to þo skynnes þat er yn þat substance of þe harnes, þanne gedirs togeder þe folwynges of þe sensibilite of man to a vertu ymaginatyf, þat representys hem to vertu pensyfe, þat ys yn myddes of þe harnes to byholde hem, And þanne it gedyrs hem to-gedre, & stodys yn þaire ffygures & ensamples, and knowit what þing in hem er helpynge, and what þinge noyand, & what comys in wirkynge after þe mesurynge of hem.

Cap. 95. [Off perfeccioun of ffyue wyttes.]

Þanne þe stabylnesse and þe fullastyng of þe body dwellys yn þe v. wyttes afore-sayd: and þe perfeccioun of all þinges ar yn ffyue þinges: þe speres by whom þe planetys sterys hem after her sercles er fyue; And maners of Bestes er fyue, þat ys to wete, man, and volatille, ffyss of þe water, þat gooþ on ffoure feet, & þat stirrys vpon wombe; And ffyue þinges er, wit-outen whomm no plauntyd þinge þat growiþ on þe erthe is perfyt, And er þes fyue, stoke, braunches, leuys, fruytes, and rotys; And fyue tones er of Musyke, and if þei ne were, no songe were accordant or perfyt. And ffyue dayes er most noble of all of þe eer, In þe laste ate of May.

Cap. 96. [Off conseillers.]

Be þanne þy porters and þy conseillers ffyue, yn þe doynge of all þi werkys, and vche of hem be seueryd by hym-self. Witholde þanne þi conseill and bigyn nog to say to þy conseillers þat þat þou hauys in herte, and say nogt to hem ^note.49

folio 32a

Cap. 97. [Off byholding engenderures.]

Also, and it is to byholde, in some engenderures & lyu, ffor ofte-sithes he, þat ys engendryd, ys disposed or ordeyned after þe kynde of planetys þat er yn his engendrure, And yf it fall by auenture, þat þe engenderours of þe engendre lere hym any craft, þe kynde of þe þinges abown shall drawe hym soueraynly to þe craft þat accordes to hem; ffor so it a byfell a semblable þinge to some þat assemblyd yn a toune, & herberd hem yn a webbe hous, to whom þat nygt a child was born, And vpon his engendrure þey took and ordeyned his planetys, and þey fand him engendryd yn þe planetys of Venus & Mars, yn þe degre of Gemeals wit Balance, and he hadde no sterre vpsprongyn þat was euyl no contrary; so his engendrure shewyd hem

folio 32b

Cap. 98. [To dyspys noght lytyll stature.]

And þarefore dyspys nogt lytyll stature of men whom þou sees loue sciences, and er habundant yn wayes of wyt, & thewes, and eschewes þe fylt of vyces. Loue swylk, and holde hem neg to þe, whenne þou persayues hem coragous yn swylk vertus, ffor swylk er customyd to be wel spekyng, wel tagt, curteys, and good storyers, knowyng of þy predycessours. Sette none byfore no byhynde anoþer wit-outen conseyll, But drawe þe company of hym to þe, þat louys treute, & þat þat fallys to a real magestee, þat er fast of wyl, stabyld of herte, trewe to þe, and rigtwys to þy subgit; ffor wete þou, þat þys conseill adressys þy vpberers, and ordeynes þy kyngdom, and þey þat er contrary to þys, put hem away. Put nogt byfore þat sholde be byhynde, ne behynde þat sholde be byfore, ne do no þinge withoute þe conseyll of Philosophye, ffor ffylosophers sayen þat conseill is sigt ^note.51 of þinges þat er to come.

Cap. 99. [How þe kyng awe to ask conseyll.]

folio 33a

Cap. 100. [Off putting vpberers in þe kyngs stede.]

And þat þe abundance of þy wyt, in þy hopynge, no þe hynesse of þy state disturbe þe nogt in þy self, But all dayes putte oþer conseill to þyn, ffor some oþer conseill ys profitable, & embrace it yf þe lyke it, and þyn awen conseill dwelle ay to þy self. And if it disacorde to þy demynge, þanne it ys to þe to loke whether it be helpand and profytable, and after þy deuys enbrace it, & if it be nogt profytable, leue it vterly. Besily and vnderstandandly y amonest þe, and gyues þe good conseill, þat þou putte nougt any of þyne vpberers gouernour yn þi stede, ffor þanne mygt his conseill destrue & putte to meschef þy kyngdom, & bot heg and lawg, & to gyf entent to his awen profyt, and to study on þy vndoynge. If þou fynde nogt ffyue vpberers þat be lykynge to þe yn þe manere afore-sayd, Puruey þe of thre worthy and no lesse, ffor greet good shal come þareof, þat ys to say of tho thre, ffor yf mor certeyn þing nowere it sholde nogt be knowyn.

folio 33b

Cap. 101. ^note.52 Off Prudence to assaye a Conseller.

Oon þinge ys wherby þou mowe assay þy conseiller; If þou shewe þat þou hauys defaute of hauynge, And if he conseille þe to lytelynge of þi þinges þat þou hauys in tresour, & he say þat þat nedys þe, wete þou þat he puttys yn þe no good lernynge. And if he lede þe to take þe hauynge of þy subgit, þat shal be a corupcion of þy gouernance, And þay shall hate þe as dysmesure. And if he profre þe þat he hauys, and says, "þis ys þat y haue of þy grace and of þy lordschipe getyn, & here y offre it to ow," and geuys ow yt; He þis ys by rigt to be praysed, and worthy of greet prys, As he þat chesys his confusion for þy glorye. Þou shall assay þy porteours in gyftes & rewardes, And him þat þou sees stout and prowd ouer mesure, trowe neuer good yn him, þat þinkes to gedyr mekyll hauynge, and to kepe tresour; haue neuer trist on him, ffor he seruys but for gold all-oon, And he latys hauynge ryn wit wyttes of men. And also he ys as a wele withouten grounde, and also yn him ys noþer terme ne ende; ffor þe more hauyng þat grewys on hym, þe more ys his besynesse and his entent to gete more. And swilk þing ys vndoynge of a kyngdome by many skyls; ffor it mygte byfall þat þe loue and þe brynnynge to his hauynge mygte cause þy det, or to anoþer to whom he geuys his entent þerto; And þerfore it ys a nedfull þinge þat þy porteour be nogt farre out of þy presence, & bydde hym þat he drawe nogt to oþer kynges, and þat he rede hem no sende hem no letters ne tydinges; And if þou persayue any swylk þing yn him, remewe him witoute taryinge, ffor corages er swyft to euyl, & ligtly bowen to contrarious willes. And loke þat þy porteours be couenable, & þat þey loue þy lyf, & be obedient to þe, ffor þis ys þe þinge þat moost ledys subgit to loue þe, & puttys his persone, & his goodes to þi aboundon, & plesaunce, & þat haues þe vertu & þe maners þat y shall neuen þe.

Cap. 102.

folio 34a

ffyuetene Vertue off a good Conseiller.

At þe firste þat he haue perfeccion of his membrys, þat hym nedys to werkys ffor whom, & to whilk, he ys chosyn. On þe oþer syde, þat he be goodly to witholde, and willed to vnderstonde, þat men sayen to hym; þe þridde, þat he be of good mynde to holde þat he herys, and þat he be nogt foretfull; þe fferthe, þat he loke to, and be persayuant, whenne nede shal fall, as y afore haue sayd; þe ffyfte, þat he be curtays, and of fayr speche, and of swet tonge, acordant to þe hert and þe þougt, and þat he be of renable speche; þe sext part, þat he be knowynge yn all sciences, and namely in arsmetyk, þat is ful sot and shewable; wharof of kynde ys drawyn þe seuent part, &;at he be sothfast of wordes, and louyng treut, and fle lesynge, and þat he be wel ordeyned, of softe maners, & debonere, and tretable. Þe viije part, þat he be with-outen þe tecc of engrotury, and dronkynnesse, & leccherye, bowynge fro playes and delyces. Þe ixe part, þat he be of greet corage yn purpos, and louynge honurabilite. Þe xe, þat gold, and siluer, and all swylk accident þinges of þe world, be dispysable to hym, And þat his purpos and his entent be nogt put in þinges, þat fallys to worthynesse and gouernaill, and þat he euen deme neg & ferre. Þe xje, þat he deme and enbrace rigtwysse, and rigtwysnesse, and þat he hate wronges & trespas, eldand to vche man þat ys his, helpynge to hem þat suffren disease and wronges, and þat he remewe alle Iniurys, and þat he make no difference in þe persones, no in þe degree of men þat god hauys maad euen. Þe xije, þat he be of stalwort and lastyng purpos yn þinges þat he see to be doon, and hardy wit-outen drede and fayntnesse of corage. Þe xiije, þat he knowe alle þe issues of þi despens, and þat no þinge be hidde to hym þat fallys to þe kyngdome, and þat þe subgit pleyne hem nogt in þat, þat he mowe auaille, But in cas sufferable. Þe xve, is þat he be no Iangelour, no ouer mekyll lagenge,

folio 34b

Cap. 103. [þat man ys þe lesse werld.]

Wete þat god hauys maad no creature mor wys þan man, and &;at he gedrys in no þing þat sawle hauys, þat he gedyrs yn him, ffor þou shall fynde yn no beste, costom no maner, þat þou ne shall fynde yn him, ffor man ys hardy as a lyon, dredful as a hare, large as a Cokke, auerous as hounde, hard and fell as a krowe, pytous as turtyll, malicious as lyons, pryue and hamely as douve, queynte & trecherous as ffox, symple and softe as lombe, swyft and stirrand as goote, wayk and sleutfull as Bere, Precious and dere as Elyfaunt, vyleyns and boystous as asse, rebell as a rambe, obedient and meke as Poo, ffoltisc as [ostrich], profitable as a Bee, and vnstable as Goot, Proud as Bole, sterrand as fyss, Resonable as Angelee, leccherous as swyn, euyltagt as Owle, Conable as hors, noyand as Mouse; & haly to speke, þer ys no best, no thynge vegetable, no originale, no noumbrable, no heuene, no Planete, no tokenyng, no non oþer þinge beynge, of alle þinges þat ere, þat some properte of hem er founden in man. Wherfore man ys callyd þe lesse werld.

Cap. 104. [Noght to haue trist yn man þat trowys noght þy lawe.]

And neuer haue trist yn man þat trowys nogt þy lawe, þat it fall nogt to þe as it fille to twoo men þat felawschipped hem to gedre in a way, of whom oon was oon enchauntere of þe orient, þe oþer a Iewe; þe enchauntere rade on his Mule, þat he hadde tagt at his likynge, þat bar him whanne him mysteryd by þe way; þe Iew wente on foote, and hadde nother mete ne drynke, no oþer þinge þat hym neded, wit him; And as þey wente spekynge to-geder by þe way, þe Enchantere sayde to þe Iew, "Whiche ys þy fayth, and þy lawe?" And he answerd hym, "I trowe þat in heuen ys oon god, þat y worschippe, and of him y holde

folio 35a

folio 35b

Book V.

Cap. 105. To chese a Qweynte Scryueyn and Pryue.

folio 36a

Book VI.

Cap. 106. To teche a Messagere.

Wete ouer all þinges þat þe Messager, whedyr þou sendys hym, shewys þe wyt of þe, þat sendys hym, and he ys þyn eghen, yn þat þat þou seest nogt, and þyn ere, yn þat þat þou heryst nogt, and þy tonge, where þou art absent. Þanne þe nedys to chese þe most worthy to sweche a seruyce, of hem þat er in þy presence, wys and willynge, honourablyte, vnderstondynge, lele, and eschewand oþer, fleand all velanye and blame. And if þou fynde sweche oon, clepe hym to þe, and speke with hym of þinges þat he knowys nogt of þy wyl, And þou shall sone persayue, if it be yn him þat þou enquerys, ffor all sone as þinges ffonden he ys to be enhyed; And if he be nogt in þis determinyng, at þe leste be he to þe trewe secretary, no þinge addand, no letiland, in þinges þat þou sendys hym, and þat he kepe wel þy comandement, & þat he gyf good entent of þat þat he berys of answers þat men makys hym. And if þou

folio 36b

Book VII.

Cap. 107. To gouerne þy self.

I trowe þat þou hauys now vnderstandyd, þat þy subgit er þe hauynge of þi hous and þi tresour, wherof þi kyngdom is confermed. Lekyn þanne þi subgit to oon orche-erd, þat hauys diuers trees berynge fruyt, and haue nogt þare-ynne sedes bryngynge fort wedes and netles, and florysshe nogt fort fruyt bryngand, ffor trees þat hauyn yn hem many braunches and rotes, and þe stoke vpsette, some of hem makys fruyt & seed couenable to multiplye þaire kynde, whenne þay er wel tylled and kepyd; þanne, after þe quantyte of þy tresour is þe lastyng and þe defens, of þy kyngdom and of þy myt. Now it nedys þanne þat þou gouerne hem wel, and þat þou gyf good entent to here nedys, so þat þou remowe fro hem all þaire wronges. And be it neuer noyous to þe, to geue entent to here statys, no to enquere whare-

folio 37a

Cap. 108. [Of expendours.]

And make nogt many expendours of þin expensys to be maad, ffor þare-by may come to þe corupcion, ffor vche of hem wyll etyll to ouer-passe oþer in Corupcion of wyrkynges, & he shal peyne hym to shewe hym to be praysed and profytable to þe, in oppressioun of þy subgit, And so shall vche of þy conseillers doo, þat ouer-longe dwellys yn þe office. And many er swyche þat oon sayen, & oþer-wayes doon, and brynges many to here vndoynge, to may[n]gteyne hem & defende hem.

Book VIII.

Cap. 109. Off lederes off ostes and here ordinaunce.

Barouns er helpe and multiplication of þe kyngdome, by hem ys þe court honourd and gouerned, & ordeyned yn here degree. Goode ordinace is þanne yn degree necessarys, and be nogt þe kyndrede vnknowyn to þe, whether þey be neg or farre, in þy ordinace yn þaire nombre. And þis ys þe ordre necessary afore-sette & seyd, nombre & brynge aeyn to a Nombre vndyr a Nombre; þanne say I, þat ffourfald ordynance

folio 37b

[Cap. 110 Of the horn of battle.]

And it nedys þat þou haue wit þe þe, Instrument þat Cenustinus made to þe vse of þe Hoste; and it ys a dispytous Instrument þat outspredys it in many maners. Whenne þou

Book IX.

Cap. 111. Off auenture off Bataylles.

folio 38a

folio 38b

folio 39a

folio 39b

Book X.

Cap. 112. Knowynge by diuers tokenynges.

Among oþer þinges þat þe nedys to knowe þe konyng þat þe sawle folowys and knowys by noble tokenynges, whenne it ys drawyn fro dysirs and coueytis, And whenne it ys deliured of noysance, and þis diuision ys knowyn by þogts. ffor whenne [it]ys surmontant, and holdys lordschipe vpon þe body, þat greuys him, And a flawmyng vertu dwellys yn þe hert, & he holdys him to þe vertu of þe sawle þat ys yn þe harnes; þanne is þe

folio 40a

Cap. 113. [Off colour.]

Wete þanne forsothe þat þe modere marri ys rigt swyc to þe seede þat it conseyues, as þe pot þat ys resseyt of sethinge; þanne if it shewe it whit with alowe colour & blew, It bytoknys þat it ys to lytell sothyn, þanne if sweche a diminucion byfall yn a creature, his kynde also shall be lessenyd to hym.

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Cap. 114. [Off byholdyng.]

If þou see a man oft-sithes byholdyng þe, & if þou byholde hym, and he be abayst and sighe, & teres shewe hem yn his eghen, Trowe of sweche oon þat he louys þe, and dredys þe; And if he doo contrary, holde hym enuyous and despytous.

Cap. 115. [Off þe mysauentrous.]

Also kepe þe fro vche mysauentrous man, þat ys lesnyd of any membre, and eschewe hym as enemy.

Cap. 116. [Off attemprance.]

Oon euenn creature and attempre, þat acordys him to meen stature, wit blak eghen & heer, & rounde chere; of whit colour mengyd with Reed & brown, þe body of rigt and euen stature, of a meene heued bytwen greet and lytill, latly spekyng but mystere be, and holdys him in a menee voys yn his spekynge: And ouer all, whenne nature bowys him to blaknes with alownes; þanne ys þe attemprance good, and þis creacion be lykyng to þe; hym haue þou wit þe. And y make to þe oon enterpreteysoun by manere of departyng, And attempre þou it by rigtwysnesse of vnderstondynge.

Cap. 117. [Of heer of men.]

Many heres and softe bytoknys pesabilyte, and coldnesse of þe brayn. Greet multitude of heer vpon bothe þe shuldres bytokyns ffoltynesse. Many heres in þe brest or in þe wombe bytokyns horibilyte & singularyte of kynde, & lessenyng of þe resceyt, and loue of wronges. Reed colour ys tokenynge of vnwyt, & of greet Ire, and of awaytes; And blake heer shewen rigtwysnesse, and loue of rigt. And þe menee colour bytwen þes two colours, bytoknys loue of pees.

Cap. 118. [Of eghen.]

And he þat hauys greet egen ys enuyous & wit-outen shame, sleuthful, and vnobeyssant. He þat hauys lityll eghen, lyk to heuenly colour, or blake, ys of sharpe vnderstondynge, curteys, and leel. He þat hauys steepe-owt egen ys malicious & feloun. He þat haues egen lyk to þe egen

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Cap. 119. [Of browes.]

Browes þat hauyn many heer bytoknys euyl manere of spekynge; And whenne þay reche to þe temples, he ys fowl þat berys hem, And he þat hauys his browes departyd yn leng and shortnesse, in mesure and er greet, sweche er of ligt vnderstondyng.

Cap. 120. [Of nees.]

A nose þat ys þynne bytoknys his lord ful Irous; and he þat hauys a long nose rechinge to þe mout, ys prow and hardy. And he þat hauys a greet nose ys hastyf, And a nose þat hauys nosesterles oft greuant, & harde openynge, is Irous. And whenne þe oon syde of þe nose yn þe myddes bowes toward þe heygte, his berer ys a Ianglere, and he a lyere. And he þat in nose ys most euyn, þat is yn meene long, of mene makynge yn þe ende, and hauys nogt his nose-sterlys ouer greet.

Cap 121. [Of face.] Of mouth.

A full fface, witouten bolnyng, bytokyns a stryuer, a dyscordour, wrongys, and fowl. He þat hauys a mene fface, in chekys, and templys, bowynge to Lennesse, ys sotfast, louynge, & vndyrstondyng, wys, and seruysable, wel ordeyned, & engynous. He þat hauys stalwort armes ys ffygter & hardy; And he þat hauys greet lyppes ys ffoltysc, And þat is rigt full of flesc in þe vysage, ys vnwys, enuyous, and legere; And he þat hauys a lene vysage, ys wys yn his werkys, & of sotyll vndirstondynge. And he þat hauys a lityll fface, bowynge

Cap. 122. [Of þe temples.]

And he þat hauys bolnynge temples, and full chekys, ys ful Irous.

Cap. 123. [Of þe eres.]

He þat hauys rigt greet eres ys full ffoltysc, sauynge þat he ys of good witoldynge, and of good mynde. And he þat hauys rigt lytill eres

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Cap. 124. [Of voyces.]

He þat hauys a greet voys, and wel sownand, shal be a fygter, and wel-spekand; And he þat hauys a meene voyce, noþer ouer greet, ne ouer small, ys wys, purueyant, sothfast, and rigtwys. He þat ys hastyf yn wordys, namly if he haue a small voys, ys dronkelew, enuyous, and lyer; and if his voys be rigt greet, he ys Irous, ^note.56 [hasty], and of euyl nature. He þat hauys a swete voys, shall be enuyous, & suspect, ffor fayrhede of voys shewys folye, and vnwyt, and greet wyll.

Cap. 125. [Of mouynge of body.]

He þat ofte-sithes is steryd, and with spekyng sterys his hondes, he ys fowl, eloquent, and deceyuant; And he þat wit-oldys him to sterre his hondes, ys perfyt of vnderstondynge, wel disposyd, and of hool conseill.

Cap. 126. [Of þe Throte.]

He þat hauys a longe necke, he shall be of good sound, but foltisc ys he; And he þat hauys a short necke, ys queynte, and decyuant, engynous in euyl, & trechour; And he þat hauys a greet necke, ys foltysc, and mekyll, etynge.

Cap. 127. [Of þe wombe: of þe sholders.]

He þat hauys a greet wombe, ys vndiscreet, foltysc, proud, and leccherous. Meenesse of wombe, with a streyt brest, bytokyns heyenesse of vnderstondyng, and of good conseill. Broodnesse of brest, and greetnesse of sholdres and bak, bytokyns prowesse, and hardynesse, wit witoldynge of wyt, and vndyrstondynge; And a thynne bake and wayk, bytoknys a

Cap. 128. [Of þe armes.]

Whenne þe armes rechyn so farre, þat þe hondes ateigne to þe knees, bytoknys hardynesse, and prowesse, with largesse; And whenne þay er short, it ys tokenynge of a man louynge discord, & lytill wys.

Cap. 129. [Of þe palmes of þe hondes.]

Whenne þe palmes of þe honde er longe, wit

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Cap. 130. [Of knees, Of þe soles of þe feet.]

Greet feet and full of fflesch, er tokenyng of ffoly, and louynge of wronges; lytill feet and ligt, bytoknys hardnesse; And smale thees bytoknys ignorance, and þaire gretnesse, hardynesse and strynthe. Brodnesse of thees and heles, bytoknys stryng of body; And mekyll flesc yn þe knees, bytoknys febylnesse of vertu, and heuynesse.

Cap. 131. [Of þe paas of men, & manere of goynge.]

He, þat yn goynge, hauys his paas large and latly, welfare shall folwe him yn all his werkys; And he þat makys short paas, ys hastyf, and suspecious, and nogt mygtfull yn þe wirkynges of his euyll will.

Cap. 132. [Of þe tokenynges of good kynde.]

Þat man ys of good mynde, & wel dysposyd in kynde, þat hauys ness flesc, & moyst, and mene bytwen sharpe and softe, and ys nogt mekyll long, ne mekyll short, and ys whit, fallyng toward reednesse, softe yn lokynge, his heer full, and his eigen of meene gretnesse, fallynge to roundnesse, and his heued of euene mesure, and his nekke of euene gretnesse, wel dysposyd, and his sholdren bowen a lytill, wit-oute greet flesnes yn þe knees, þat hauys a cleer voys, bytwen greet and small attempred; longe palmes, longe ffyngers, to sutillyte fallyng, of lytill

Cap. 133. [Of oon wytnesse in Iugement.]

Noþeles, it nedys nog þat þow be hastyf, by any oon of þe tokenynges afore-sayd, in sentence or Iugement; But gedyr þe wytnesse of alle to-gedyr, And whenne þou shal fynde dyuers tokenynges & contrary, holde þe all-dayes to þe bettyr & more preuable party.

Heer endys þe Treetys of þe Secreet of Secreet off Aristotyll.
Qui scripcit carmen sit benedictus. Amen.

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Fryst, How and for Whate cause this arystotiles boke Was makyd. Capitulum primum.

fOrto witte how this boke was makyd, ye shal vndyrstonde that aftyr Alexander had conquerit al the landis of Pers and Mede, he Passyd wyth his retenue towarde the londe of Inde to gete hit; and for that arystotille was than abydynge in Grece at scoolis, And alexander had grete nede with his wyse Consaille, and that he lowid hym so mych, He sende hym by lettyr to come to his Presence. And forwhy that arystotille ne myght not in good maner leue the scoolis, he wrote to Alexander in this forme,

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Of the two thyngis pryncipalle the wyche behowyth a kynge to haue. Capitulum Secundum.

who so wold lordshup pesebly mayntene, and a roialme to gouerne aryght, tow thynges he moste haue. One is that he be wyse, suttyle, and remembrit that aftyr good lawes and ryghful wysely may and can to deme betwen al maner of folke,

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Here folwyth Ensamplis of olde stories to Prow the forsayde lasson Sothe.

[Capitulum. iijm.]

IN olde tyme in kyngis ther was wondyrful reddure of ryght to kepe wel the lawys, wherof tellyth the wyse clerke Valery, that kynge alente stabelid many good lawis in his Cite of locre. Of the whych this was oone, "That who so euer were atteyntid of Spowse-brige, he sholde lesse both his eighyn." Aftyr hit be-felle his owyn Sone to be founde in the Same Syne, and al the Cite atte the

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Of the dyuersyte of kynges of maneris wych ben Praside and vnPrayside. Capitulum. iiijm.

IN fowre maners kynges ham demenyth. Some byth fre to ham-Selfe and to har subiectis, Otheris byth scars to ham-Selfe and to har sugettes. Of this two the ytaliance sayth, that in a kynge hit is noght reproue yf he be scarse to hym-Selfe. and large to his sugettes, But thay of Perse Sayth the contrary, that a kynge is noght worthe but yf he be large to hym-Selfe and to his sugettes. But amonge al othyrs, he is worste

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Wher-for byth to Enchu folargesse and scarcite. And whate longyth to Fraunchis. Capitulum Vm.

o Alexandyr y do the to witte certeynly, that a kynge that more yewyth than his roialme may sustene, he shal anoone be destrued and broght to noght; And his royalme fail moste, And whoso hard is, or noght yewyth, he may not a roialme holde, And ther-for wite thow well that the honnoure and glory of a kynges to enchu folargesse

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Ensample to Prow this Sothe.

This wyrchipphul knyght Syr Stewyn Scrope, in kynge Richarde-is tyme and

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What aualyth Sotilte of vndyrstondynge and connynge and how thay byth y-know. Capitulum vjm.

vNdyrstond alexander, that connynge and vndyrstondynge byth hed and be-gynnynge of al gouernaunce, hele of

Who-so covetyth a roialme or a lorchuppe to Purchase or wel wyth-oute loue of good rennoune, than moste he begyn wyth Pryde wyche is begynnynge of al wickydnys. For Pryde Engendryth envye, Envye Engendryth falshede, falshede Engendryth lesynge, lesynge engendryth detractacion, detractacioun engendryth hatredyn, hatredyn engendryth wronge and wrethe, Wronge and wreth engendryth vnreuerence, Vnreuerence engendryth enemyte, Enemyte engendryth dyscordis and werre,

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Of two thynges that makyth a kynge to haue good renoune. Als hit folwyth in this nexte Capytre. Capitulum vijm.

fOr-alsmoche as a kynge Soueranly in foryne gouernance sholde desyre good renoune, and conquere hit in al that he may, two thynges he moste do and mayntene. Fryste is that he be abow al thyngis subiecte and obeyaunte to the laue of god and al his roielme, And aftyr that lawe hym gowerne and Sustene, For suche a Prynce worthy is to haue lordshupp. And he that godis lawe to his roialme makyth subiecte,

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How a kynge shal haue hym anent his Pepille. Capitulum viijm.

tO a kynge hit appendyth to honoure tho that his lawes contreuyth, Haue in reuerence folke of Relygioun, Wyse men auaunce and dyscrete; wyth thes men he sholde gladly speke, and aske of dyuers nedis and thyngis, that goode byth to know and cun, Honystly and Swetly thyngis to Enquere, and vysilie ham to answere, The moste wyse and notabill of ham moste to honnoure, euery lyke his deserte. A kynge owyth to enserche the defaute and the nede of Pouere men and myssayse, and he owyth hame helpe and Socoure, and har dyssayse hastely releue. And hit be-longyth to the Pite that a kynge Sholde haue that he Purvey of men that can har langage, that goodly can wyth tham that neddy byth Speke, and that suche a

How a kynge hym Shall haue anente hym-self in vertues and in clothynge. Capitulum ixm.

amonge al othyr thyngis and vertues a kynge sholde haue, He sholde be Purveyaunt and Pensyfe of thynges that may come aftyrwarde, and aftyr that ordayne his doynges, So that the adventures comynge aftyrward, he may the more lyghtly Supporte. a kynge sholde be Pyteous, Enchu wreth, and the mowrnynges of his corage to hyde and hele, that he be not y-holde hastly by lyght Shewynge of his wrethe, othyr vnwyse. If hit happe a kynge to do any thynge vnawyssely, he owyth hit repel vmbethoght avysely, and wyth reyson know his defaute. Full grete vertu and Souerayne vysdome of connynge is hit in a kynge that he can gouerne hym

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This byth the norchynges of lechurie; enchu ham, and thow shalte be sawid. What glory or what valure the may be-tyde, yf thow the accustumyst to the workys of bestis wythout reyson, Trow thow me wythout dute, that the foly company of women destrueth the body, sorthyth

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Of the costome of Iwes, and how a kynge shold his Subiectis and namely his marchaundis mayntene. Capitulum xm.

tO a kynge hit appendyth noght that he hym company ouer-mych wyth men that lytill bethe sette of, or dyshoneste Personys, For company mayntenyth anent ham that lytill byth of value, as folis and dyshonest lyueris, makyth the honnoure of lordshupp rebutte in dyspite. Therfor ther was a fayre custome amonge the Iues, for onys a yere the kynge sholde haue of his Pepill and his hoste a monstrison, and in ryche apparaille richely enarmet, sittynge on his stede, shuld shew hym to his Peple; the Pepill beneth hym, his Erlis, his nobill folke and his baronys hym aboute. Than Esploite he the grete nedis, Than wer Shewyd and ^note.68 tolde the dyuers aduentures that were the roialme betyde, the grete contencions and Enuyes and cures of the neddis of the roialme. Atte that day of custume he yaue grete yieftis, giltles men out of Pryson delyueret, relessit greuous dettis, and

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Of the solace of a kynge. Capitulum Vndescimum.

tO the magiste of a kynge hit is auenaunt that he haue Some Pryue trew Pepill amonge whom he may glad hym, and aftyr nves and dyssesis haue dyuers Instrumentes of

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That a kynge is lykenyd to reyne, wynde, wyntyr, and Somyr. Capitulum xijm.

alykenys is betwen a kynge and the reynne, wynde, wyntyr, and Somer. Fryste betwen a kynge and the reyne: For of reyne comyth ile and good; good for hit moystieth the herbis, trene, and gardynes, And aftyr hit makyth herbis to ryse, cornys, treis and rootes sprynge, blowe, and kerne, and lewis, flowris, and frutis to bere: And of this comyth moche othyr goodis. Of the Reyne also comyth many otheris mesaduentures and many harmes, As thondyr, laitynge, the ryuers and wateres makyth ouer-Passe har boundys, bestis and Pepill peryschyth, whereof comyth moche harme. And thegh therof comyth so many harmys, yette men lewyth not therfore god to thanke that sendyth the reyne, of the wyche comyth full mych good to the land and to the Pepill. The seconde lyckenys is be-twen a kynge and the wynde. Of the wynde comyth good and ille: Good, for hit makyth cornes grow, and makyth frutes to ripe, hit makyth the reyne to fall, and makyth ham wey that Passyth the See, and many othyr goodis makyth the Wyndes. But ther-ayeynes dyuers Perillis and illis and destourbaunce fallyth,

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Of the Purweyawnce of a kynge. Capitulum. xiijm.

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Of the mercy of a kynge. Capitulum xiiijm.

alexandyr, ofte-tymes y haue sayde the and consaillid, And ytte agayne y say and the amoneste, that the blode of a man gladly ne do noght Shede, for that longyth to god that knoweth the thoghtes and priueteis of hertis, wherof Sayth the vyse clerke Hermogynes; Whan a man sleyth anothyr the Vertues of hewyn Shal crye to god and Say, "Lorde, lorde, thy

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Of thre thyngis wherof a kynge or a prynce shulde hym a-vyse. And pryncipally of the thyrde, that a man sholde kepe fayth in his othes makynge for any thynge, &c. Capitulum xvm.

aLexandre, remembyr the of the dedis and werkis of thyne auncestres and to haue a papyr of al har actes and har lyues, for so shalte thow many good thynges Parcewe by the Ensamplis of har actis. Of the Seconde thynge be avysid, that thow haue not in dyspite men that fro riches byth falle into pouerte, For he that is now lowe by Pouerte, may by fortune be heyet and ryche y-makyd and relewid, And than he may nve and damage. The thyrde thynge for-yete not in no maner; Neuyr breke thy feyth that thow haste yewe, ne allyaunce confermyd: For that appartenyth to vntrew men. And ouer that hit is to witte, that an evil ende followyth vntrowthe. And thegh hit happe that throgh a feyth y-broke any good befall atte that tyme, more harme therof shal fall in anothyr tyme, than that goode afor amounted by falsnes gotte. Ouer that he that feyth brekyth, Of falsnes and vntrowth he shal be Proclamyd and knowe.

Wytte thow, alexandyr, that by lewte and trowthe and feyth the Pepill byth vnyette, Citteis fulfillid, and mayntenyd lordshuppis. And yf feyth or lewte be forsake, than shall hit of the Pepill be and of lordshuppis

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How a kynge shulde auaunce prowyd men in armys, and the Study of clergi to hawe wyth hym. Capitulum. xvjm.

alexandyr, make thy bachyllers and thy yonglynges to be prowid in armes to yousty, and Serche and thay in al maner

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^note.70 The Prologe of the foure Cardinall Vertues, declaryng the

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vertues of theologi, and fowre manere of goodis. Capitulum xvijm.

nObyll and gracious lorde, atte the begynnynge of this presente to boke I Sayde that y wolde writte to youre excellence Of the iiij^e. cardynall Vertues, Vndyrstondynge that thegh be not writte in arystotle is boke aforsayde, thy byth writte in othyr good bokis of latyne, And thay byth no lasse profitable than the beste thynge in Aristotlis boke. But fryste vndyrstonde ye, as hooly writte Sayth, that ther byth thre Vertues pryncipalle of theologi or dyuynyte, y-callid in lateyne Fides, Spes, Caritas, In Englysch, Feyth, Hoppe, and Charite. Feyth is a belewynge of thyngis that oure bodeley eygh may not see, As the xije. articlis of oure comyn "credo in Deum Patrem." Hoppe is a ryghtfull tryste for a ryghtfull Werke, i-put be-twen wanhoppe and dysspayre, or prosompsion of goodis to come aftyr to be hadde, And of illis to come afftyr to be Enchued. Charite as the Maystyr of Sentence saythe, is "a loue, wyth the whyche god is lowid for hym-Selfe, And oure neghbore for god or in god." Also as Seynte Austyne seyth, "Charite is the fulfillynge of law, And of a dyvyne Scripture or hooly writte," That is to say the perfite loue of oure god, and of oure neghbore. Than Sethyn that Charite is the fulfillynge of lawe and al dyvyn Scrypture, thegh a man haue al othyr vertues, with-out charite he may not be Sawid, and therfor, nobill lorde, Punys ye neuer mysdoere, newer noone enemy for noone hattrede ne for no covetyse of har goodis, Saue for lowe of Iustyce, and ryght duly ham Punysshe, lovynge by wey of charite hare Sowlis, And hatynge hare evill dedis, and so ye shall youre Charite kepe. And

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Of the foure Cardynal vertues. Capitulum xviijm.

cArdynal vertues byth callid Pryncipale vertues: the fryst is callid in latyne Prudencia; the Secunde, Iusticia; the thyrde, Fortitudo; the fourthe is Temporancia. Thes byth callid in Frence, Visonge, or Purveyaunce, Dreiture, Coerance, and Temporaunce. Thes byth callid in Englyshe, Wysdome, Ryghtfulnes, Streynthe, and tempure. And for-alsmoche as lateyn is the moste stydfaste langage, Als ofte as in this presente wrytynge of translacion shall speche of the names of this foure vertues, I putte lateyn in the stydde of Englyshe: For a man may sette dyuers Englyshe for euery of ham.

Of the fryst vertue cardynal, that callit is, Prudencia. Capitulum xixm.

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That a man sholde surmonte al bestis in vertues and namely in two. Capitulum xxm.

hItte is to witte, that lyke as a man of al bestis that euer god makyd surmountyth in nobelesse of kynde, So he sholde ham surmounte in vertues, and namely in two, that byth two begynnyngis and hedis of al maner mankynde workis, that is to wyttynge, vndyrstondynge or reysone, and wille. And therfor euery vertu that is done by good vndyrstondynge or reyson is y-callid Prudencia; And euery vertu by the wyche a man doith any worke Duly and ryghtfully. hit is y-callid Iusticia, and appendyth to wille, for the Ryghtfulnes of workis or of dedis comyth and rysyth of Ryghtfulnesse of wille. But of this two goodis hit is to say of the goodnesse of reyson, and of the goodnesse of wille, and of har profiteis, a man is destourbet in two maners: In oone manere by the wickydnesse of Fleshly appetites, that is to witte by glotony and Lechurie, and for thes wyckydnes to refrayne, hit be-howyth haue the vertu of temperance; In an-othyr maner thay byth destroubid by the wickydnesse of corage, the whyche comyth of foreyne thynges, as drede that a man hath of Perelis, othyr of trauals, for the whyche is nedfull thynge to a man that he be Stabelid and confermyd by the Streyth of the vertue that gothe not out of the wey, ne ouerpassyth that that reysone yewyth; this vertue is callid Streynthe of corage or of herte, In latyn as aforsayde hit is callid Fortitudo. And as y-aforsayde thes bene the foure cardynall vertues, that is to witte Pryncipall vertues or Souerayns, For to ham byth remewid al that othyr vertues as to har cheffs. And thegh vertu appendyth to al men, namly hit appendyth to a kynge and to a prynce,

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Of Prudencia and cunnynge to mayntene and haue. Capitulum xxjm.

pRudencia and Cvnnynge behowith a Prynce namly to haue, for thay byth profitabill to hym and to his Subiectis both. And therfor Plato the grete Philosofoure sayth That "than was the worlde y-blessyd whan wyse men regnyd and wyse kynges were." Salamon sayth Multitudo sapientum sanitas est orbys terrarum. That is to say, "The multytude of wys men, Is the helthe of al the worlde." Valery in his vije. boke, and boyce in his fryst boke, Sayth, that the nobill Clerke Senec called the worlde the gyldyn worlde, whan roialmes weryn gouernyd by wys men. Of this sayth Policrat in his vj. boke, that "iije. thynges makyd the romanys to conquere londe and ouer-come Pepill, that Is to say, cunnynge, and wysdome y-prowyd of armes, and hey feyth and trouthe mayntenyd." The Same clerke also saythe in his iiij^e boke, "I ne may not mynde me that the Emperours of Rome ne the dukes wer vnlettride while that hare lordshupp was well gouernyd in his streynth." But y ne wote how, Sethyn that in prynces was extentid the lyght of letterure, is enfebelid the streynth of all chyualrye, of Pryncehode, and rialtee, as the rote y-kyde. But hit is no wondyr that ryaltee wythout wysdome and cvnnynge ne may not endure. For god that is Hym-Selfe connynge, Sayth

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Now here begynnyth olde stories to prowe the forsayde thechynge of Prudencia trowthe. Capitulum xx[jj]m.

fFOr cunnynge and Prudencia to haue and conquere, olde kynges

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Of the Parties of Prudencia. Capitulum vicessimum tercium.

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Whan the grete kynge alexander by conquest had gettyn the Emperie Of the worlde than he dyet, and he that all Pepill leuynge Demenyt, of othyr men dede into Erthe he was ladde.

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Anothyr sayde, "yestyrday hym suffisid not al the worlde full of Precious stonys, ne no Palis of golde; to day hym Suffice a lytill bounde of two ellis othyr thre."

The iije Philosofoure sayde, "yestyrday he hadd of all men the lordshuppe, to-day hauyn al men of hym the maystri."

The fourth Sayde, "yestyrday he ladd his hostis vpon the Erthe, to day thay ledyth hym into the erthe."

The ve sayde, "yestyrday he hadd erthe vndyr his fete, today he is of erthe oppressid."

The vje sayde, "yestyrday he hadd frendys Speciall, but today he haue ham all y-lyke."

Therfore hym sholde no man of heynys, of lordshuppe, of richesse, or of Powere to haue Pryde, for thay may not longe Endure. And ouer al that, god ne holde noght moche of Erthely heynysse, and So hit semyth well. For lordshupp and heynysse god yewyth to coursid men as well as to good men.

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^note.71 Now of vndyrstondynge, that is the Seconde Parte of this vertu Prudencia. Capitulum Vicessimum quartum.

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Therfor, as seynte Ierome vs tellyth, in olde tymes whan the Pryncis of Rome retorned fro bataillis there as thay had victorie, the romanes makid thre maneres of honoures. The fryste was that al the pepill yede agaynes the Prynce with grete gladnys; The ije was that the Prysoneris and hostagis that were takyn in the battaille sholde follow the Pryncis chare on har fete, thare handis bounde be-hynde har backys; The iije was that the Prynce sholde be clothid in Iubiter thare godis cote, sittynge in a chare that iiij^e whyte horsyn drewe. But for-alsmoche as the romanys wolde that the Prynce for his honoure hym-Sylfe sholde not foryete, thre dyshonoures in the same day he moste Suffyre. The fryste was that ther as the Prynce, sate in his chare a bond-man and of fowle condycion to signifie that euery man of the Pepill sholde haue hope to come to glorie of a Prynce or of an empyre, by prosse and vasselage. The ije Dishonoure was that the bonde-man that wyth the Prynce Sate

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In this wyse Iulyus Cesar the forte werryor, whan he came agayn to Rome aftyr the conqueste of his enemys, many reprowis and Indyngnacionys of the Pepill recewid, of the whyche he neuer vengeaunce toke. Dauid the Profete sayth of men that in honoure byth and knowyth not ham-Selfe, Homo, cum in honore esset, non intellexit, etc, That is to say, "Whan a man was in honoure, he ne vndyrstode not, he is lykenyd to wylde bestis without reysone, as he is makyd alyke to ham." Also Dauy Sayth, Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus, in quibus non est intellectus, etc, that is to say, "Ne be not as an horse and a mule, in whome is noone vndyrstondynge."

Of the thyrde Partie of Prudencia that is callid Purveyaunce. Capitulum Vicessimum quintum.

the thyrde Partie of Prudencia is Purveyaunce, by the wyche a man hym avysyth of thyngis that byth to come. Thegh a man haue neuer so good fortune, hym nedyth of Purveyance; And the more ryche man be and manaunt, the more hym be-howyth that he be vmbethoght. Therof Tullyus the wyse clerke tellyth in the boke of questions Of oone Denys the cruel tyraunt, kynge of the realme of Cezile, That oone of his frendis that callid was Damocles hym Sayde, "Moche hath god the endowet wyth grace, Rriche thow arte and manaunt grete lord-shippes, Castelis, toures, Powere of Pepill, fayre horsyn, clothis of Sylke, and ryche kynne, no man is the ylyke." And the kynge hym answerid, "Wylte thow my fortvne proue?" "ye," sayde that othyr gladly. Than the kynge

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That Prudencia is moche to Prayse, Prowyth well this reysones folwynge. Capitulum vicessimum Sextum.

tVlly Spekynge of Prudencia in fayre maner he Sayth, "If that thow desyre Prudencia to haue, by reysoune thy lyfe thow shalt lede": and al thynge aftyr har kynde, and not aftyr men Saynge thow shalte deme, for many thynges semyth good and byth not, And otheres semyth not good and byth good. Hit is not al golde that

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Of the Seconde vertu cardynall that is y-callid in latyn Iusticia. In englysshe ryghtfulnesse othyre ryght. Capitulum vicessimum Septimum.

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tHe lawe of Emyle ^note.72 exponyth this vertu Iustica, in this maner in latyne: Iustica est constans et perfecta voluntas, Ius suum vnicuique tribuens, That is to Say, "Ryght is a stydfaste and a perfite wille, yewynge to euery man that to hym is ryghtful." Saynte Austyne Sayth, that there byth two Parties of Iusticia, that is to witte, "leue harme, and do good." Of this Sayth the Prophete, Declina a malo, et fac bonum, And cryst Sayth in the gospell, Primum querite regnum dei et iusticiam eius, that is to Say, "Fryste haske ye the kyngdome of god and his ryghtfulnesse"; And in anothyr Place he Sayth, Beati qui esuriunt et siciunt iusticiam, that is to say, "I-blyssyd be thay that hungeryth and thurstyth ryght." Some clerke dyuydyth the vertu of Iusticia into ve Parties, Fryste into obedience, for the Suffrayne; In correccion for the Subiecte;

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Nobyll and gracious lorde, thes two stories afore-writtyn considerit, Sethyn god and oure kynge haue grauntid you Powere, do ye therof Execucion in opyn fals enemys, traytouris, and rebelle, trew men quelleris, whan thay fallyth Into youre handys, by the thow Sharpe eggis of youre Swerde, that is to witte by rygoure of lawe and dyntes delynge, hauynge in mynde that I Sayde afore of the Poet, "withstonde the begynnynge." For as a Sparke of fyre risyth an huge fyre able a realme to brente, So rysyth of the roote of an fals enemy, appert traytoure, othyr rebellis, many wickid wedis sone growynge, that al trewe men in londe Sore greuyth. Therfor, whan thay fallyth into youre handis, Raase ham all out of rote, as the good gardyner dothe the nettylle. I know welle the roote of the nettille, One dough O'dynicis, fadyr of hym that now is, Of whom spronge the wedis that als myche in mi tyme haue destruede of the comyte of Kyldare as al Irys men of Irland aftyr. this nettle in Poynte was to haue be rasid out of roote,

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That a prynce sholde not truste to his enemy. Capitulum Vicessimum octauum.

bErnard Sayth, Debilitas inimici non est Pax, Sed ad tempus treuga, that is to Say, "The febilnes of the enemy nys not a pees, but a truse for the tyme," And yf thou trystis that thyn enemy thynkyth not the Same sotilte that thou thynkyste, thou Puttyste thy-Selfe in drede, and therfor Salamon Sayth, Non confidas inimico tuo in eternum, that is to say, "Tryste thou neuer to thyn enemy." And touchynge this matiere y

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Therfor, nobill and gracious lorde, consydyr ye that youre yrysshe enemys ne hare auncestres wyth-nede any of them was trewe to you or to youre fadyr, than ye

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were strongyr than thay, wytnysse on youre-Selfe, that arthure Mcmirg was no longyr trewe ne pees helde, than youre fadyr lyuet, for al the grete othis that he Sware.

Of the manere correccion that a prynce sholde haue anent his Subiectis. Capitulum vicessimum nonum.

hItte Is to witte that correccion sholde come of lowe, acordynge to holy writte, Ego quos amo arguo, et castigo. "I blame and chaste tho men that y loue." But Sume prynces and Iuges wolde correcte tho men namely to whome thay haue Envy, whos correccion nys not but an enemyly persecucione. Isay the holy prophet Sayth, Egredietur virga de radice Iesse, that is to say, "A yarde shall out-Passe out of the roote of Jesse." Iesse is noone more to say, but a brandynge, for of the brandynge of lowe the yarde of correccion shuld oute-Passe. Therefor

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Here endyth the boke of Iusticia and begynnyth the thyrde vertu that is y-callid in latyn fortitudo. In Englysshe Streynth of herte, othyr boldenys, othyr manhode, othyr hardynesse. Capitulum tricessimum

tHe thyrde cardynalle vertu ys y-callid fortitudo. Saynte tAustyn Sayth in libro de moralibus ecclesie, ffortitudo vero est amor facile omnia tollerans propter id quod amatur. that is to Say. "Fortitudo is a loue al thynge lyghtely Sufferynge, for that thynge that is y-lowid." The [glose] vpon the gospell of Matheu Sayth, ffortitudo est firmitas animi contra molestias seculi, that is to say, "Fortitudo is a stidfastnes of the Soule, agaynes the grieuance ^note.79 or heuynesse of the worlde." Tullyus in Secunda rethorica, Sayth, Fortitudo est considerata periculorum suscepcio et laborum perpessio, that is to Say, "Fortitudo is a considerids vndyrstondynge of Perill, and a sufferaunce of trauaill." Also Tulli Say that, Fortitudo est magnarum rerum appeticio et humilium contempcio et cum racione humili

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Here begynnyth old stories to Shewe the condicionys and the propirteis of the hardy or the manfull. Capitulum Trycessimum Prymum.

Oche desyre thes olde Pryncis to Putte hare lyues in mbalaunce for comen Prowe of the Pepill, and they were so hardy, that in Suche a Poynte thay douted not the deth; for as Valery Sayth, and Seynte austynne hit rehersyth in the boke of the Cite of god, Codre, Sumtyme kynge of the Cite of Athenys, whan he had vndyrstonde by the Answere of his godys, are that he to a certayn battaille agaynes his enemys wente, that thay the victori sholde haue in battaill whos kynge or duke sholde be slayne in battaill, He onlasit his riche armes and roial array, ^note.80 and hym clothed in Pouer

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Of the Pite and mercy that a Prynce sholde haue. Capitulum xxxijm.

hItte is to witte that thegh mekenys is necessary to al men, hnamely hit is in Prynces. Therof hit is to witte that god

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But for-alsmoche, gracious lorde, as I haue now her towchid of the conquest of Irland, I shall now declare yow in Partie as y fynde in croncles written, many titles of oure

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Of the Kynges titles to the land of Irland, aftyr the Cronyclis. Capitulum xxxiij.

fRyste atte the begynnynge, afor the comynge of Iryshemen into the londe, they weryn dwellynge in a syde of spayne whyche is callid basco. Of the whyche Basco, Bayon Is the chefe Cite, and basco a membyr of hit. And atte yryshmen comynge Into Irland, kynge Gurgonynce, Son to the nobill kynge Belynge, and kynge of Britane the more, whyche now Is callid England, was lorde of Bayon as oure kynge now Is. And therfor thay sholde be his men, and Irland his land. The Seconde tytle is this; Atte the Same tyme that Irysmen came out of basco in Sixti Shippes exilit, thay mete wyth kynge Gurgnynce vp the See at the Ile of Orcades, atte his comynge fro Denemarke with grete victorie. Than har Captaynes hyberus and herymon wenten to this kynge, and hym tolde the cause of har comynge, and hym Prayed with grete Instaunce, that he wolde graunt ham that thay myght enhabite Some lande in the weste. Atte the laste the kynge, by avyce of his consaille, graunted ham Irland to enhabite, and assygned ham gides for the See thedyrwarde. And

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Nowe here y an end makyth of the thyrde Cardynal vertue that ycallid in lateyn, Fortitudo, in Englys Streynthe, And trete of the iiij^e cardynal vertue, that Is in latyn callid Temporancia, Is myn entente god helpynge. Amen. Capitulum Tricessimum quartum.

tHe fourthe vertue Cardynal, Clerkes callyth Temporance, by the wiche a man kepyth and holdyth mesure in ettynge and drynkynge, and surfetyth not, as in women, and from al Surfetys hym kepyth in al his dedis and Syggynges. And therfor Tully Sayth, "If thou desyriste Temporance Put away euery Surfete, and restrayne thy desyres; Reward thow how myche kynde askyth, and not how mych couetyse desyryth." Ife thou haste the vertue of Temporance, therto shalte thou comme, yf thou be Payet of thy-Selfe without couetyse of more to haue. For y-now he hath, that Is ap-Payet of that, that he i-richet Is, ffor more he will not desyre. And he that more couetyth, than he hath, he knowlechyth that he y-now haue not, And therfor to thy couetyse Sette thou the bridill, in ettynge and drynkynge be thou y-temperit, And aftyr that kynde askyth, put mesure. Bettyr Is lytill than to mych, but the mene alboth Surmountyth in bountee. Whan thou art in company, that thynge whych thou haste blamet, thou shalt not ette ne drynke. To the Delytes whych now byth present, ouermoche thou shalt not the yeue, ne tho

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Thus myche haue y Sayde of this vertue Temporance for this tyme: Now here y write olde stories in comendacion of the Same vertue. Capitulum xxxm quintum.

aRystotle, Prynce of Philosofers, Sayth, that to the Vertu of temporance two thynges appertenyth, That Is to witte, Abstynence of mette

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Now her is to wit of the temporat loue that shold be betwen A man and his wif, And how he shold know and us hir temporaly. Capitulum. xxxvi.

The loue and the dred of almyghty god, maker and fourmer of al thing, frust aboue al thing preferid, xije causes enduceth a man to loue his wif reissonnabli and tempora[t]li. The furste caus is for that holy writ so bidith: "Viri diligite vxores vestras Sicut et Christus dilexit ecclesiam et Semet ipsum tradidit pro ea": That is to sey: "O ye men, loue your wywis as crist lowith holy church, And hymself yaw for hit." Therfor a man shold loue the helth of his wif bodely and gostely; for why: criste diet for the helth of mannes Soull and remissioun of his Sin, And therfor a man shold merciably fforyew his wif repentaunt veraily hir trespace. Vppon this matier Seint Austeyn saith "Cur enim ad huc reputamus adulteros quos credimus penitencia esse sanatos." That is to sey -- "Why shold whe now hold men adulteours which whe trowith with repentaunce I-maked hole." The Secound caus that shold enduce a man to loue his wif is, for hir body is the body of hir spous, And therfor he shold loue hir body as his owyn bodi, for the wif hath no pouer of hir owyn body. The iije caus ys that non of tham ys Sufficiant to bring forth fruyt alon of Ieneracioun. The iiij^e caus is that woman of manys Ribe was fourmyt; God wold not fourm woman of the Slyme as he dud man, but of manys fleshe and bon, that he shold loue hir as him Self; ffor holi writ saith, "whoso lowith his wif he lowith himself." The ve caus is that a

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Of the comendacioun and of the werk of matrimony. Capitulum xxxvijm.

HIt ys to wit that matremony ys to be commendid for many caussis, and in exspeciall at this tym for ve; fruste for the auctorite of almyghty god, ordyner of matremony;

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offe the foure cardinall wertues, by the which a man gidith hym rightfully in the wey of gode maners, ware that

Off the keping of the body after the consaill of Lechis. Capitulum xxxviijm.

alexander, in exspeciall kep the fro venym and pusouns: well

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That Astronomy is necessari to the keping of mannys body. Capitulum tricessimum Nonum.

aS galian the full wies leche Saith, and Isoder the gode clerk, hit witnessith that a man may not perfitely can the sciens and crafte of medessin but yef he be an astronomoure. And therfor thou shalt nothing don, and namly of that which

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Herre begynnyth stories and ensamplis to proue that oryson is Souerayn remedy in euery trybulacion. Capitulum quadragessimum.

wHo-so will enserche the olde stories Sethyn the worlde wbegan, opynly he shall fynde that nothynge that man may done is of so grete vertu as is orisoun. Abraham the nobil Patriarke, as the boke of genesi sayth, Prayet god for Sarra his wyfe for she was barayne and Passyd the age of chyld-berynge,

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That god nath not in dispite the orisones of Paganes. Capitulum xljm.

of the grete Vertue of Preyer, ^note.95 that god Shewyth to tho whych the law of god kepedyn, and the ryght belewe couthe, thegh Some of tham wickid were into this tyme, I haue Sortely tolde you; but now wil y now Say more grettyr mervelis, and I Shall Shew you that god nath not in despite the orisones of Pagans, yf thay hym with good herte Pray. God Sente the prophete Ionas to the grete Cite of Nynyvee, wyche was a thre-dayen Iornay. "goo," sayde he, "to the Cite of Nynyvee, and Say to hit, that afore this xl. dayes Passyd bene, the Cite shal be destruet." Ionas entrid the Cite one-dayes Iornay, and prechit to tham of the Cite that Paganes weryn, al that god had Sayde to hym. They belewid anone the worde of god, and weryn Sorefull and repentant of thare Synnes, and thay fastid and tham clothid in Sackis, Smale and grete. of this Came tythynges to the kynge of the Cite, and he anoone arose fro his roial Siege, and Put of hym

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Now gracious lord, to youre excellence here I write dyuers rygh good and necessary notabilitees of the vertu of Prayere, fryst in latyn and Sethyn in Englysh, aftyr dyuers moste autentike auctoritees of holy wryte. Capitulum Quadragessimum Secundum.

fRyste hit is to witte, that Prayer othyrwhyle is sadyn a good worke, on wych matyer Seynt Paule Sayth, Sine intermissione orate, that is to Say, "pray ye wythout any Styntynge." vp this matiere the glose Sayth, Semper orrat qui bene agit, that Is to Say, "He prayeth al tymes that al tymes doth well." Also the ryghtfull man neuer styntyth to Pray, but that he Stynte a ryghtfull man to be. Whoso will fryste pray he moste consydyr his owyn fautes, tham amende, and than Pray; for Salamon Sayth in the thyrde boke of kynges, Templo edificato Si quis cognouerit Plagam cordis Sui, et extendit manus suas in domo hac, tu exaudies illum in celo, That is to Say, "The tempill y-bylid, who

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Of dyuers ryght good and necessary nobilteis of the vertu of orison. Capitulum xliijm.

aftyr the Incarnacion of oure lorde Ihesu cryste, Mż. cccc axxijti ^note.96 yere, al the Clergi of deuelyn considerynge the grete myschefe of Irys enemys and rebell were in the land Surdynge in acte, that is to witte the brenys of Thomon, the bourkenys of Connaght and monstre, The morthes of leys, the Mcmahens vp the contrey of vriel, hit more depyr than euer afore brandynge, And O'neyle-boy, Grayfergowse and Vlnestre atte his owyn wille brandynge and wastynge, This clergy twyes in euery wike in oppyn processyon god Prayeden for the good esplaite of the forsayden oure kynge henry, than beynge in Fraunce, and for the forsayd Erle his lyeutenaunt of Irland, anent the malice of the forsayden enemys. Thys erle

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Of the vertue of Iusticie othyr ryghtfulnesse. Capitulum xliiijm.

oF the vertu of Iustice afor in this boke Is largely Saydyn, but for-als-moche as Aristotle-is boke makyth

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Of the gouernaunce of man aftyr the v wittes. Capitulum Quadragessimum quintum.

gOd fourmyd man and hym makyd abow al bestis, and hym yaue hys comandmentis, and hym promysid rewarde aftyr his deseruynge, and yaue a body as a Cite to gouerne, and put therin vndyrstondynge as a kynge, and hit sette in the moste heyest Place of man, that Is, the hede, and to hym estabelit v messagers to fette and presente al that to hym Is necessarie, tho bene the v wittys; of the wych euery of ham hath his Propyr dome, and bene in Sartayn Places I-sette, in eighen, in the nose-thurlis, in tonge, in handys, and in eeris. By the eyghen know we ix. thynges, that Is to witte; lyght, derknesse, coloure, body, shape, thynges neygh and ferre, meuynge, and restynge. By the eeris we haue knowlech of Sovne, wych is in two maneres; Soune

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Of the manere of the propirtees of consaillours. Capitulum quadragessimum sextum.

like as the v wittes bene as v messagers, wyche Serwyth to the vndyrstondynge, so oweste thow, Alexander, to haue v messagers and v consaillours, and euery of tham shall be seuerall, for so shall they bene to the moste profitable. kepe with thy-Selfe thyn secreete, and tell hit not tham, that thou haste atte herte, And take kepe that thay Parcewe not that thou haste mestere of thar consaill, for than they wolde despice the. And therfore thou sholdyste fryste assaye thar wille and thar witte, And so thou mayste bettyr avise the, well sayne and done. And there-for Sayth hermogynes, the Philosofre, that the Iugement of that man of whom consail is asskyd of, is more to Preyse than the Iugement of that man that consaill askyth, thegh he say bettyr and wisere, for he that hyryth the reysones of many men may lightyr well sayne, than he that erste Spake. And whan thou haste assemblid thy consaillours any consail to yewen, thou shalte not medle estraunge consaill to yewyn, that they be not destourbet; Sethyn shall thou hyre what they shall sayne, And yf they answere anone and accorde, thou shalt than agayns sigge and by Sum reysoun, Show the contrarye of that whyche that haue sayde, to make tham thynke and bene avysid more deppyr. Sethyn whan they haue all consaillet and thare reysones is i-shewet, thou shalt not show to whate

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How thow shalte assay thy consaillours. Capitulum xlvijm.

oNe thynge by whych thou mayste assay thy consaillours

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Of the tokenesse and condycions that a good Consailloure and a frende sholde haue. Capitulum xlvi[i]jm.

aT the begynnynge, thy consailloure and thy frende [sholde haue] Perfitnesse of lymes, well to fulfill al thynges for wych he is chosyn. Sethyn he sholde haue good vndyrstondynge, and good will to vndyrstond that a man hym Sayth. Hit be-howyth that he be of good mynde to remembyr that wyche he hath vndyrstonde, so that he foryet not. And that he be Parcewynge of that thynge wych berryth charge, and wyche noon, and that he bene corteyse, wel Spekynge, and eloquente wythout Ianlynge: he sholde be cvnnynge in dyuers sciences, he sholde bene Sothefaste in worde and dedd, and lowe throuth abowe al thynge, and hate lesynge. And he sholde bene Softe, bonere, and tretabill. Glotony, dronknesse and euery Surfete of ettynge and

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How a man hath al condycions of bestis, Hit is to Witte. Capitulum xlixm.

wItte thow Alexandyr, that god the gloryous ne maket noght noone creature bodely more visyr than man. And a man may not fynde in no beste, custume ne thegh, wyche is noght in a man. For a man his hardy as a lyon, Feynte as an

Of Notaries. Capitulum Lm.

ALexandyr, to chese the be-houeth, to writte thy Pryuyteis and priuey workys, wyse men of Parfite eloquence, and of good mynde. For that

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Of messagers, and wych thay shold bene. Capitulum quynquagessimum Primum.

wItte thou, Alexandyr, that the messager shewyth the witte of that man that hym sendyth. And he is his eigh in that whych he seth not, And his eeris in that wych he heyryth not, And his

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How that the Subiectes bene the tresure of Prynces, and lyke a gardyn of dyuers tress growyn there-In. Capitulum Lijm.

wElle woste thou that thy Subiectis bene thy tresure, by whych thy roialme is confermyd. Thow shalt lewe well that thy subiectis bene lyke a gardyn, in wych bene dyuers maneres of trees, and thou shalt noght holde ham as londe berrynge thornes wythout frute. Whyle that thy Subiectis duryth in estate, shall dure the defense of thy realme and of thy Powere, And therfor the be-houyth hame to gouerne wel, and fro wronges ham defende, and that thou ham helpe in al hare nedys. And therfor the nedyth to haue a Constabil that shal not bene a destruere of thy trees, but a kepere and a Sauere. He sholde be full of good maneres and vertues, wyse and Sufferynge; And of

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Of barons, and wherof thay Serwyth in the roialme. Capitulum Liijm.

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tHe barons anecheth and multiplyeth the roialme; By ham Is the contre I-wyrshupped, the Empyre I-ordeynet in his degrees. And therfor thou sholdyste Put ham in certayn dignytees and Powere. Ful wel thou mayste ham ordeyne in forwe yf thou wylt, for foure differences bene chose that is to witte; afoor, behynde, on the ryght syde, and one the lyfte syde. And foure parties bene in the worlde; eeste, weste, north, and South. And therfore thou mayste ordeyne that in euery fourthe Partie of thy realme bene oone gouernoure. And yf thou seyste that they bene manyer; do thou that they bene ten, fore tene is a perfite nombyr, and hit contenyth ^note.101 in hym-Sylfe foure nombres, that is to witte, one and two, and thre and foure; the whyche yf they bene assemblet, makyth tene. Therfor me sholde ordeyne that euery gouernoure had tene Vicaries in his hoste, and euery vicarie ten lederis in his whele, and euery ledere ten doiens, and euery doiens ten men: al thes assembled makid an hundrid thowsand fyghten men. And whan thou haste mestere to the Service of ten thousand men, thou cal a gouernoure, and hym shal Serve ten vicaries,

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That a kynge sholde not entyr in battail in his owyn Propyr Persone. Capiitulum Liiijm.

thow shalt noght vse bataill in thyn Propyr Person, ther-as þou mayste hit enchu. holde al tymes wyth thy Selfe the beste and the grettyste of thy Powere. Be-hete thou to knyghtes honours and rewardis, and kepe thy Promesis. Whan thy-Selfe moste go in hostes, go thou neuer disarmyd, for Sodeyn chaunchis; Haue good kepers, and good Spies, and good kepynge, namely be nyght. whan thou shalt make thyn hoste arreste and thy tentis Piche, Purvey the yf thou mayste, that thou be negh Sum montayne or watyr, and be well y-vitaillid; and Purvey more than thou vndyrstondyste that nede the shal. thou shalte haue many rynnynge engyns to make horribill Sownes to gasten thyn enemys. Thou sholdyst haue in battaill al manere of armes; Sum of the hoste shall stabill bene in oone Place, and otheris shal

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That Phisnomye Is a necessarie scyence to knowe the Maners of men. Capitulum Lvm.

oFte we haue afor sayde, that dyuers maneris of Pepill of consaillours, knyghtes, constables, Marchalis, Notaries, Messagers and otheris that shall kynges and Emperouris Serwe, shuldyne haue certayne condicions whych bene aforsayde. But for-als-moche as stronge is to fynde and know condycones and good vertues and maneris of Pepil wythout longe Prewe, hit is a ful couenabille and profitabill thynge to euery Prynce, that he cane the scyence of Physnomy, by wyche he may know by syght euery man of wych maneris and thewis he sholde be by kynde. And there-for hit is to witte as we haue aforsayde, al bodely thyngis be gouernyd and ordaynyd by the Planetes and Sterris. And therfor euery man, of the begynnynge of his berth, by the vertu of the Sterris wych than haue rewarde to hym, Is disposid dyuersly to vertues and to vices. But Soth hit is, that euery wyse man haue vertu and will; by whych he may kepe hym anent kynde, and vertues of [steris ^note.103 ] as Sayth Bug[usa]rus the Phil[osofre], in the begyn[nyng] of the centiloge of tholomewe. This tellyth vs that boke, by Ensampill; Sumtyme two Philosofers astronomyours

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Ensamples to Prow the forsayde thynge. Capitulum quinqu[a]gessimum Sextum.

tHe dysciplis of yPocras the wyse, depeyntid an ymage in Parcemyn allyke to Ipocras, and hit bare to Philomon, wyche was a maystyr of Phisnomye; and hym Saydyn, "Rewarde this figure and telle vs the qualyteis, the manerys, and the compleccion, of Suche a man as this figure Presentyth." He behelde besely the figure, and al the makynge of the body, and Sayde, "Suche a man is lechelorus and disceyuous." Whan that herde

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Here is I-prowid that the Sowle Sueth the condycionys of the bodyes. Capitulum quinquagessimum Septimum.

cErtayne thynge hit is that the Sowle whyche Is the fourme of the body, sueth the kynde and the complexcion and the propyrteys of the body, for ofte-tymes we sene opynly that the coragis of men ham chaungyth aftyr the Pascionys of the bodyes, and that apperyth in

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Of the Science of Physnomye. Capitulum Lviijm.

pHysnomye is a science to deme the condycions or vertues and maneres of Pepill, aftyr the toknesse or syngnesse that apperyth in facione or makynge of body, and namely of visage and of the voyce and of the coloure. One lyght manere and general of Phisnomye is to deme vertues and maneris of man aftyr the conpleccion. Compleccions bene iiije for a man is sangyne, or flevmatike, or colerike, or malyncoly. And ryth vp thes foure

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Of whyte coloure.

wHite coloure Svmwhate medelite wyth rede in a man, tokenyth that he is hote of kynde, and of sangyne compleccion but rede coloure tokenyth complexcion wel temperit, yf Suche coloure be in al the body noght roghe. This sayth aristotle here sortely, but here-aftyr he will hit say mor opynly.

Of Physnomye aftyr the here.

nesshe heere tokenyth a dredfulle, and harde here tokenyth hardy and stronge, and that apperyth in dyuers bestys. For an hare and a sheppe bene ful gastefull, and haue full nesshe here. And the lyone and a boore bene full stronge, and haue stronge here. Also in fowles, by kynde tho whyche haue harde federes bene stronge and corageous, as a cooke, And tho that haue nesshe pennes bene dredfull, as turtures bene and curlyours. So Is of dyuers Pepille aftyr the Place whyche thay dwellyth In. For thay that dwellyth towarde the northe, bene stronge and coragious, and haue harde here. And tho

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Of complexcioun of Flessh, ut sequitur.

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hArde flesshe throgh al the Body tokenyth a man of Lytill Vndyrstondynge, Suche bene the grete karlis massies, whyche bene of harde vndyrstondynge, but thay bene good to workes. Flesshe in tempure neshe, noght slake, tokenyth good vndyrstondynge; but if hit be ful nesshe and slake as women bene, tokenyth a chaungeabill man and variaunt: but yf suche flesshe be founde in a stronge man of body, hauynge stronge extremytee, ne tokenyth not that wych y aforsayde.

Of complexcione aftyr the mevynge.

slowe mewynge tokenyth a dulle and slowe vndyrstondynge, and quyke mevynge and delyuere, tokenyth good vndyrstondynge and hasty witte.

Of the complexcione o voyce als hit folwyth her nexste.

agrete voyce and wel y-harde, like a trompe, tokenyth an hardy man and bolde: a smale voyce and febille like a womanes voyce tokenyth a feynte man. And therfor the stronge beestis and hardy haue stronge voyces and hey, As lyones, bullis, and houndes; and kokkes whyche bene strongyr than othyr and more corageous, syngyth heyghere and more strongyr. Of the hare we seene the contrary.

Of the coloureof the visage hit Is here to witte.

whan a man hath a visage y-like and of coloure as lye of fyre, he Is wrathfull, and by kynde

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The tokenesse of stronge Corage.

alevyn tokenys bene whych tokenyth Streynth and corageous. The fryste is harde heere; the seconde Is evyn stature of body; the iije grete stature of bonys and rybbes, and of handys and of fette; the iiije Is a large belly and to hym retreted; The v grete braons and massy; the vje a Synnevey neke and grete, and noght myche fatte; the vije Is a grete breste and brode, vprerid and Sumwhate fatte; the viije large haunges of good proporcion; the ixe eghyn grey or broune, y-lyke a camail here, that bene noght ouermoche opyn ne cloos; The xe broune coloure in al the body; The xje a sharpe straght farred, noght gretly lene ne al full, nethyr al frouncet.

The tokenesse of a dredful or a feynte man benex; fryste, als follwyth:

NEsshe heere; the ije a man stowpynge. and noght vpryght; the iije whan the entraillis of the wombe gone vp abowe the nawle; the iiije Is yolow coloure in the face meddelite with palnesse; the v Is febill lokynge of the eg and closynge; The vje lytill extremytes; The vije Is longe hondes and smale;

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The tokenesse of good complexcioun.

tHe fryste tokyn of good complexcion Is temperid flesshe betwene nesshe and harde, and namely be-twen lene and fatte. The ije tokyn Is that a man be leene in the neke and in

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The tokenys of ille complexcioun.

the fryste Is a man ouerchargid wyth flesshe aboute the neke and the leggis fro the kneys evile y-seueret. The ije a grete farret rounde as the draght of a cumpas. and fleshy. The iije yelow eighyn. The iiije grete chekes and fleshy: the ve fleshy reyns: the vje longe legges: the vije a fatte neke, and the visage fleshy and straght.

The tokenys to know shamels men.

fRyst opyn eighyn and glysinynge, and the eighliddes full of blode and grete and shorte; Hey vprerid shuldris; the body Sumwhate Stowpynge.

The tokenys of honest men.

the honeste and the shamefast man Is circumspecte and wyse in al his dedys, ruddy of colure as sanguyne, the visage is rounde, the breste Sumwhate vprerid, tarynge of speche, the voyceful

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The tokenys of the Corageous.

the tokenys of the coragious bene a grete forhede and flesshy and full, and he lokyth not ouer sharpe as doth woode men, ne ouer dedly as dothe the cowarde; Fayre of visage and wel disposid laat of mevynge, and Slow to take nedys but yf thay bene grete.

The tokenys of the cowarde.

a Lytill vysage and leene, and frouncet, lytill eighyn dede lokynge, lytille of stature and lowe, and of febill mevynge; thes bene the tokenys of cowardy.

Of the tokenys of thralle.

oNsemely eighen and frouncet, the hede bowynge towarde the right syde, knelynge to euery man for noght, the mewynges of his haundys bene vnsemely, dishordeynyt, and his goynge also bene tokenys of the thralle.

The bittyr man.

The tokenys of the bittyr man; he hath the hede bowynge and Stowpynge as a man pensyfe and fulle of thoght, he is blake of coloure, a lene visage and frounset, noght rogh, and blake here smothe.

The angry man.

The angry man Is wonyt to be of straght body and corageous, that Is to witte, full of hotte Spyrit, and therfor he Is fulhardy, Sumwhate ruddy of coloure, Grete shuldres and large, grete extremyte ^note.109 and stronge, and noght moche rogh the breste, a semely chyne and accordynge to the visage, and liggyne here. Who-so ne hym wrethyth whan he sholde, and theras he sholde, and agaynys tham ther as he sholde, he nys noght a man of

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The benure man.

The condycions of the benure man Is shewid Pryncipaly by his lokynge, and comynly he Is flesshy and hath moiste fles, and he Is of meene stature and wel mesurid, and he hath Sumwhate lowe here and and Sumwhate scarse.

Of the smale herte.

The tokenys of a lowe herte bene lytill visage, lytill eighen, and lytill othyr lymes of the body; and lene y-flesshide.

The chyderis.

The chyderis bene wonyd to haue the oer-lippe grete and lollynge ouer the emyste

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The tokenesse of the Pyteous and merciabil man.

pyteous and merciabill man tokenyth whitte coloure, and cleene, the eighen redy to wepe, gladly they lowyn pyteous stories and newe, and ham Puttyth in mynde, and whan thay hyryn Pyteous stories lyghtely thay wepyth, And namely aftyr wyne. they bene Parcewynge wythout malice, thy lowyn women, and ofte they gettyth doghteris. In prouerbis hit Is sayde, that the Piteous man hath iije vertues, that Is to witte, wysdome, drede and honeste, and the tyraunt or the cruell man, the contrary.

The Lechurere.

The lechure ofte-tymes Is whyte of coloure, the heere rogh, grete, and blake; rogh temples, fatte heyghen, and rollynge Swyftly in syght like a wode man; of suche lokynge bene bestis in ruthe.

The slepere.

The slepere oft-tymes haue grete hedis, grette nekkis, and thay arne Sum-whate fatte of body and fleshy, and rogh al aboute the wombe.

The myndefulleman.

Of good mynde bene thay comynly, that haue the lymmes mor large and moore corssife and moore flesshe fro the Ioyntures

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Condicions of women.

tHe moste opyn dyuersite in bestis Is that oone Is male and that othyr female, and aftyr thay dyuersyteis we vndyrstondyth that the maners and vertues of euery othyr chaungid. For amonge al bestis that bene nuryshid or dauntid by witte of man, the femalis bene moste mekyste and lyghtiste to teche and leste worthy. And noght for that they bene moste febill of body and leste of Pouer ham to defende, and the same Is hit wilde bestis. But women beene more meuabill and

The tokenys of the feete.

Who-so hath the fete well shappyn, grete toes and synnowy, sholde bene stronge and hardy, for he hath the condicion of the male. he that hath lytill fete and streyte, shorte toes and noght synewy, and more delycious to se than stronge fette, thay bene febill and feynte, and like to women. And he that hath crokid toes, comynly is shameles, and like in manere to byrdis, that wythout shame taken har Prayes.

The tokenys of the Ancles.

Thay men whych haue synowy ancles and opyn sholde ben corageous, and the haue the condycion of the male, and tho whych haue fleshly ancles and not opyn, bene nesse of corage an lyke to women.

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Thokenys of the legge.

Tho men whyche haue wel-makyd and synowy and stronge legges, shold be corageous, and haue the condycion of male; and tho men whyche haue smale legges and synnowy bene luchrus; and tho men wyche haue ouer lytill kneis they bene stronge of corage like as women bene, and that apperyth by thare facion.

Tokenys of the theghes.

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Tokenys of the breste.

Tho men whyche haue bony brestis and sharpe, thay sholde bene stronge; And tho men whych haue flesshly and fatte brestis bene nesshe men. And tho that haue the flesshe of the bretis lytill and dry bene ille-ymanerite and bene lykenyd to apys.

Of the bely.

Tho men whyche haue belyes menly fatte and not grete, bene stronge and of good complexcion, and haue the Propirteis of male, And thay whych haue leen belies and hungri, beene nesse.

Of the chynne.

Tho men whyche haue grete chynnes bene stronge and hardy, and haue propyrteis of male, And tho that haue the chynne smale and febille bene nesshe and lyke to women.

Of the Ribbys.

Tho men whych haue goode ribbys bene stronge and hardy aftyr the Propirte of the male, And tho whych haue febill Ribbis bene aftyr the Propyrte of women; tho that haue ribbis bocchynge owtwardes like as they weryn y-swolle, bene yanglours, and folis in wordys, and bene like frusshes and toodes.

Of the shuldres.

Tho men whych haue shuldres heygh vp-rerid, the synnowes and braones apperynge, they bene stronge and hardy aftyr

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Of the Neke.

Tho men whych haue the neke wel dystyncted by his yontes, and wel delyuerit, they bene of good witte and good vndyrstondynge, for that tokenyth good vndyrstondynge and delyuernesse of witte, and that thay Parcewyth lyghtely the mevynges of witte. And thay that hath the neke of contrary makynge and dysposycion, bene of Slow witte. A grete Neke noght fatte tokenyth streynthe and hardynes aftyr the Propyrte of man, And a smale neke the contrarie. A grete fleshy shorte neke tokenyth wrothynesse like as a bull Is; A longe neke and not ouer grete tokenyth corageous like a lyon; An ouer shorte neke tokenyth a gyloure and a deceyuoure like the wolfe.

Of the Lippes.

Who-so hath mene lippes betwixe thyknesse and thynne, and the homyste lippe comyth dovne and closyth to the Emyste lippe, he Is corageous and hardy, y-lykenyd to the lyon, and that a man may see in grete houndes and stronge. And tho that haue thyne lippes and harde aboute the teth, and the tethe vp-rerid outward apperynge, byth chorll and fowle, y-lykenyd to swyne; tho that haue grete lippes and that oone hangynge and descendynge ouer that othyr, they bene folis y-lykenyd to assis; tho that haue the ouer-lippe vp-rerid, and the gomes gretly vprerid bene endeynous and euyl-sayeris, lykenyd to baynge houndys.

Of the noose.

Tho that haue grete Noosys

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The vysage.

Tho that haue grete visachys and fleschy bene dysposyd to concupyscence of fleschy lustes. A leen visage tokenyth study and besynes. A fate visage dredfulnesse; And a lytill visage, a lytill herte. A grete vysage and broode tokenyth slewthe in manere, as Oxeen and Assis. A streyte lytill visage of Pouer semblant, tokenyth an harde herte and hungri. An opyn vysage and fayre semblaunt, tokenyth a lyberal herte; a lytill smale forhede, tokenyth lytill witte, il to teche, and ill condycions. The forhede al rounde, harde witte; a longe forhede ouer mesure, a slow witte: a quarre forhede of meen gretnys tokenyth feyrnysse and corage; A playne straght forhede tokenyth a losengere; the forhede sumwhate trowblit in semblant, tokenyth fiernysse and hardynesse.

Of the eyyne.

Tho that haue reede ey-liddys lowyth comynly wel wyn, and bene gret drynkeres; heuy ey-liddys tokenyth good slepere;

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Of the eeris.

Lytill eeris tokenyth good vndyrstondynge; grete eeris dul vndyrstondynge; And mesurabill eeris bene beste.

Of the colure.

Tho men that bene ouer blake bene dredfull, and lykenyd to the Egipcians and ethyopiens; And tho whyche bene ouer whyte bene dredfull, like to women: Tho that bene of men coloure betwene blake and white, Is a tokyn that thay bene stronge and hardy: Tho that bene yelow of colure, bene coragious i-lyke to the lyons. Tho that bene rede men, bene Parceuynge and trechurus, and full of queyntise, i-likenyd to Foxis. Tho that bene Pale and trowbely y-colurid, bene dredfull, for thay berryn the coloure of drede in thare farretes. Tho that bene rede colure, bene hasty and egre, for whan a man Is I-chafet by rynnynge or othyr mevynge, he wexet reede. Tho that haue a brandynge colure like the lye of fyre, lightly wexen woode; and tho that haue Suche colure abowte the brestis bene euer wrothy; and that apperyth, for whan a man Is hugely wrothe, he felyth the breste al brandynge. And tho men whych haue the neke abowte and the temples, grete ruddy weynes, bene wrothy and hugely angry; and that apperyth, for a man that Is wrothe hath the same Passione. Tho that haue the face sumwhate ruddy bene schamefaste, and tokyn of honeste shewith in har visage;

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Of the colure of the eyen.

tHo that haue fulli blake eyen tokenyth that thay bene feynte, for blake coloure aprochyth neygh to derknesse, and in derknesse a man lyghtly is a-drede more than in lyght.

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Of the sygnyficacioun of dyuers lymmes.

tho that haue rogh leggis bene lechureris, and thay that haue the breste and the wombe mochedell rogh, bene full vnstabill and varyant: tho that haue the neke be-hynde rogh bene liberal, i-likenyd to lyonys. Tho that [haue] sharpe chynnes bene of good corage, i-likenet to houndes; tho that haue the browes negh to-gyddyr bene heuy and Sorrofull of chere, for thay berryth the sygyn therof. Who-so hath the browes stikkynge vp anent the noose into the templis in euery syde, bene foolis and likenet to Swyne: tho that haue the lokkes vp-stondynge bene dredefull; that apperyth, for tho wyche bene a-dred haue hare lokkis stickynge vp: tho that

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Thokenys of goynge.

tHo that have the braons of the shuldres ryght strayghtly whan thay mewyth ham, tokenyth that thay bene stronge and hardy and lykenyd to horsyn. And tho that haue lytill fette and febill legges, bene febill and feynte alyke women. And tho that haue eyen moche mevynge, bene sharpe and raueners y-like to the gosehauke. And tho that oft-tymes closyth hare eyen bene dredfull. Tho that in lokynge or in rewardynge ficchyth hare syght and hit holdyth stabill, they bene studyous

Of the voyce.

tho that haue a grete voice and orible and not ful hey, done gladly wronges, and bene likenyd to assis. Tho that haue the voice atte the begynnynge of the worde grete and lowe, and aftyr that endyth hit al smale and hey, as kynde of oxen bene wrothy. And tho that haue the voyce hei, smale and swete and plesaunt, bene neshe, and haue lytill of manhode, and i-likenyd to women. And a grete hey and stronge voice tokenyth a stronge and an hardy man, likenyd to a lyon, and to a stronge hounde. A nesh brekynge and Plesaunte voice tokenyth a bennure and wel y-manerit man. A smale hey stronge voice tokenyth a man lyghtely to be wrethyd.

Of the body tokenys.

ttho that haue a lytill body, bene sharpe of body and of witte, for-why, har hertes bene ney the

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Now gracious lorde, wylle I translate the scyence of Physnomye to you in a shortyr manere, for Sum bokys of arystotiles makynge haue that scyence shortyr than othyr: And so may ye chese wych ye beste Plesyth. Capitulum Lixm.

hit Is to witte that the seede wythyn the marice is defiet, like a messe within a potte to sethe, And thefor Pale coloure and saad is a tokyn that the decoccion Is not Parfite, and therfor yf thou fyndyst in a man suche coloure, and he be a lytill man, hit is a tokyn that the Perfeccion of his kynde Is makyd lasse and amenuset. Suche a man thou shalt enchu, for he is disposyd to ille tecchis. And whan thou seyste a man that ofte-tymes rewardyth the, and whan thou rewardys hym he dredyth and wixeth ruddy, and namely yf he syche, in his visage, and wepynge hym takyth atte the ey, that man lowyth the and dreddyth: and yf he haue condycions contrary, he Is envyous, and tellyth not by the; and like as he is to enchue, that hath defaute of kynde; of quyke coloure; So is he to enchue, and more, that fautyth any lyme atte his byrth, or hath in othyr manere the lymes dyfformyd out of kynde: Suche bene to enchue as enemys, for to wickidnesse thay bene enclynet.

hE that complexcion in tempure hath, wych Is of meen

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heere.

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pLente of Lockys softe, tokenyth Bonerte and colde brayne. Plente of Heere on euery ethre shuldris tokenyth foly and vncunynge. Plente of here in wombe and in breste, tokenyt oribilite and syngulerte of kynde and smalnys of vndyrstondynge and loue of body. Reede coloure tokenyth a man angri and vicious. Broune lockys and a-broune tokenyth loue of ryght and Iustice.

Eyen.

who-so hath ful grete eyen, he is enuyous and not shamefaste, slow and Inobedyente, and namely yf he haue Pale eyen: he that haue the eyen of meen gretnysse, blake or grey, he is of Parceuynge vndyrstondynge, courteyse and trewe; who-so hath longe eyen and straght, and the visage moch straght, Suche is malicious and felonous; who so hath eyen y-like an asse his eyen, he Is a sotte and of harde vndyrstondynge; who so hath eyen meuynge and fleynge and sharpe lokynge, he is a dysceioure, a thefe, and a giloure: he that hath rede sparkelynge eyen, his fierse and corageous: Eyen that bene whit y-freklet, or I-sprotid, or blake, or reede y-spratelid throgh the eyen, bene moste to blame amonge al otheris, and moste reprouabill; and suche a man is worst amonge al otheris.

Browes.

who-so hath the browes ful rogh, he fautyth eloquence: he that hath gret browes strechynge to the templis, Such is foule and lechurous: he that hath browes not ouer thyke, of

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Noose.

hE that hath a sharpe noose and smale, he is wrethfull: And he that hath a longe noose and Sum-whate stowpynge and strachynge toward the mouthe, he is worthy and hardy: he

Vysage.

who-so hath a playne visage and nothynge fleshy, he is a chydere, a barratoure, il-taght, wrongfull, and foule: who-so hath the face meen in chekys and templis, and Sumwhate fatte, he is sothefaste, louynge, vndyrstondynge, and wyse, compaygnable, honeste, and of good engyne. Who so hath a grete mouth, he is chyualerous and hardy: And who-so hath grete lippes, swollen, he is a fole. And who-so hath the face ouer fleshy and ouer grete, he is vnvyse, enuyous, a lyer: who-so hath the face straght and wel y-mesurid, he is wyse and redy in his dedys, and of sutille vndyrstondynge. And who-so hath the visage litill and streyte, yelowe and discolourid, he is ful malicious, ful of vices, dysceyuoure, and dronklewe. Who-so hath the vysage longe and straght, he is angry. Who-so hath the temples swollen and the chekis also, he is ful angri. whoso hath the eeris full grete, he is a fole, saue in that wyche he hath lernyd. That wych he hath lernyt and vndyrstonde, he holdyth hit well, and wel hit remembrith. And whoso hath litill Eeris he is a sot, a thefe, and a lechurere.

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Voyce.

who-so hath the Voyce grete and Plesaunt and wel hardyn, he is chyualerous, Plesaunt, and eloquente. Who-so hath the voice meene betwen grete and smale, he is wise, Purueyaunt, veritable, and ryghtfull. Whoso hath the worde hasty, yf he haue a smale voyce, he is angri, fole, Enuyous, and a liere: And yf his voice be grete, he is angri and hasty. And whoso hath the voyce ful-swete, he is enuyous and suspicious. Ful grete swetnesse of voice tokenyth foly and vncvnnynge; Whoso in spekynge meveth

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Neeke.

who-so hath a smale neke, he sholde haue a swete voyce and wel y-harde, but he is vnvyse. Whoso hath the neke ful shorte he is voucheous, deceyuant, and trechure. And Whoso hath the neke ful grete, he is a fole and a gloton. And who-so hath the belly grette, he is a Sotte, wythout dyscrecion, Proute and lecherous. But a meen belly and a meene breste tokenyth heynesse of vndyrstondyng and of consaill. A broode breste hey vp-rerid and gret nynesse of shuldres and of the chynne, tokenyth Proesse, hardynesse, ^note.113 wythholdynge of vndyrstondynge and of cunynge: the bake and the chynne whan thay bene ouer-smale tokenyth febilnesse and dyscordaunt kynde: Meenesse of breste and of ch[i]nne is a good tokyn, and is to Preyse.

Of the Shuldres.

whan the shuldres bene moche vprerid, thei tokenyth orribill kynde and vntrouthe; whan the armys bene longe and rechynge to the kneis whan thay ben straght, tokenyth hardynesse, Proesse, and fraunchise; and whan the armes bene ful shorte thay tokenyth lowe of dyscorde, and

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Of the feete.

tHe fette gerte and fleshy, tokenyth fooly and lowe of wrongis; the feete litille and febill tokenyth febilnesse of kynde. Ful smale leggis tokenyth vnconyngnesse; grettnesse of leggis tokenyth streynth and hardynesse; grete brednysse of heelis and of leggis tokenyth febilnesse of naturall vertue, And tho that ham haue, bene neshe in maner of women. Whoso hath the Paas large and slow, he is wyse and wel spedynge in al his dedys, and who-so hath the Paas litill and Swyfte, he is suspeccious, of euyl will, on-myghty to werkys.

hE is wel dysposid aftyr kynde that hath tendyr flesh, the body nethyr ouer roghe ne ouer Playne, of meene estature,

Here endyth the tretyse of Physnomye, and begynnynge the tretyce of gouernance of helthe, of the body

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of man, aftyr Phisike. Capitulum Sexagessimum.

amonge al thynges he[l]th is moste desyrid. For a man haue nothynge, that soore seke is, that he nolde hit yeue helth forto haue and mayntene; What were wourth al the worlde to haue, and languyre by sekenysse? Sertis lytill, or noght; ffor sekenys enfebelyth not only the body, but also

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Now here y translate yow, out of latyn into englys, the techynges Whyche ye shall mowen kepe helth of body and of corage, that ye may the moore Worthely by bounte and delyuernesse, gouerne al that in youre iurysdiccioun Is. Capitulum lxjm.

aL the wyse Philosofers in oone accorde sayne that iiije elementes bene in the worlde, Wherof euery corruptabill thynge is makyd; that Is to witte, Erthe, Watyr, Eeyre,

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Of two Pryncipall thyngis

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that helth kepyth. Capitulum Lxijm.

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tO Kepe Helth of Body two thynges Benne Pryncipaly necessary, The Fryste Is that a man vse mettis and drynkis couenables and acordynge to his nature or kynde and to his complexcioun, as in tyme and in houre and in seyson and as atte his costome. For as ypocras Sayth, "costome is the seconde nature or kynde." The seconde thynge is, that a man hym Purge in due tyme of superfluytez and humours corruptes, and ther-for he is to wyt that aftyr the iiije humores, the ^note.115 complexcion dyuersyn and varien; for Sum men bene sanguynes, otheris Fleumatikes, the thyrde colerike, the fourth Malencolike. In the maner dyuersyth nature of mettes aftyr hote and colde, moisty and dry, and therfor while that complexcioun holdyth hym in estate, and gothe not away out of euynnesse and ryght mesure, a man is hoole of body; and therfor a man sholde vse mettis accordynge to his complexcioun, but whan the complexcioun Passyth mesure, ther hit be-howyth to vse mettes contraries to remeue or brynge the complexcion to euenesse and mesure: And most be done eisili, by litill and by litill, that the kynde ne be not y-greuyd, for the kynde hatyth Sudayn eschaunge. Ensampyl y shal you telle that ye may the bettyr Hit vndyrstonde. The colerike is hote and dry, the fleumatike is moisti and colde, and therfor euerye ethre couenable may vse mettis of oo maner of kynde, while that noone humoure ne synnyth in ham by excesse. But whan the humours Passyth ryght mesure by diet discordeynet, or by kynde of tyme or of regioune, they sholde vse contrary dyetis to redresse the excesse and the sorfete. The colerike sholde vse colde diet and moisti, and the Fleumatik hote diet and dry. I-lyke maner dyuersite of diet shold kepedyn be in the dyuersite of age, and of tyme and of region and of custumes. Anothyr manere of diet couena

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Of the gouernaunce of the body of man aftyr slepe, helth to mayntene. Capitulum Lxiijm.

whan a man rysyth fro slepe, he sholde a lytill walke and hym dysporte, and his lymmes euynly to streche, for that enforchyt the body and confortyth his hede, to keine that the wapours that gonne vp into the hede in tyme of slepynge may haue issue. In Somere hit is good to wesse the extremyteis wyth colde watyr to holde the kyndely hette wyth-In the body, and that shal make haue talent to ette. aftyr that he sholde rube ^note.116 his gomes with lewys of trenne, whych bene of hote and of dry kynde, for that clenyth the tethe, amendyth the tonge, cleryth the spekynge, and yewyth good talent to mette, and makyth good breth. Aftyr that man sholde vse suffumygacionys

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Of the ryghtfull houris and tymes of ettynge and drynkynge. Capitulum Sexagessimum quartum.

ryghtful houre of ettynge is, whan the stomake is purchet and clenset, and voyde of the mette, by appetyte and the desyre that a man hath to ette, and by Sutil and thyn spetil that descendyth or comyth doune fro the Palete of the mouth to the tonge. For who-so ettyth afor that the dygestion be fulfillid, hit helpyth not the naturale course, but ouer-chargyth hit. And by so myche the kyndely hette shall be of lytill vertu, and so shal abyde the mette longe congilet in the stomake, wherof comyth dyuers sekenys. But who-so ettyth atte the ryght houre aforsayde, he fedyth the kyndely hette whych is the Instrument of nature to turne the mettis and the drynkis into fleshe, blode, and bonys; and therfor to kepe kynde hete, and to voyde the stomake, good is hit afor mette Sumwhate to walke or ryde, But bettyr is to walke than ryde, that the kynde hette be y-confortid by the mevynge; and yf anythynge be y-lefte in

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Now hit is to witte of the gouernaunce of the body aftyr mette. Capitulum lxvm.

whan a lord hath ettyn, good is to stonde awhyle and softely to walke, noght vpon harde erthe ne Pament, but vpon erthe nesshly y-st[r]awet or russhet, for that shal make the mette aisely descende by litill and lytill, into the botum of the stomake. Sethyn hit is good to reste and slepe in a softe bedde, in clothis fresshe wel oduret, Fryst vpon the ryght syde and aftyr vpon the lyfte syde, and on that syde of the, slepe an ende to make, for that syde is moste colde and moste nedyth to be ychafit. Slepynge afor mette drieth the moysture of the body, and hit makyth lene, but slepyng aftyr mette nurrishet the body and streyntyth. For whyle that a man slepyth, al the wittis restyth; and than retretith the natural hette that spredyth abrode throgh al the body, and to the v wittis. hit servyth to the stomake and to the entraill, and than thay gederith hare streynth and vertu, wyche was amenuset and febelit whan hit was attendynge to al the wittis and meuynges of the body. And therfor sum Philosofers sayne that hit were more holsome to the body to ette atte euynsonge-tyme than atte myde-day. For atte myde-day the v wittes bene in trauaille, and the corage of man is by that y-trauaillit, also by slepynge, by thogh, and by dyuers othyr thynges that a man hath to done, and in tymes by hette Of the sone, wyche more schewyth his vertue atte that tyme of the day: and therfore the natural hette atte myde-day is a lasse stronge, and the stomake is of lasse Powere to defy the mette, but atte evyne we seene

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Of the foure Parties of the yere aftyr hare kyndes. Capitulum. Lxvjm.

AL the olde Phylosofers the yere dyuysedyn in fowre Parties, wyche ben callid Veere, Somer, Herrust, and Wyntyr. Thes iiije tymes hath like Propyrteis to the foure elementes, and to the foure complexciones, of the wyche I haue aforsaydyne. The compotistres sayne, that Veere begynnyth at the feste wych we callyth in kalenders, Cathedra sancti Petri, and duryth into the feste of Seynte Vrbane. Than begynnyth Somyr, and duryth into the feste of Seynte Symphoriane. Than begynnyth

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[Of Somer. Capitulum Lxvijm.]

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SOmer Begynnyth in the feste of Seynte Vrbane, and Duryth into the feste of Seynte Symphoriane.

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[Of Herust.] Capitulum Lxviijm.

HErust begynnyth atte the feste of Seynte Symphoriane, and duryth Into the feste of Seynte Clement. Than wixen the dayes more shorte than thay weryn, and the nyght more longyr. But like as in Veere fallyth equinoccium, that is to Say, evnesse of day and nyght, So hit is in heruste, but in veere, the dayes longyth fro equinoccium forth, and the nyghtes shortith. In herust fallyth the contrary. In this tyme the eeyre wixeth colde and dry, the wynde of the Northe oftymes turnyth, Wellis wythdrawen ham, grene thynges fadyth, Frutes fallyth, the Eeyre lesyth his beute, the byrdys shechyn hote regions, the bestis desyryth hare receptis, Serpentes gone to hare dichis. Than semyth the worlde as a woman of grete age, than nowe wox a colde and hade nede to be hote clothyde, for that the yowuthe is Passyde, and age neghyth, Wherfor hit is no mervaile yf beute she hath loste. This tyme is dry and colde by kynde, and than rengnyth blake coler, that is

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[Of Wyntyr.]

[Capitulum Lxixm.]

Yntyr begynnyth atte the feste of Seynt Clement, And duryth into the feste of Seynte Petyr, as is afor-sayde. In this tyme the dayes ben woundyr shorte, and the nyghtes longe, for that the Sonne louyth hym

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Of thyngis that makyth the body fat, moisti, and wel dysposyd. Capitulum Lxxm.

tHe body of man and al that is y-makyd of the foure elementis, bene gouernyd aftyr the mevynges of heuyn, and aftyr the same mevynges the tyme dyuersyth, and therfor in dyuers tymes hit behouyth to haue dyuers kepyngis. Noght for than, sum thyngis that in euery day of the yere hath his effecte more and lasse, as slepynge nurshith the body euery tyme of the yere, and myche wakynge makyth the body lene, and hit destrueth. Therfore, gracious lorde, like as wryttyn y fynde, I shall you say shortely What thynges makyth the body fat, moiste, and well dysposid; and what thynges done the contrary. The body makyth fat, moiste, and wel

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Of thynges that done the contrarye. Capitulum Lxxjm.

tHes bene the thynges wych done the contrary to the thynges aforsayde; lytill mette that is not nurshynge, lytill drynke, namely of febill, moche trauaill and grete Iourneis make, to be longe agayne the Sonne in hote weddyr, Slepe afor mete, goynge vpon hard Pament, bathynge in salte watyr, or in watyr in wych there is brymstone, moche vsynge

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I-thankyd be god, that is so Hende,
That of this Worke hath maket an ende.