Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson
- Title
- Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson
- Editor
- Steele, Robert Benson, b. 1860
- Publication
- London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.
- 1898
- Rights/Permissions
The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact [email protected]. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact [email protected].
DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States
- Link to this Item
-
https://name.umdl.umich.edu/SSecr
- Cite this Item
-
"Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/SSecr. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 27, 2025.
Contents
- NOTE.
-
THE SECRETE OF SECRETES.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
(MS. Reg. 18 A. vij. B.M.) - The Prologe of a gret doctour recomendyng Aristotille.
- The Epistille that Alexandre sent to Aristotille the gret clerke. Cam. primum.
- The answer of the same Epistille ayen to Alexandre. Capitulum ijm.
- The prologe of him that translatid this book into latyne. Cam. iijm.
- Of the largenes of a kyng. Cam. 4m.
- Of largenes and skarsnes, and many oþir vertues. Capm. 5m.
- Of vicis and vertues, and of þe doctrine of Aristotille. Cam. 6m.
- Of entendement, that is vndirstondyng. Capm. 7m.
- Of entencioun fynable of a kyng. Cam. 8m.
- Of yvelys that cometh of bestly desires. Cam. 9m.
- Of the wysdome and ordinaunce of a kyng. Cam. 10m.
- Of a kyngis goodnes and holynes. Cam. 11m.
- Of the purvyaunce of a kyng. Capitulum 12m.
- Of clothyng of a kyng. Cam. 13m.
- Of the countenaunce of a kyng. Cam. 14m.
- Of the rightwisnes of a kyng. Cam. 15m.
- Of worldly desires of a kyng. Cam. 16m.
- Of þe chastite of a kyng. Cam. 17m.
- Of pleiying of a kyng. Capitulum 18m.
- Of discrecioun of a kyng. Cam. 19m.
- Of reuerence of a kyng. Cam. 20m.
- How a kyng shalle make Sugetis. Capitulum 21m.
- Of the mercy of a kyng. Cam. 22m.
- Of peynes and vengeaunce of god. Capitulum 23m.
- Of knowleche of þe same peynes. Cam. 24m.
- fforto kepe þe feith. Cam. 25m.
- Of studie and wijsdome. Capitulum 26m.
- Of the kepyng of a kyng. Capitulum 27m.
- Of the difference of Astronomye. Cam. 28m.
- Of the kepyng of helthe. Cam. 29m.
- Of governaunce in seeknes. Cam. 30m.
- In how many maners a man may kepe helthe. Capitulum 31m
- Of dyuerse metys. Cam. 32m.
- Of the stomake. Capm. 33m.
- Signes to knowe þe stomak. Cam. 34m.
- Of a pistille of gret price. Cam. 35m.
- Of the maner of travayle. Capitulum 36m
- Of Abstinence. Cam. 37m.
- Nought to drynke pure watir. Cam. 38m.
- Of the maner of slepyng. Capitulum 39m
- Of kepyng of Custome. Capm. 40m.
- How a man owith to chaunge Custome. Capm. 41m.
- Of foure tymes of the yere. Cam. 42m.
- Of prime temps, what it is .I. ver. cam. 43m.
- Of somer tyme, what it is. Capm. 44m.
- Of hervest, what it is. Capitulum 45m.
- Of wyntir tyme, and what it is. Ca. 46m.
- Of naturalle hete. Capitulum 47m.
- Of thingis that fattith the body. Cam. 48m.
- Of thingis that makith þe body lene. Capm. 49m.
- Of the first party of þe body. Capitulum. 50m.
- Of þe secund parti of þe body. Cam. 51m.
- Of the thridde party of þe body. Cam. 52.
- Of the fourthe party of þe body. Cam. 53m.
- Of kyndis of ffisshis. Cam. 54m.
- Of nature of watris, Of nature of wyne, Of soure Syrupe. Cam. 55, Cam. 56, Cam. 57.
- Of the forme and maner of rightwisnes. Cam. 58m.
- Of þe secretary of a kyng. Capm. 59m.
- Of a kyngis messangeris. Capm. 60m.
- Of governaunce of the peple. Capitulum 61m.
- Of ffysnomye of folke. Capitulum 62m.
- [Epistle dedicatory.]
- THE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK.
- epistles
- Book I
-
BOOK II.
- Cap. 11. [Of þe wyt of a kynge.]
- Cap. 12. [Of þe religiouste of a kynge.]
- Cap. 13. [Of his purueyance and his sleghte.]
- Cap. 14. Of ornement cleþinge of a kynge.
- Cap. 15. [Of þe contynance of a kynge.]
- Cap. 16. [Of þe ryght of a kynge.]
- Cap. 17. [Of his fynale entente.]
- Cap. 18. [Of þe chastite of a kynge.]
- Cap. 19. [Of þe solace of a kynge.]
- Cap. 20. [Of the descrecioun of a kynge.]
- Cap. 21. Of obedyence.
- Cap. 22. Of lyknes of kynges.
- Cap. 23. [Of þe socour and þe help of a kynge.]
- Cap. 24. Of þe purueyance of a kynge.
- Cap. 25. [Of þe mercy of a kynge.]
- Cap. 26. To kepe ffaytℏ and othes sworne.
- Cap. 27. [Of the kepynge of a kynge.]
- Cap. 28. [Of auancement of study yn his londe.]
- Cap. 29. To tryste nogℏt in women.
- Cap. 30. Tryst noght only yn oon leche.
- Cap. 31. Of þe conseyl of Astronomye.
- Cap. 32. [Of þe profyt to kepe hele.]
- Cap. 33. Of þe [composition of man of] ffoure humours.
- Cap. 34. Off kepynge of hele.
- Cap. 35. [Of þe tokenys of þe stomak.]
- Cap. 36. [Of maners to kepe helthe.]
- Cap. 37. [Of kepynge of helth and maner of lyunge.]
- Cap. 38. Of contynance afore mete.
- Cap. 39. [Of manere of slepynge.]
- Cap. 40. Of slepynge aftyr mete.
- Cap. 41. [Of kepynge of costome.]
- Cap. 42. To eschewe Engrutynge.
- Cap. 43. [Of Veir.]
- Cap. 44. Off Somer.
- Cap. 45. Off Heruest.
- Cap 46. Of Wynter.
- Cap. 47. [Thynges that fattith & moistes the body.]
- Cap. 48. Thynges þat ffeblys and dryes þe Body.
- Cap. 49. The Reule off Ypocraas.
- Cap. 50. [Of þe euyle of þe heued and þe remedy.]
- Cap. 51. Off þe Brest.
- Cap. 52. Off þe Ballokys.
- Cap. 53. Opynyouns of dyuers ffesisyens.
- Cap. 54. [Of þe kepyng of kyndly hete.]
- Cap. 55. Off knowynge off Metys.
- Cap. 56. Of fisshes.
- Cap. 57. Off knowynge of Waters.
- Cap. 58. Off kynde of wyns.
- Cap. 59. [Of þe euelys þat folwyn to mekyll of wyn.]
- Cap. 60. [Of venegre, and þe beste medicyn for dronkenesse.]
- Cap. 61. Thynges þat strynghtes and makys fat þe body.
- Cap. 63. [Of ordinance of stuynge.]
- Cap. 64. [Teching to lyf hool with-oute leche.]
- Cap. 65. [Of þe greete medicyne.]
- Cap. 66. [Of makynge of hony to medecyns.]
- Cap. 67. [Of þe ffirste medecyne.]
- Cap. 68. [Of þe secounde medecyne.]
- Cap. 69. [Of þe þridde medecyne.]
- Cap. 76. Off takynge of Medicynes of Bloodlate.
- Cap. 77. [Off takynge of medicyn laxatyue.]
- Cap. 78. [Of doctryne of tokenynges.]
- Cap. 79. Off propertes of herbes and stones.
- Cap. 80. [Of þe stoon, þe Eye of Philosophers.]
- Cap. 81. Off þe Oppynyoun of Hermogenes.
- Cap. 82. [Off þe vertu of precious stoones.]
- Cap. 83. [Off þinges vegetable.]
- Cap. 84. [Of þe trees þat hauyn kyndly vertuȝ.]
- Book III.
-
Book IV.
- Cap. 89. [Off þe makyng of man.]
- Cap. 90. Off þe V wyttes. [Of sight.]
- Cap. 91. [Off harkenyng.]
- Cap. 92. [Off tastynge.]
- Cap. 93. [Off touch.]
- Cap. 94. Off werkyng of wyttes.]
- Cap. 95. [Off perfeccioun of ffyue wyttes.]
- Cap. 96. [Off conseillers.]
- Cap. 97. [Off byholding engenderures.]
- Cap. 98. [To dyspys noght lytyll stature.]
- Cap. 99. [How þe kyng awe to ask conseyll.]
- Cap. 100. [Off putting vpberers in þe kyngs stede.]
- Cap. 101. Off Prudence to assaye a Conseller.
-
Cap. 102.
ffyuetene Vertueȝ off a good Conseiller. - Cap. 103. [þat man ys þe lesse werld.]
- Cap. 104. [Noght to haue trist yn man þat trowys noght þy lawe.]
- Book V.
- Book VI.
- Book VII.
- Book VIII.
- Book IX.
-
Book X.
- Cap. 112. Knowynge by diuers tokenynges.
- Cap. 113. [Off colour.]
- Cap. 114. [Off byholdyng.]
- Cap. 115. [Off þe mysauentrous.]
- Cap. 116. [Off attemprance.]
- Cap. 117. [Of heer of men.]
- Cap. 118. [Of eghen.]
- Cap. 119. [Of browes.]
- Cap. 120. [Of nees.]
- Cap 121. [Of face.] Of mouth.
- Cap. 122. [Of þe temples.]
- Cap. 123. [Of þe eres.]
- Cap. 124. [Of voyces.]
- Cap. 125. [Of mouynge of body.]
- Cap. 126. [Of þe Throte.]
- Cap. 127. [Of þe wombe: of þe sholders.]
- Cap. 128. [Of þe armes.]
- Cap. 129. [Of þe palmes of þe hondes.]
- Cap. 130. [Of knees, Of þe soles of þe feet.]
- Cap. 131. [Of þe paas of men, & manere of goynge.]
- Cap. 132. [Of þe tokenynges of good kynde.]
- Cap. 133. [Of oon wytnesse in Iugement.]
-
THE GOUERNAUNCE OF PRYNCES
OR
PRYVETE OF PRYVETEIS. - Here begynnyth the Chapiteres and the tytles of this boke.
-
Fryst, How and for Whate cause this arystotiles boke Was makyd̛. Capitulum primum. - Of the two thyngis pryncipalle the wyche behowyth a kynge to haue. Capitulum Secundum.
- Here folwyth Ensamplis of olde stories to Prow the forsayde lasson Sothe.
- Of the dyuersyte of kynges of maneris wych ben Praside and vnPrayside. Capitulum. iiijm.
- Wher-for byth to Enchu folargesse and scarcite. And whate longyth to Fraunchis. Capitulum Vm.
- What aualyth Sotilte of vndyrstondynge and connynge and how thay byth y-know. Capitulum vjm.
- Of two thynges that makyth a kynge to haue good renoune. Als hit folwyth in this nexte Capytre. Capitulum vijm.
- How a kynge shal haue hym̄ anent his Pepille. Capitulum viijm.
- How a kynge hym Shall haue anente hym-self in vertues and in clothynge. Capitulum ixm.
- Of the costome of Iwes, and how a kynge shold his Subiectis and namely his marchaundis mayntene. Capitulum xm.
- Of the solace of a kynge. Capitulum Vndescimum.
- That a kynge is lykenyd to reyne, wynde, wyntyr, and Somyr. Capitulum xijm.
- Of the Purweyawnce of a kynge. Capitulum. xiijm.
- Of the mercy of a kynge. Capitulum xiiijm.
- 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.
- How a kynge shulde auaunce prowyd men in armys, and the Study of clergi to hawe wyth hym. Capitulum. xvjm.
-
The Prologe of the foure Cardinall Vertues, declaryng the
vertues of theologi, and fowre manere of goodis. Capitulum xvijm. - Of the foure Cardynal vertues. Capitulum xviijm.
- Of the fryst vertue cardynal, that callit is, Prudencia. Capitulum xixm.
- That a man sholde surmonte al bestis in vertues and namely in two. Capitulum xxm.
- Of Prudencia and cunnynge to mayntene and haue. Capitulum xxjm.
- Now here begynnyth olde stories to prowe the forsayde thechynge of Prudencia trowthe. Capitulum xx[jj]m.
- Of the Parties of Prudencia. Capitulum vicessimum tercium.
- Now of vndyrstondynge, that is the Seconde Parte of this vertu Prudencia. Capitulum Vicessimum quartum.
- Of the thyrde Partie of Prudencia that is callid Purveyaunce. Capitulum Vicessimum quintum.
- That Prudencia is moche to Prayse, Prowyth well this reysones folwynge. Capitulum vicessimum Sextum.
- Of the Seconde vertu cardynall that is y-callid in latyn Iusticia. In englysshe ryghtfulnesse othyre ryght. Capitulum vicessimum Septimum.
- That a prynce sholde not truste to his enemy. Capitulum Vicessimum octauum.
- Of the manere correccion that a prynce sholde haue anent his Subiectis. Capitulum vicessimum nonum.
- Here endyth the boke of Iusticia and begynnyth the thyrde vertu that is y-callid in latyn̄ fortitudo. In Englysshe Streynth of herte, othyr boldenys, othyr manhode, othyr hardynesse. Capitulum tricessimum
- Here begynnyth old stories to Shewe the condicionys and the propirteis of the hardy or the manfull. Capitulum Trycessimum Prymum.
- Of the Pite and mercy that a Prynce sholde haue. Capitulum xxxijm.
- Of the Kynges titles to the land of Irland, aftyr the Cronyclis. Capitulum xxxiij.
-
Nowe here y an end makyth of the thyrde Cardynal vertue
that ycallid in lateyn, Fortitudo, in Englysℏ Streynthe,
And trete of the iiij
e cardynal vertue, that Is in latyn callid Temporancia, Is myn entente god helpynge. Amen. Capitulum Tricessimum quartum. - Thus myche haue y Sayde of this vertue Temporance for this tyme: Now here y write olde stories in comendacion̄ of the Same vertue. Capitulum xxxm quintum.
- 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.
- Of the comendacioun and of the werk of matrimony. Capitulum xxxvijm.
- Off the keping of the body after the consaill of Lechis. Capitulum xxxviijm.
- That Astronomy is necessari to the keping of mannys body. Capitulum tricessimum Nonum.
- Herre begynnyth stories and ensamplis to proue that oryson is Souerayn remedy in euery trybulacion. Capitulum quadragessimum.
-
That god nath not in dispite the orisones of Paganes. Capitulum xljm. - Now gracious lord, to youre excellence here I write dyuers rygh good and necessary notabilitees of the vertu of Prayere, fryst in latyn and Sethyn̄ in Englysh, aftyr dyuers moste autentike auctoritees of holy wryte. Capitulum Quadragessimum Secundum.
- Of dyuers ryght good and necessary nobilteis of the vertu of orison. Capitulum xliijm.
- Of the vertue of Iusticie othyr ryghtfulnesse. Capitulum xliiijm.
- Of the gouernaunce of man aftyr the v wittes. Capitulum Quadragessimum quintum.
- Of the manere of the propirtees of consaillours. Capitulum quadragessimum sextum.
- How thow shalte assay thy consaillours. Capitulum xlvijm.
- Of the tokenesse and condycions that a good̛ Consailloure and a frende sholde haue. Capitulum xlvi[i]jm.
- How a man hath al condycions of bestis, Hit is to Witte. Capitulum xlixm.
- Of Notaries. Capitulum Lm.
- Of messagers, and wych thay shold bene. Capitulum quynquagessimum Primum.
- How that the Subiectes bene the tresure of Prynces, and lyke a gardyn̄ of dyuers tress growyn there-In. Capitulum Lijm.
- Of barons, and wherof thay Serwyth in the roialme. Capitulum Liijm.
- That a kynge sholde not entyr in battail in his owyn̄ Propyr Persone. Capiitulum Liiijm.
- That Phisnomye Is a necessarie scyence to knowe the Maners of men. Capitulum Lvm.
- Ensamples to Prow the forsayde thynge. Capitulum quinqu[a]gessimum Sextum.
- Here is I-prowid that the Sowle Sueth the condycionys of the bodyes. Capitulum quinquagessimum Septimum.
-
Of the Science of Physnomye. Capitulum Lviijm.
- Of whyte coloure.
- Of Physnomye aftyr the here.
- Of complexcioun of Flessh, ut sequitur.
- Of complexcione aftyr the mevynge.
- Of the complexcione o voyce als hit folwyth her nexste.
- Of the coloureof the visage hit Is here to witte.
- The tokenesse of stronge Corage.
- The tokenesse of a dredful or a feynte man benex; fryste, als follwyth:
- The tokenesse of good complexcioun.
- The tokenys of ille complexcioun.
- The tokenys to know shamels men.
- The tokenys of honest men̄.
- The tokenys of the Corageous.
- The tokenys of the cowarde.
- Of the tokenys of thralle.
- The bittyr man.
- The angry man.
- The benure man.
- Of the smale herte.
- The chyderis.
- The tokenesse of the Pyteous and merciabil man.
- The Lechurere.
- The slepere.
- The myndefulleman.
- Condicions of women.
- The tokenys of the feete.
- The tokenys of the Ancles.
- Thokenys of the legge.
- Tokenys of the theghes.
- Tokenys of the breste.
- Of the bely.
- Of the chynne.
- Of the Ribbys.
- Of the shuldres.
- Of the Neke.
- Of the Lippes.
- Of the noose.
- The vysage.
- Of the eyyn̄e.
- Of the eeris.
- Of the colure.
- Of the colure of the eyen̄.
- Of the sygnyficacioun of dyuers lymmes.
- Thokenys of goynge.
- Of the voyce.
- Of the body tokenys.
- 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.
-
Here endyth the tretyse of Physnomye, and begynnynge the
tretyce of gouernance of helthe, of the body
of man, aftyr Phisike. Capitulum Sexagessimum. - Now here y translate yow, out of latyn into englysℏ, 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.
-
Of two Pryncipall thyngis
that helth kepyth. Capitulum Lxijm. - Of the gouernaunce of the body of man aftyr slepe, helth to mayntene. Capitulum Lxiijm.
- Of the ryghtfull houris and tymes of ettynge and drynkynge. Capitulum Sexagessimum quartum.
- Now hit is to witte of the gouernaunce of the body aftyr mette. Capitulum lxvm.
- Of the foure Parties of the yere aftyr hare kyndes. Capitulum. Lxvjm.
- [Of Somer. Capitulum Lxvijm.]
- [Of Herust.] Capitulum Lxviijm.
- Of thyngis that makyth the body fat, moisti, and wel dysposyd̛. Capitulum Lxxm.
- Of thynges that done the contrarye. Capitulum Lxxjm.