Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson

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,

the sugetis that first were goode shulle wexen rebelle to hem and the bothe, [folio 24b] supposyng that it be mayntenaunce. On that othir side loke that thi Iustices be wijs and Iuste men, for þat is thi worshipe and ende of thi name, and perpetuelle fame to thi Rewme. And that thi Iuges haue trewe notories, so that thi Iuges be not corrupte with false covetise and yeftis as they ben oft tymes. And, dere sone, y amonysshe the that thou vse chyvalrie in dedis of armes, bi good governaunce and good counselle and trewe. And avie not him þat puttith him into batayle, for envye or foly or covetise, ne presumpcioun. And haue no dispite of a good man of armys though he be poore, for often tymes it happith a poor man to doo as good a dede of armes or feete of werre as a lord. Norshe alle men with comfortable wordis and goodly, and bihote hem yeftis and worshipe, and loke thou lakke no thyng that is nedefulle vnto armes. And whan thou sest thyn enemy Renne, Renne nought on him sodeynly vnavisid, and loke thou haue goode waytes and aspies in thyn oste. And euyrmore, and thou mowe, logge nere a mounteyne or an hille, for the valey wantith nothir watir ne woode, and haue euyrmore plente of vytayles, and aboue alle þingis haue plente of trompis and trumpetis, and othir dyuerse mynstrelsies, for þat makith gret vertu in mannys corage, and gretly discomfortith enemyes, and puttith hem to divisioun and drede, and be not alwey armed in on armes, but in dyverse. And loke thou be welle stuffid of good Archers and Arblasteres, and sett in good governaunce and ordinaunce, some to renne, and some to stonde and abide batayle. And whan thou entrist to fighte comforte thi meyne with fayre wordis, and that shalle yeve hem hert and hardynesse forto abide in batayle, and [folio 25a] euyr kepe the wel from tresoun. And euyr be wel purveyde of good horse and wel rennyng, so that nede were that thorugh tresoun or any othir adventure it nedid thee to fle, than thou maist bi thi swyft horse save thyn owen persone. And if þou see thyn enemyes fle, chase hem nought to hastily, but holde thi folke togidere on þe best maner thou kanst, for oft tyme in chasyng of enemyes a man is disseyvid and deed. And if þou assayle castelle or towne, loke that thou haue Engynes and Gonnes gret plente to breke the wallis and the yatis, and good crafty mynoures, and by any wey that thou mayst bireve hem her water, for that is the most confusioun in any holde. And if thou

maiste not reve hem her watir, loke that thou ordeyne forto envenyme it, and haue to the two or three of that othir side, forto telle the her castis and her counselle. And if thou mayst haue thi purpos othirwise than bi batayle, y rede thee take it, or ellis do thi worste vnto thyn enemyes, and on alle wise worche by counselle.