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

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 owen̛ 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 ligℏtly 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 rigℏtfully and worschipfully to his lordschype. And he þat

puttys his lawe in seruage and vndirlout yn his kyngdom and empir, he is a trespasour to treuth and despisour of his awene lawe; And he þat dispyses his lawe of alle men, he shal be dispysed and dampnyd in lawe.

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

Ȝyt y say als wys Philosophers and spekers of þe mygℏts of god sayen, þat first soueraynly it fallys to a kynge þat he attempre hym witℏ trewe stablementȝ & lawes nogℏt in fenyd semynge but in opyn shewynge of dede, þat alle þe folk wete þat he doutys god mygℏtful, and þat [folio 7b] he ys subgyt to þe hegℏ mygℏt of god; ffor þanne men was wont to worschip̄p̄e and doute a kynge whenne þey se hym worschippe and doute god; and if he oonly shew hym semand religious, and yn his werkys be an euyl doere, And euyll wirkynges may nogℏt hyd hem, but ȝif folk wete hem, he shal be refusyd of god and of þe folk despysed, his dedys shaƚƚ be dyfamed, and his empir lessyd, and þe hegℏt of his glorie and mageste shal be with outen̛ worschipe. And ouer þat þer is no pryce ne no tresour þat may aȝeyn bye his good fame. Ouer alle þinges it fallys to a kynge to worschipe trew men, to fortℏbere religious men, wys men to enhye and ofte sithes speke wytℏ, to stirre doutablys questions, honestly to aske hem, and discretly answore hem; þe most wys and most noble most to worschippe aftir her states.

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

and yt ys nedfuƚƚ to a kynge to þynk on auentures to come, and so ordeyne þat he suffre more ligℏtly aduersytes. Also it fals him to be pytous, & namly restreyne hym fro inordinat sterynges, and he do nogℏt yn dede with outen̛ 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 nogℏt ouer latly ne ouer hastly, þat he be nogℏt 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 appareƚƚ to apper & passe oþer in fayrhede; þerfore a kynge sholde vse cleþynge and

ornementȝ dere, fayre, and straunge, ffor it semes to a kynges prorogatyue to passe oþer, so þat his dignite þerby be maad fairer, and his mygℏt be nougℏt empeyred, and þat due reuerence be ȝolden̛ to hym. It semes a kyng to haue fair faconde, and þat he be fair spekand, and þat he haue a cleer voyce þat mekyl profytes yn tyme of Bataiƚƚ.

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

To eschewe mekyl Spekynge.

[folio 8a] Alexander, fayr þing and worschipful ys to a kyng þat he withdrawe hym fro mekyl spekynge but whenne nede askys, ffor it semys bettir þat þe eres of þe folk be thristy to þe wordes of þe kyng þanne þay be fillyd of his talys, ffor whanne þe eres and þe sawles er so fillyd, þey here nougℏt blegℏtly þe kyng. It semes also a kyng þat he haunte nogℏt mekyl þe company of his subgitȝ, & namly of vnhonest persouns, ffor ouer mekyl familiarite among þe poepyl brynges in despyt and contempt of worschipe, and þerfore þay of Inde hauen̛ a ful fayr costome yn disposisioun and ordynance of hir kyng and kyngdome; ffor þey haue ordeyned þat hir kyng onys yn þe ȝeer appere yn his real apparel byfore his poeple sittand on a stede enourned of his armes, and he nobley armed, & his comune poeple shaƚƚ be maad to remue aferre from him, and his noble Barouns negℏ and aboute hym alle; And þanne ys it costome þat he spede greet nedys, and to shewe diuers þinges þat ar fallyn, and do besynesse and entent to ordeyne for the comyn profyt, þat day he ys wont to geue gyftes, and þey þat ar lytel gylty to delyuere out of prisoun, and to allege his poeple of gret charges, and to do dyuers werkys of pytee; And at þe sermon endyd þe kyng shal sitte, and þanne shal rise oon of his princes þat ys next hym, þat ys haldyn̛ most wys and most best spekand of oþer, and he shal speke honour louynge and goodnesse of þe kyng, ȝeldand þankynges to glorious god, þat so wel haues enourned þe kyngdome and þe contree of Inde with so wys a kyng, þat yn vnite and obedience haþ confermed and fastyd þe louable poeple of Inde; And aftyr þe louynges and praysynges of here kyng he shal turne hym to þe poeple to prayse hem and loue hem, and remeue & recomend her gode maneres, and styr þayre goode willes, and shew by ensamples and resouns of meknesse and of obedience to loue & reuerence of þe kyng. And after þat þe

poeple shal afforce hem to enhye and loue þe kyng and his goode dedes, to prayse and to pray for his lyf, and in citeȝ and greet assembleȝ hys wyt [folio 8b] and his gode werkes telle, and þerfore þay lere þaire children yn þaire ȝouthe and enfourmes hem to loue, honoure, obeisse, and doute þe kynge. In þys manere pryncipaly ys shewyd and grewys þe gode name of a kynge boþe pryuely and openly. And þe forsayd kyng of Inde vsyd þat tyme to ponysse mysdoers and trespasours, þat þe way of wrong be put away fro rigℏtwyse lyuyeres, And brekers of þe lawes be chastysed. And also he vsys þat tyme to alegge trowages and for to dispense wytℏ marchauntȝ, and for to reles party of rentys, and Marchauntȝ with alle here Marchaundise besely defende and helpe. And þat ys þe cause þat Inde ys so ful of poeple, ffor þedyr Marchauntȝ trauaille on alle sydes, and faire and wel er resceyued, and þere wynnes ryche & pore Citeȝeyns and fforeyns, And þerfore trowages and þe kynges rentys encresys.

Cap. 16. [Of þe ryght of a kynge.]

It ys gretly to eschewe to offende Marchauntȝ and do hem wronge, ffor þay er berers of louynges and gode name of kynges and kyngdomes þurgℏ þe world. It ys to ȝelde to ilk man þat his ys, ffor so er citeeȝ warmstoryd and rentys gyuen̛. 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 nogℏt coueytous ne crueƚƚ.

Alexander, coueyte nogℏt þinges coruptibles & passant, þat þou most sone forsake. But gete þe stabyl richesse, a lyf þat may nogℏt be chaungyd, a kyngdome ay lastand dilatable. Euer ordeyn þi þougℏtes in goodnesse; ȝeld þy seluyn glorious & vygerous; fflegℏ þe folowyng of bestys and lyouns, and hir fylthes. Be nogℏt cruel, but bonand to spare hem of whom þou hauys victorye; þink of auentures and cases to falle, ffor þou woot nogℏt what day to-morwe sal falle þe. Wille þou nogℏt 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 nogℏt 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 hauen̛ no resoun, and folwyn her dedys? trowe me wyth outen̛ drede, þat lychery ys distruccioun of body, shortynge of lyf, corypcioun of vertueȝ, trespas of þe lawe; And hit engendrys women maners, and at þe laste yt ledys man to þat euyƚƚ þat we haue be-fore sayd.

Cap. 19. [Of þe solace of a kynge.]

Of Instrumentȝ of Menstralcye.

[folio 9a] Hit fals to emperiale magestee to haue with hym pryue men̛ and trewe, with whom he mowe delyt hym wytℏ Instrumentȝ and maners of Organes whanne he ys ennoyed, ffor man sawle kyndly in swilke þinges delytes, Wyttes restyn hem, Curiosyteȝ vanysshes away, and al þe body ressayues stryngℏt. Whenne þou wylt delyte þe with swylk þynges, at þe moste dwelle yn swylk lyf þre dayes or ffoure after þou sees hit profyt, and euermore wytℏ þe beste and most honestely, and þat yt be pryue. And whenne þou ert yn swylke solaces, wythdrawe þe fro mekyl drynkynge, and lat oþer drynkyn þat wille, And feyne þe as þou were eschaufyd wyth wyn, ffor þanne shalt þou persayue many pryue þynges, and here also, but do nogℏt þat ofte but twyes or thryes yn þe ȝeer; and þe awe to haue aboute þe specyal meynee, þat mowe telle þe what er doon and sayd by þi kyngdome. When̛ þou ert amonge þy Barouns, worschippe þe wyse and þayme þat þou seeȝ þat doon to be worschipped, and hold ylkon in his staat, And calle to þe solace oon today, a-noþer to morwe. And after it fallys to ilke degree worschipe hem, and lat noon of þi nobles be, but if he fele þy worschipe and largesse yn þe swetnesse of þi mageste; and þe nobleye of þy free wyl shewe it to ylkoon.

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 lagℏynge, ffor oft laghynge takys away reuerence and engendirs elde. Also þou awe to wete þat a man ys more holden̛ to worschipe þe kynge yn his court and yn his constory þan yn oþer place, ffor þare hymself awe of dette if

any doo wronge to do ponysshe hym after þe qualyte of his persoun, so þat oþer be war and lere and abstene hem to do wronge. It ys to punyssℏ þe most nobles on oþer wyse þan oþer heigℏ men, And oþer wyse hym þat commes among þe folk þan oþer subgitȝ, wharfore good þinge ys to kepe reddour and [folio 9b] continence togedre, þat bytwyx þe kyng and his subgitȝ be distinccioun of persones, ffor it ys wretyn yn þe book of Esculabicis þat þat kyng ys to be enheigℏed and loued þat holdes þe semblance of þe Egle, þat ys manisand & dred omange þe foulys, & nogℏt he þat ys lykned to oþer subgitȝ ffowles. Þarfore if any yn þe presence of þe real mageste takys on honde or profres to do wronge, it ys to se on what wyl he did hit, whethir to plese þe kynge and to glade men, or in contempt and dishonour of þe kynges dignite; after þe firste manere him awe to be chastysed, and after þe oþer manere to be ded.

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 subgitȝ, and putte away þaire vnrygℏtys and wronges. Gyf nogℏt matere to þe people to mysspeke of þe, ffor þat þe poeple may say, þay may som tyme ligℏtly doo; þerfore contene þe so, þat men may nogℏt say aȝeyn the. And þerby þou shalt eschewe here doinges. And ouer aƚƚ 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 subgitȝ 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, strengℏ of þe erþe and helpe to alle þat leuyn; ffor by rayn ys way maad to merchantȝ & helpe gyuen to biggers; And noþeles yn rayns fallys thondres & leuenynges, & ouer-drownynges þurgℏ flodes, and greet tempestes yn þe see, and oþer many euelys comyn, þurgℏ whilk many leuand creatures ar perschyd. Noþeles þes auentures disturbes nogℏt 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

he geuys hys benysoun in alle vertuȝ. And þerfore þe poeple louys hit, and forgetys alle þe euelys byforepassyd. Also a kynge ys ensamplyd to þe wyndes þat heigℏ 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 Esperiteȝ taken hir stryngℏe, 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 þurgℏ tempestys it losys and takys away. By þe wyndes comes corrupcions of þe eyr and norschigℏt 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 weigℏt and certeyn nombre and ordre, and he hauys stabelyd hem to seruyn his seruantȝ, and þat passys out of his greet mercy and of his goodnesse þat may nogℏt 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 forsygℏt to engendrure and norshynge for lastynge of temporel þynges and kyndly. If alle þat vnaccordandȝ 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 subgitȝ dysplesys and heuys, and ȝyt yt ys to hem greet profyt.

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

To helpe Meseyes.

[folio 10b] Alexander, enquere of þe dysese & enuye of þe pouere and feble, and helpe hem yn here desease of þy pitee; And puruey a man knawand þaire langage, fair spekand, and louand rigℏt, þat mowe take entent to hem on ȝowre half, and loue hem and gouerne hem mercyably. Þys ys a good obseruance of a kynge, and gladnesse to þe poeple and plesaunce to oure makere.

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 ȝeer as it has costomed fallys, þy mercyful purueyance may helpe þy poeple and socour þy nedfuƚƚ Citeeȝ; ffor þat tyme þow awe opyn þy garners and selers, & make opyn by þy kyngdom̛ 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 Citeeȝ. Þanne shal þy comandementȝ be wel keped, þy dedes louyd, and þy fayre purueyance be yn perpetuel mynde, ffor it helpys þe poeple by þy wys forsygℏt. And þanne shal alle men wete þy forsygℏt of þyn eyen, and by þat þay shal fully prayse þy mygℏtes and pytee, and doon to write þy heigℏ Magestee.

Cap. 25. [Of þe mercy of a kynge.]

To eschewe Manslagℏter.

Alexander, ofte y haue warnyd þe, and ȝit 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 priuyteeȝ of hertes and secretȝ of ffolk. Tak nougℏt on þe godys offyce, ffor it ys nogℏt 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 heigℏ vertueȝ of heuene cryen to goddys mageste and sayen, "lord, lord, þy seruantȝ wille be lyk to þe;" And if he wyth wronge haue slayn hym, þe he makere shaƚƚ answere, "suffre þat he sla, ffor he shaƚƚ be slayn. [folio 11a] To me ys þe vengaunce, and y shal ȝelde hit;" and as ofte sithes þe vertuȝ of heuene shal represent þe þe detℏ of hym þat ys slayn, to vengance be takyn of hym þat slow hym, þat shal be oon of hem þat shal dwelle yn euer-lastand payne.

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 nogℏt a lesse man þan þi seluyn, þat a man

þat now ys of litel value and poure, to richesse and worschipe amountys, And þanne ys of mor stryngℏ and power to doo euyƚƚ.

Cap. 26. To kepe ffaytℏ and othes sworne.

Kepe þe þat þow breke nogℏt þy faytℏ gyuyn no Alliance confermed, ffor it ffallis nogℏt but for vntrewe men and ligℏt women of body. Hold trewly þy fayth hygℏt, ffor euer moor to aƚƚ 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 þurgℏ trew affiance dwellys folk togedre, and þerby ys inhabitacioun in citeeȝ, comunynge to-gedre of ffolke. Þe lordschype of a kynge ys worschippyd þerby, þurgℏ þat er Castels holdyn, citeeȝ kepyd and kynges lordes. If þou take away fayth, þe folke tornys aȝeyn to hir olde staat, þat ys to say to þe lyknes of Bestys with-outen̛ resoun. O kynge, kepe þe so trewly þat þou breke nogℏt þy faytℏ gyuen ne oth ne oþer alliance, if al it greue þe; wost þou nogℏt what Heremogenes wytnessytℏ —"Two espirytes er þat kepys þe, oon on þe rigℏt 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 nogℏt swere but for greet mester; A kynge, but he were mekyl and ofte requeryd, he ne sholde nogℏt swere. Ne wost þou nogℏt þat yt myssemys þi dignite [folio 11b] and þat þou trespasys to þy worschipe whanne þou swerys; it ys to subgitȝ and seruantȝ to swere, but nogℏt to a kynge. If þou aske me of þe distruccioun of þe kyngdomes of Ambayens & citeeȝ, I answere þe for othys þat hir kynges vsyd yn fraude and desceyt of þe folk, and of negℏ Citeeȝ, brekand allyance stabyl ffor welfare and profyt of men, ffor wyckedly and vntrewly þay brake here othes in disceyt of hir negℏburs, þe rygℏwys euenhede of god almygℏty of godys Iustyse wolde suffre no lenger.

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 nogℏt hir stede here. Noþeles y shal deliuere hem to þe yn a certeyn stede of þis book,

And þay shal be helful techinges abbreggyd and gretly profytables, And yn her kepynge þou shalt ressayue greet welfare þurgℏ þe helpe of god. Repent þe nogℏt of þinges passyd, for þat ys a propirte to feble women̛. Kepe apert manhode, mayntene curtasy, and vse goodnesse, ffor yn þes þinges a kyngdome ys defendyd and enemys destruyd.

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

To fforþer studiantȝ.

Ordeyne to þe wel lettryd men, and stable studyes yn Citeeȝ 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 men̛ 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] a court ['sourt' in MS.] shal be ligℏtyd, and ȝers and reals dedys shal bettir come to a kynges mynde whon enhyed. Þe kyngdom of grece, who maad opyn hir dedes to euerlaste þurgℏ alle þe world? wytℏ-outyn doute þe diligence of studiantȝ dyd þys, and þe clen wyt of wyse men, þat hooly loued sciences & folwyd hit, yn so mekyl þat a mayden̛ yn hir fadir hous knewe þurgℏ her greet study þe cours of þe ȝere and þe monthys, and þe cours of þe planetys, and þe cause of þe abregynge of þe day and þe nyȝt, and þe aȝeynturnynges of þe planetys, þe abreggement of þe day serclys, þe tokenyng of sterrys, þe shewynges of þinges þat wer to come, and oþer þynges wyth-outen nombre of tokenynges of þinges to come.

Cap. 29. To tryste nogℏt in women.

Alexander, haue þou neuer trist in wirkynges no in seruice of women, ne gyf þou no credence to no wymmen̛, 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

ert als a þinge þat ys layd yn her bandoun̛, and þy lyf ys al yn here hondys ['bondys' in MS.] ; eschewe þe dedly venyms of women þat not ['now' in MS.] of newe bygynnes to venym; kynde þat ys, þat gret multitude of kynges and of lordys er perschyd and deed byfore her tyme stablyd, þurgℏ drynkes of dedly venyms.

Cap. 30. Tryst noght only yn oon leche.

Alexander, yn a oonly leche trist þou nogℏt, for her may harme, and ligℏtly he may order vndirtake to brynge manys deth to effect. If it may be, be þay ten [MS. x.] 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 qualiteeȝ. and whenne þou hauys mester, gedir þe by þe consaiƚƚ of [folio 12b] þy leches yn certeyn wegℏt and mesure alle þat nedys to þe composicioun, and þat he knowe to make it als it awe to be. Alexander, þynk of þe doynge of þe Quene of Inde whenne she sente to þe, by cause to haue þy frendschipe, many presentes and noble gyftes, amonge þe whilke a ful fair mayden̛ was sent to þe, þat of her childhood drank and was norschyd with venyms, yn-so-mekyl þat her kynde was turned to þe kynde of serpentys; And but yf y moor besely by þe craft magyk hadde persayued here, she by here assidueƚƚ and hoge lokynge yn þe faces of men, hadde slayn hem : þat þy seluyn by assay preued. And certanly, but þou hadde ben warnyd by me þare-of, þy seluyn hadde takyn deed, þurgℏ þe hete of flescℏly kennynge witℏ here.

Cap. 31. Of þe conseyl of Astronomye.

Alexander, kepe þy most noble saule hegℏ, and to angeles pereugale, þat ys geuyn to þe, nogℏt to be maad vnhonest by þe, but to be enhyed and glorifyed, so þat it be nogℏt 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 ydeƚƚ 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

lyknes of þynges maad to-gedyr, and herby hadde he knowynge of sterrys and þynges formed; and I pray þe gyf no faytℏ to þe sawys of vnwysmen̛ þat sayen þat men mowe nogℏt come to science of þe Planetys, ffor þay wat nogℏt what þay say; ffor noþyng ys hard to þe power of vndirstondyng, ffor aƚƚ þynges mowe be knowe by þe way of resoun̛. 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 nogℏt 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 aƚƚ some þinges of force er to come, Noþeles if þay be wyten byfore þay [folio 13a] er moor ligℏtly 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 nogℏt harmyd of þe cold. And yn somer of þe same maner þurgℏ cold metys and dyuers spyses þay kepe hem fro þe hete of somer; and yn þe same maner, when̛ men knowyn̛ byfore ȝeres of nede and hunger, þurgℏ kepynge and holdynge of whete and of oþer þynges, men suffren þe tyme mor ligℏtly. Wherfore yt ys mekyl wortℏ to knowe þingys before, ffor men mowe bettyr thole hem, and eschewe hem whenne þey knowe hem to come. Wherfore men ogℏte wytℏ byse prayers bysek þe hegℏe destynour, þat he by his mercy torne þe euyls þat er to come, and þat he wille oþerwyse ordeyne, and for þat men̛ 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 almygℏty shal turne fro hem þat þat þey drede.

Of þe partyes of Astronomye departyd in two ['þre' in MS.] 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 aloigenemenȝ and of þair

sterynges. And of þys party of Astronomye ys clepyd science. Þe seconde partye ys of þe qualyte & of þe manere to knowe þe sterynge of þe firmament and þe firste risynge or spryngynge of þe signes opon þinges able to falle byfore þay abouyn þe firmament of þe moone. And þis seconde partye ys clepyd Astrologie or science of Iugementȝ. And þe worthyeste partye of Astronomye ys þe science of þre þinges, þat ys to wete of speres, planetys, & signes. Wete also þat stablyd planetys vnmooable ar a þousand twenty and nyne, or thus Mƚxxix, of whom in a party of þys book I shaƚƚ delyure to þe þe fuƚƚ mery teching.

Cap. 32. [Of þe profyt to kepe hele.]

Of Medicynes.

[folio 13b] Now first y wyl delyure to þe techinge Medicynal, and conseilys þat shal suffyce þe in kepyng of hele, þat þow shalt nogℏt nede oþer leche, ffor kepyng of hele ys mor bettir and mor precious þan any medicyne; and wete wel þay er rigℏt needful to þe gouernance of þys werld. It ys to wete þat no way ys to do by any þynge, or any cause to be had, but by mytℏ, And mygℏt ys nogℏt but by hele, and no hele ys but by equalyte of complexiouns, and non equalyte of complexiouns ys but by temperance of þe humours; And glorious god has ordeyned maner and remedye for attemperance of þe humours and kepyng of hele, and mo oþer þynges to be getyn, and þaym has opynly shewyd to haly profetys and seruantȝ & rigℏtwys philosophers & oþer rigℏtwys his chosen, ligℏtend with godys spryt of wyt. Of whom of philosophers þe bigynynge of Philosophye hadden̛ Indes, Grecys, Percys and Latyns, And in þayre secretȝ and writynges no fals þynge ne repreuable ys founden̛, but of wys men̛ apperoued and loued. But he þat ys to hymself a cause of losse and perdicioun, mor ligℏtly he shal geue to oþer cause of perdicioun, ffor þat we chese þat we loue, and þat we vndirstonde trewe. Noþeles with þat, heigℏ god hatℏ most enligℏtend Gregeys amonge alle oþer philosophers to enserche sciences, and to perfitly knowe alle manere of Naturels þinges; And þarefore aftir hem we purpos to procede, god grantand.

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

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

hauyn myster to fode and drynke to be sustenyd by: and if a man want hem his substance fayles, And if he outragously vse hem or ouer scarsly, he may falle yn-to syknes, ffebylnes, and ynto oþer vnabilteȝ. And if he vse hem attemperally and mesurly he shal fynde helpe of lyf, stryngℏ of body, and hele of al his substance. Also þay accorden̛ þat who so ouerpassys yn ful or voyd, yn slepynge or wakynge, [folio 14a] in rist or sterynge, in outpassynge or wytℏholdynge of þe wombe, yn witholdynge of blood, or latynge ouer mekyl blood, he mowe nogℏt eschewe maladyes and heuynesse of siknesse; of alle swilke maters y shal determyn a couenable abregement, shewynge a certayn techynge of alle manere of syknes and þe remedyes. Also þay accordyn, þat who so kepys hym fro superfluyte and also fro defaute, and holdes him yn euenhed and attemperance, þat he shal haue good hele and longe lyfe. I haue founden̛ no philosopher þat disacordys to þis sentence, þat aƚƚ delitable þinges of þys world, Ryches, delyces, or worschippes, þat þay ben alle for longlastynge of durabilyte: And þarfore he þat coueytes to leue and endure, putte his force to purchace þe þynges þat accorden̛ to durabilte and kepys þe lyfe, And lette his owene wyl, þat he putte nogℏt etynge abouyn etynge. I haue herd of ypocraas, þat he kepyd him so mekyƚƚ yn abstynence, þat he hadde gret febylnesse of body; wharfore oon of his discyples sayde to hym, "ffair Mayster, yf þow wolde wel ete, þow shold noght haue so mekyl febylnesse of body." And ypocraas answerde, "ffair sone, I wiƚƚ ete so þat y leue, and nogℏt lyf þat y ete; lyflode for lastynge ys to be had, and nogℏt durabilite for liflode." I haue knowyn many þat withdrew hem froo etynges of surfaytȝ, and her appetitȝ witℏ-drawand froo glotonye, lyuand mesurably by dyetes, And þerfore hauyn ben elder of body, of bettir trauaillynge, of lenger lyf, of good appetyt, and of mor ligℏt sterynge; and þat shewys wel yn lanternys, and yn men̛ þat trauaillen by desertys and longe wayes. And þerfore yt ys oon opyn preue þat abstynence fro mekyl etynge, and to clense a man of superfluytes, ys A souerayn medycyne.

Cap. 34. Off kepynge of hele.

[folio 14b] Alexander, a certayn and trew techynge ys content yn medicyn þat kepys hele, and þat ys princypaly yn two þinges; þe firste ys þat a man ete metes couenable to his elde, and yn þe

tyme acostomyd to his kynde; þat ys to wete þat he vse mete and drynke þat he was costomed to [be] byfore norisshed by, & þat has festnyd his substance. Þe secunde ys þat he clense hym of þat þat ys engendryd yn his body of surfaytes and of corumpyd humours. It ys to wete þat mannys body, þat ys takynge mete and drynke, continuely er dimunisshed and resoluyn aȝeyn, als wel þe bodyes þat ressayuen̛ als þe mete and þe drynke ressayued; ffirst þay ar resoluyd by kyndly hete, þat makes drye þe moystnes of þe body, and is norisshed and fedde with þe same moystnesse. Also by þe hete of þe sonne and dryenesse of þe wynd, þat makys drye þe moystnesse of alle bodyly þinges, & þay er fed with moystnesse of bodely þinges & of fflodes. Whenne a body is hoot & moyst, þanne gret metys er good þerto; ffor þat þat ys defyed & passys fro swylk a body ys of greet quantite and of greet substance for þe grete hete of þe body. And whenne a body ys þicke and drye, softe metys and moyste er goode þerto, ffor þat þat passys fro þat body ys of lytel quantyte for his streyt issuys. Also it ys a certayn techinge for hele to be keped, þat a man vse metys þat accordyn̛ to his complexioun and nature yn his hele, Als yf a man be of hote nature, þanne hote metys atempred accorden̛ to hym; And if he be of cold nature, þanne colde attempred metys accordyn̛ to hym; And oþer-wyse y say outerly of a moyst body and drye. Þarfore yf hete be mad more wytℏ ouer mekyl hete, or by hote metys and stalworthe, or for oon oute hete þat maystres and ouercomes, þanne contrarious metys helpyn, þat ys to say, colde metys. And whanne a stomake ys hoot, stalworthe, and good, þanne profitys most grete metys and stalworthe, ffor swylke a stomake ys a gret ffyr, mygℏty to brenne grete trees; And whenne a stomake ys cold and feble, þerto er best sotel metys and ligℏt, ffor þat stomake ys lykned to a wayk & feble feer, þat vnnethes may to-brenne rosels and smal chippys.

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

Þes er þe tokenys of a good stomak —ligℏtnes 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 moutℏ, heuynesse of þe eigℏen̛, [folio 15a] a foul and euyl belkynge, þat ys to wete whenne it ys vnsauery, bitter, or watery, or stynkand; and þerby er engendryd wyndes

and bolnyng of wombys, and appetyt ys lessys; And if þes þynges be in greet quantite, þarof comes excercitaciouns, and þat lettys þe strechynge and ageynbowynge of þe membres, ffiltℏ of body, openynge of moutℏ, and oþer euyles þat er contrarye to hele of man̛ & destrues nature. And þerfore þe awe kepe þy seluyn̛ fro alle swylk euelys, and fro þe vncouenable þinge afore sayd.

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 aƚƚ 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 nogℏt 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 streigℏt out þy membres, and kembe þy heued, ffor fortℏ-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, wassℏ þy feet witℏ cold water, ffor hit restrenys and holdys þe hete yn þe body, and it shal make desire to etynge. After, cletℏ þe yn good cleþynge and ordeyn þe yn good aparayƚƚ, 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 tetℏ 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 moutℏ 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 sigℏt clerer, shaarpys þe wittes, and kepys a man þat he hore nogℏt sone. After

enoynt þe with precious oynementȝ wel sauorand, couenable to þe tyme þat þou ert ynne, [folio 15b] ffor þe sawle ys nogℏt with-outen̛ good sauour, and ilk-a swet sauour ys a fulfillynge to þe sawle; And whenne þe saule ys filled safe and delytable, þanne þe herte enioyes, and þe blood for gladnesse rynnys yn þe veynys. After þou shalt take a-latred, þat ys to say of þe electuary of the tree of Aloes þat ys foundyn yn bokes of medicynes, and after of exrohand, þat ys reubard, foure peny wegℏt, ffor þat ys mekyl wortℏ, and withdrawys þe fleume fro þe moutℏ of þe stomake, it sterys hete to þe body, and destroyes wyndes, and geuys good sauour. After with þy worthy and wyse men sytte and spek after þe custome of kynges and worthymen̛ þat þat þe fallys and semys to speke.

Cap. 38. Of contynance afore mete.

Whenne þou hauys wyl to ete, aftir þe oure of þy costome, vse a lytel trauaiƚƚ 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 ligℏt digestioun, And ȝyf þe holdynge be first etyn, and after þe nesshe, bothe shal be wastyd. Also ȝyf 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, þurgℏ 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 ȝyt 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 witℏdrawe þy wyl to drynke watir vpon þy mete, [folio 16a] but þou haue it of custome, ffor þe drynke of cold water vpon mete makys cold þe stomak, it slekyns defying, and shendys þe mete, and yt engendrys greet impedymentȝ yf mekyl be drunkyn, ffor þer ys

no þing mor noynge to þe body; but yf þou haue nede, for hete of þe tyme or of þe stomak, or of metys, to drynke water, tak but lytel, and leet it be wel cold.

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 rigℏt syde, & after turne þe vpon þy left syde, and fulfylle þy sleepe vpon þat syde; ffor hit ys cold and neditℏ 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 mayden̛; 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 doun̛ 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 makytℏ a mannys body lene and dryes his moystures, but after mete if filletℏ him, stryngthes hym, and norschetℏ hym. ffor whanne a man̛ sleepetℏ þe herte restytℏ; and þanne þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spredfortℏ 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 askytℏ his reste, And þerfore some philosophers seyen þat mete at euen more profytetℏ þan of þe mydday; ffor þe mete [folio 16b] of þe mydday resceyuetℏ þe hete of þe day, whanne þe wyt werketℏ and þe wyl ys trauaylled, ffor þo þinges þat hit hereth and spekytℏ, and for þougℏtes and many oþer vnprofitable þynges þat assayletℏ þe hetes and sterynges; And þerfore yn þe hour of þe mydday þe kendely hete spredetℏ him out to þe vttere partyes of þe body, wherfore þe stomak comeþ feble and losytℏ his strengthe to fully sethe þe mete. But þe soper at euyn ys al contrarye, ffor þanne fallytℏ to þe body reste of trauaille, and restynge to þe wyttes, and þanne comeþ þe cold of þe nygℏt, and ȝeuyth hete to þe Inward of þe stomak.

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 nougℏt 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 nogℏt to his kynde, and mekyƚƚ greuys his kynde, ffor costome ys þe oþer kynde. And þerfore ȝif 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 þourgℏ þe helpe of god.

Cap. 42. To eschewe Engrutynge.

Kepe þe wel þat þou ete nogℏt 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 spatiƚƚ rennand to þy moutℏ; ffor he þat takys mete wytℏ 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 witℏ euyl humours þat he drawys to hym of superfluytes of þy body, and þat shaƚƚ trobbyl þy brayn with euyƚƚ 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 ȝere.

Purpos ys in þis stede shortly determyn þe ffoure seysouns of þe ȝeer, and of þe qualyte & quantyte, and of þe properte of ilk oon seysoun, and of þaire variance. ffour tymes er of þe ȝeer, 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 Marcℏ out passand to þe xxiiije day of Iuyn. In þis tyme þe day and þe nygℏt ys of oon lengℏ, þe body of man waxis hard, þe eyr waxys feyr, þe wyndes blowyn, þe snow resoluys, waters

rynnen̛ among hilles, wellys ouerfluen̛, moistures styen vp to þe croppys of trees and to þe heuedys of braunches, cornys bygynnes to grewe. Medwes waxen grene, ffloures waxen fayre and beres flourys: Trees er cled witℏ newe leuys, þe erthe ys fair wytℏ spirynges: Bestes engendres, Pastours waxen, alle þynges taken̛ stryngℏe, Bryddes syngen̛, þe nygℏtyngale soun̛, and þe erthe holy takys his worschippe and fairhede, and bycomes as a fair damoysele, a spouse semly digℏte of ryche ornements and dyuers colours, to be shewyd to men yn þe feste of weddynge. Veyr ys hoot and moyst, and atempre, and ys lyke to þe eyr, And þerynne newys þe blood, and spredys alle þe membrys to profyt of him, þat ys of euene complexioun, and þerynne sholde men vsyn, þat ys to say, henchekyns, surlens, eyren, but nogℏt ouer vj, nesshe to be suppyd, wylde letus þat feldmen clepyn skarioles, and gotys mylk þann drynke. No tyme ys bettir to latyng of blood, and vse stirynge of þy body, lousynge of wombe, vse of bathynge and swetynge, drynkes of spices for digestioun, & to ressayue purgacioun þanne er profitable, ffor þat þat wanys by dygestioun or bloodlate, þat tyme by his moysture he restorys.

Cap. 44. Off Somer.

[folio 17b] Somer begynnes þanne whenne þe sonne entrys yn to þe firste tokenynge of þe crabbe, and it lastys lxxij dayes, and xxiij houres and þe þrydde party of oon hour, þat ys to wete fro þe xxiije day of Iuyn to þe xxiiijte day of Septembre; þat tyme haueth longe dayes and shorte nyȝtes; hete sprynges þanne yn alle kyngdomes, þe wyndes litel blowyn, þe see ys paisyble, yn þe heyr ys cleernesse, cornys waxen drye, Neddrys er born and etyn venym, þe vertuȝ of bodys er stalworthe, And so þe world ys as a spouse of perfyt elde, witℏ hete wel colourd. Somer tyme ys hoot and drye, and þanne þe rede colere ys steryd. Wherfore it nedys þanne to abstene fro what þing ys of hoot and drye complexioun, and to abstene to mekyƚƚ ete and drynke, and fro greet saule, þat kendly hete failletℏ nogℏt. Ete in þat tyme þat ys cold and moyst complexioun, As veel witℏ venegre, and briddys þat er clepyd Cucurbitȝ, and ffatte chekyns, and potages of barly mele, and frutys of egre sauouryng, and egre appelys; vse lytel flesshly likyng, and with-holde þe from latynge of blood, But yf gret myster aske it; sterynge of body, ne bathes vse but latly.

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 nygℏt euyne, and yn þis tyme þe nygℏt bygynnes to grewe and waxe lenger, and takys of þe day; þe heyr coldeth, þe wyndes blawen̛ out of þe nortℏ, þe tymes er chaunged; fflodes decresys, fflodys waxen lytel, alle gren thynges faillen̛, ffrutys sesyn, and þe erthe losys his beaute; Bryddes drawan̛ 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 woman̛ of fuƚƚ elde, nedand cloþing. Heruest ys cold and drye, yn whilk rysys þe blak colere; and it nedys þat [folio 18a] a man vse yn þat seysoun hote þinges a[nd moist as chekyns] lambren̛ old wyn and swete raysyns; [And þat a man kepe hym] fro alle þynges þat norsshe Mala[ncoly / Steryng of body & flessℏ-]lykyng more vse þan yn so[mer. Bathes & purgacions, if nede] be, þat tyme be doon, A[nd if a man nede to cast, be it in þe] mydouernone, or yn þe [last houre of þe day: ffor in þo houres] superfluytes er ged[eryd to-gedre in a man. Purgacion of þe] wombe awe to [be mad þat tyme, by a symoun & aggrauacion,] and by alle þi[nges þat in-drawes malancoly & aȝeynletys] humours.

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 Marcȝ.] 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 aƚƚ þat was gren dyen & hardene as ston̄. 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 vertuȝ 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 aȝeyn to hote meites, & to hote maters, as puletys, & motoun, & fruturs, & rostyd mallerdes, &

aƚƚ maner hote pymentȝ & hote potages, figes, & nottys, & good red wyn, & to vse good hote electuaryȝ, & to with-drawe hym fro solucion of wombe, & fro latyng of blod, bot if mistir aske it, & chaung þe eir for eschaufynge; þan shold noght a man eyte mykyl for febelyng of þe stomak, Onoynt þi body with good & hote onymentȝ, & vse Bathes attempreȝ. A man to styr & knowe hys wyfe, & to eyte mykyl, it is noght so noyant as in oon oþer tyme. ffor þe gret cold gedrys to-gedre þe kyndely het] [These pages (fol. 18a & b) are supplied from Laud 685, the whole of the leaf being torn off except a corner.] es, [folio 18b] and entrys þe Inner partyes of þe [body: and þarefore bettyr diges]tioun ys yn wynter and yn Veer, & in [Somer is þe wombe cold: ffor] yn þe tymes þe lytel holes of þe [body are opyn, & þe kyndely hete] ys ȝit out of þe stomak, and [so þe diffying is lettyd, & þe humours] stiryd; þerfore know þes [þinges, & God by thes shaƚƚ susteyn þe.

Alexander, þis precious diet þat I haue t]agℏt þe, kepe [it wele vp-on aƚƚ þinges, with kyndely hete,] ffor als [long as atempre hete dweƚƚ 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, & lytiƚƚ 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, alcℏitimum, or alloigne, þat is þe spyce of oon manere of floure of hote kynd: In somer, Rosys, violetȝ, & 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 shaƚƚ be comfortyd & fulfyllid of moisture & grece. And it is mykyl bettyr if a man haue with disposicion ioy, gladnes,

resoun, louyng, & worshippe, & ouer-comyng of enemyes, hope, & triste in his folke & haue delyt in playnge, & to] [folio 19a] byholde fair ffaces, to rede or here delytable bokes, to laugℏ witℏ ffrendys, softe songes and delytables to here, In goode cloþes & riche of dyuers colours lettyd to be cled, and yn couenable tymes wytℏ goode oynementȝ to be enoynted.

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

In þe contrarye manere, þes þynges dryes and feblys þe body; to ete liteƚƚ and drynke mekyƚƚ; To trauaiƚƚ 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; mekyƚƚ out-passynge out of þe wombe; to lete blood and passe mesure þerof; to haue euyl and drery þougℏtes.

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 fuƚƚ, knowys a woman, ligℏtly he rynnys yn-to perlesy. And also it noyeth mekyl, to renne after mete, or ryde mekyƚƚ. Who-so etys mekyl togeder mylk and fflescℏ, 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 superfluyteȝ ouer mekyƚƚ 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 sothen̛, þe weight of a peny, with þe poudre dictamm, maad of twelf oynementȝ, & þat at his slepynge. And yf he leue & dispyse þis, he mowe drede perilous syknesse, þat [folio 19b] ys to wete corupcioun of sigℏt, werkynge of þe brayn, and oþer many euelys, fro þe whilk god defende þe.

Cap. 51. Off þe Brest.

Brest ys þe secunde partye; if superfluyteȝ be gedryd ['þore' in MS.] þereyn, þes tokyns folwyn; þe tonge ys maad heuy, þe moutℏ salt, and he felys his mete bitter in his brest, and werkyng of þe kogℏe; þerfore hym byhoues ete lesse, and vse kastynge, and after þe kastynge to take ȝugere 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 .Ȝ. of electuarye Anisoun, þat ys maad of þe tree of Aloes, and Tansey. And he þat doth nogℏt þys, ligℏtly 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 sewen̛; þe appetyt of etynge waxes feble, witℏ 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 mekyƚƚ etynge. He þat leuys þys medicyn may drede werkynge of his genitalȝ and of þe longys, and of peryl of þe stoon̛.

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 moutℏ-fuƚƚ 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 Gromeƚƚ sedes; And y [folio 20a] say, þat he, þat so mekyl slepys, þat he hauys no heuynesse yn his wombe, he shaƚƚ nougℏt drede goutys; And he þat vche day etys seuyn dragmes of pressyd rasynges of good swetnes, he shal nogℏt doute of no manere fleumatyke siknesses; By þe whilk a Mannys memory ys amendyd, and his vnderstondynge enlightend;

And he þat yn couenable tyme to his complexioun can purge his wombe, he shaƚƚ nogℏt doute þe ffeure quarteyn̛. And he þat etys ffyges, with notes, and a fewe leuys of Rue, þat day venom shaƚƚ nogℏt dere hym.

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 man̛, 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 aȝeyn kynde. Þe kyndly comytℏ of repugnance of contrarious qualyteȝ and contradiccioun, þat ys to wete, whenne drynesse haues lordschipe of þe body; corupcioun aȝeyn kynde commys of chaunce, as of bataille, or of hurtynge to a stoon̛, or any oþer auenterous caas, or of seeknesse, or of euyl conseyƚƚ.

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 stalwortℏ men and hoote, and trauelynge men in fastynge, and to men þat vse to slepe after mete. Meene metys engendrys nogℏt bolnynges ne superfluytes, as lombe fflessℏ, motoun and Capouns, and alle fflescℏys þat er hote and moyst. But it fayls in þes flescℏes, whenne þey er rostyd, ffor þerby þay bycomes hard, hoot, and drye; But whenne swylk fleschis ar rostyd, be þay sone etyn witℏ softe spyces, and þanne er þey profitable. Som flescℏ engendres malancoly, as boef, kyen, and greet fleschs drye and sharpe; but some of hem hauyn softe fflescℏ, þat er [folio 20b] born and norsshyd yn moyst stedys, and wateri, and shadwy, And of hem þe flessℏ ys bettir and more helefuƚƚ.

Cap. 56. Of fisshes.

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

þat y made of Potages and medicyns, þou shalt fynde suffysant determinacioun of þys matere.

Cap. 57. Off knowynge of Waters.

Hit ys to wete þat watirs ben profytable as wel to bestys as to man̛; 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 ligℏt and most heelfuƚƚ watrys er þo þat er rynnand watres negℏ Citeeȝ, whenn þe erthe ys clene with-oute roche, and with-oute reke, þe water of þat stede ys ligℏt, 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 vnhelfuƚƚ, as þes stondyng waters; þe toknyng of goode waters er ligℏtnes, clernes, good colour, and good sauour, and whenne þay will sone be hoot and sone cold: And yn swycℏ 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 nogℏt 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 vnhelfuƚƚ, ffor þey holde yn hem partys of þe ertℏ. 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 mekyƚƚ be dronkyn, it corumpys þe mete yn þe stomak. But noþeles þe awe drynke cold [folio 21a] water in somer, and hoot yn wynter, and nogℏt aȝeynward, ffor hoot water dronkyn in somer makys nessℏe and feblys þe stomak, and destruys þe appetit: And also cold water dronkyn yn wynter slekyns þe natureƚƚ hete, and destruys þe Instrumentȝ of þe brest, & harmys þe longys, and engendrys many oþer euelys.

Cap. 58. Off kynde of wyns.

Hit ys to wete of kynde of wynes, þat þat wyn whos grape growys in hellys aȝeyn 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 men̛ and to hem þat abounden̛ in

humours of fflume, and þey ennoye ȝonge men̛ and hoote men̛; And þe olde man þe ffleumatyke it hetys, and delyueres hem of ffumosyteȝ greet and colde. And þe redder wyn and thickere mor heuys þe blood; But whenne it ys stalwortℏ and of a strong tast, þanne ys hit sayd þe firste blood, and þe firste norisshynge, And it hauys kynde of drynke and medicyne, and mekyƚƚ ressayuyd, mekyƚƚ harmys. Whenne wyn of þis kynde ys swete, it harmys þe stomak, and it egendrys wyndes & bolnynges. Þe moste heelfuƚƚ & þe moste louable wyn to alle complexiouns ys it þat grewys yn lond þat spredys hym bytwen̛ hellys & valeys, whos grape ys of a good swetnesse and of a perfyt tast, and of a sotyl eyre, þat ys nogℏt cuttyd and gedryd or þe force of þe substaunce be fully sprongyn out, and þe moystnesse of his stok sty vp to þe crope and þe braunches, whos colour ys gold, lyk þat ys meen bytwen̛ reed and ȝalwe, þe sauour sharpe and dilitable, & his legℏes pressed to þe botme, and his partys sutyl and clere. Whenne þou fyndest swylk wyn, tak þarof attemprely, aftyr þe elde of þy body, and þe qualyte of þe tyme, for it comfortys þe stomak, & afforcys þy kendly hete, it helpys to difye, it kepys fro corupcioun, it ledys þe mete, & sethis it yn-to þe membrys, to hit be turned in-to substanciale and softe blood, And þanne it wendys vp to þe hatereƚƚ with attempre hete, and holdys þe heued sekyr fro vnhappy chauncys. Ouer þat it gladys þe herte, and makys þe colour reed, and þe tonge spedfuƚƚ, and delyures a man [folio 21b] of euyl þougℏtes and besynes, makys a man hardy; it sturrys appetyt, and dotℏ many oþer goodys.

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 vertuȝ of þe sawle, and kyndly vertuȝ; 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, ouermekyƚƚ slepynge, sygℏtys of ffantasyes yn þe sleepe, corupcioun

of mannys colour, ffebylyng of his priue hernoys, distruccioun of his sede, abominacioun of þe stomak, mysattemperance of þe complexiouns; it norsshes gretnes of body, and þat worst ys, it brynges yn lepre, and þanne ys he of kynde venemous; and herfore it ys to eschewe to drynk to mekyƚƚ of wyn, þat ys to wete, ouer mesure. Wete þou þat wyn folowys þe kynde and þe complexioun of Reubarb, þat is þe lyf to þe lyuer, and it hauys noble profitȝ, as it ys foundyn in bokes of medicyns. But som-tyme þis Reubarb is venomous, and inbrynges detℏ to hem þat takys hit ouer manere, and passys certeyn quantite and mesure. And wyn ys lyk þe kynde of serpentȝ, of þe whilk Antidotum ys maad, And most hurtynges and harmes by þe medicyns þerof er put away, And ȝit it ys knowyn, þat it berys dedly venym yn it.

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 nogℏt yn Iuyn, whenne humours surhabunden̛, and þe fleueme hauys lordschipe, for it ys helfuƚƚ. 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] breed of good whete, and his drynkyng drynke of þe good grape." And flescℏ ys to be commendyd if it be vsyd attemprely. And how þat syknesse grewys on hym þat abstenys hym fro surfaytes of mete and drynke, and fro haunte of women̛ & greet trauaiƚƚ. It nedys to him þat ys dronkyn of wyn by outrage takyn, þat he [be] wasshid witℏ hote water, and sitte by a Rennand Ryuere-syd, and þat he haue weleygℏes and myrt, and with sandeƚƚ confyt ennoynt his body, reekyd with reek of ensens, cold and wel sauorand; þys ys þe beste medicyn for dronkenesse. If any purpos hym al holy forsake wyn, he shal nogℏt vtterly abstene hym fro þe vse of wyn, But lytyƚƚ and lytiƚƚ froo a dragℏte of wyn to þe quantyte of oon pressyd grape, and after þat it be alayed witℏ water oon tyme moor þat oon-oþer, to it come to clene water, ffor by þis ordre complexioun of kynde ys kepyd froo greuous skynesseȝ.

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

It ys to wete þat some þing stryngℏys 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 ligℏt 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 wortℏ þerto, as to slepe on softe beddys after mete yn cold.

Cap. 63. [Of ordinance of stuynge.]

[folio 22b] Bathes er on of þe merueylles of þys werld, ffor yt ys housyd after þe ffoure tymes of þe ȝeer, ffor cold accordes to wynter, leuk-warme to Veer, hoot to somer, drye to heruest. Greet wyt ys it to make ffoure dwellynges by ordre yn bathes, þe firste be cold, þe seconde leuk-warme, þe þrydde hoot, þe ferthe drye; And whenne a man entrys first yn-to þe bathes, he sholde be a lytyl while yn þe firste; and after yn þe seconde, and þere dwelle a lytil; And after yn-to þe þridde, & þere dweƚƚ a lityƚƚ; And after in to þe fertℏ entre, & so doo in þe selue manere. And whenne he wyl passe out, kepe he þe self manere, makynge a litiƚƚ dwellynge yn ilke chambret so þat he passe nogℏt fro ouer greet hete to ouer greet cold, no fro ouer greet cold to ouer greet hete; and be þe bathes biggyd [in ['&' in MS.] ] heye stede and wyndy, & haue it ffurnays, gyffand fflammes, and hote water; And it ys to vse þare-ynne odoures couenables to þe tyme þanne beand, þat is to wete, to vse in Veer and in somer, treble or quatreblee, In heruest and yn wynter to vse double. After, him awe to sitte on setys wete witℏ water of Roses, and do wype hym with a fair towaille of lyn, onys and eft; And whenne al þys ys doon, and he deliciously wasshyd, passe he sone to oþer houses, and vse þe techinges and oynementȝ folwand. If he be ouercome with hete, kembe his heued, and vse he oynement clensyd, couenable to þe tyme; ffor yn Veer and in somer, he sholde vse oynement sesaryn, maad of sendaƚƚ and emlege. In heruest and wynter, he sholde vse oynement

maad of myrre, and of þe iuwys of þe herbe þat ys clepyd bletes, and to caste vp-on his heued wrogℏt waters attempred; And after he sholde wasshe his body, and rubbe it with þe self waters, to he be wel wasshyd and clene. After, enoynt his body of oynementȝ couenables to þe tyme, And after, passe he þennes [folio 23a] by þe orde byfore taugℏt, and vse hit to þe tyme he be allegyd. If he haue þrist, drynke he a syrupe of roses, and ete electuary witℏ musk, and after, reche out his armes a lityƚƚ. And a litel ouer after take he his mete, þat ys digℏt to him, with pees, and drynke good wyn attempred with water, after þat he was costomyd to drynke; and take he nogℏt mekyƚƚ, but attemperly, and after smoke him witℏ ensens couenable to þe tyme, and riste he yn a likyng bedde, and take of slepe a good party, ffor þat shaƚƚ profyte hym Mekyƚƚ. After, he shaƚƚ contenu þe remenant of þe day in ioye and riste. Þys is þe ordre of hele & norsshyng of þe body; And he þat ys olde, or cold and moyst, dwelle nogℏt longe in þe bathe. Noþeles he shaƚƚ sytte þareyn, to his body be moyst of þe bathe, and water be cast on hym ofte sithes attemperly, and aƚƚ so sone as he wille. Hit ys nogℏt couenable for a ffleumatyk man to entre yn Bathes but fastynge, and þat he enoynt hym with hote oynementȝ. And he þat ys of hote kynde, kepe þe techynge byfore tagℏt.

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 shaƚƚ 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 sotℏfuƚƚ and bettyr, Als y haue determynd to þe yn þe book of waters; And þes tokenynges er suffysantȝ 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 wrogℏt waters, and oynement confitȝ, and Emplastres, aftyr þe ordre and þe craft of gregeys, of yndoys, & of hem of Perse, en whom none esperience

was disceyuable. And [folio 23b] for-thy þat þes secreteȝ were profytable, and were as hyde, and were so worthy, I aingyd þat þey sholde nogℏt be vnkennyd to þy worthy mygℏtynesse, ffor it ys worthy and rigℏtfuƚƚ þat þou knowe þe greete medicyne, þat ys a louynge þat may nogℏt be thogℏt, and ys clepyd þe tresour of Philosophers.

Cap. 65. [Of þe greete medicyne.]

I neuere persayued, no y neuer sotℏly 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 egℏte, to whom ys geuyn þe knowynge of secreteȝ of scienceȝ, þat were hyd to alle men. Thes er tho þat out sogℏt, an[d] disputyd of þinges þat er ouer kynde, of fuƚƚ, of voyde, of endyd, of vnendyd, and accordandly, & assemblyd to-gedir yn þe confeccioun of þis medicyn, þat may nogℏt be hopyd, and þay departyd it yn egℏt partyes. Noþeles, some affermyn þat ennocℏ knew þys secret by a uisioun, And þay wiƚƚ say, þat þis Ennocℏ was þe greet hermogenes, þat þe Gregeys praysen̛ so mekyƚƚ, and louen̛, 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.

Wytℏ 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 aƚƚ þese þynges be puttyd yn a vesseƚƚ, so þat it be to þe half, and with discrecioun, of a softe fir witℏoute any reke, be þay sothen̛; Aƚƚ þe scome put away, to it be þicke becomen̛, 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] Take witℏ Goddys blyssynge and His helpe, of rede roses a Rote, and of violettys, þe fferthe party of a Rote, and put aƚƚ in x Rotes of swete water, And after, put in of water elcorenge, half a Rote, And of water Maȝafegys, þe fferthe part of a Rote, And of water of lange de boef, a Rote; þus alle þes þynges be gaddryd, and sothen witℏ oon vnce of Elegantria de bariofilo, And alle þes þinges shal be vpon þe fyr aƚƚ a nygℏt and a day, vnto aƚƚ þayre stryngℏ be out passyd; And after be it put vpon

a softe fyr, to þe þrydde party be lytild away, And þanne late it clere, And after put þer-ynne of þe forsayd digℏtyd hony, thre Rotes, and sethe it so longe, to it be þicke comen̛, And after put þar-ynne a dragme and a half of good Muske, & a dragme of dambre, and þre dragmes of þe tree of aloes, tryed and moyst; þys ys þe firste medicyn, ore porcioun̛, And his effect is properly to comforte þe brayn, þe herte, and þe stomak.

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 witℏ-outen̛ þe barke of ȝalowe 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 nygℏt, 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 witℏ outen̛ abhominacioun or violence, And with outen̛ 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] and of darseim, cariele, and of kalengera, galengal, & of nottys muschet, oon vnce, And aƚƚ þys be put to-gedre, and stampyd nogℏt ouer smaƚƚ; And putte yn x arcul of swete water, and dwelle þerinne a day and a nygℏt, and after sethe it softly witℏ a softe fyr vnto þe half be wastyd, Aftyr be it mellyd & strenyd, to it be cleer; And þanne make it vp witℏ thre Rotes of wrogℏt hony, and after boille it, to it be þykke: þys ys þe þrydde medicyne, his properte ys to efforce þe pryue, and namly þe pryncypales.

[The other chapters [70-75] are not translated in the MS.]

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

þe science medicynable ys þare-yn enhyed and praysed. If þou wille late þe blood, do it nogℏt to þe newe mone encrece so mekyƚƚ þat he part hym fro þe sonne; And loke þat þe mone be nogℏt yn þe tokenynges of þe Bull or of ffisℏes; And loke of þe lokynge aȝeyn of þe sonne to þe mone vp-styand, And also in þe Conniunctioun, whenne þe mone ys yn þe watery tokenynges. Loke also þat þe planet Mercurius be nogℏt in constellacioun vpstyand or to him contrary, And þe self y say of Saturne; þe moste profytable to opyn veyne, ys yn þe laste half of þe Montℏe of þe Mone, So þat þe mone be lessnyd of his ligℏgt, and þat he be yn þe tokenynge of þe balance or of þe scorpyoun: & whenne þe nusant sterres loke nogℏt aȝeyn, ffor þanne ys þe mone yn clen staat, whenne it ys yn þe secunde repreuable or noyant. In latynge of blood, nogℏt by openynge of veynes, but by scarificacioun of fflescℏ, whenne þe mone ys grewyng yn ligℏt, and þat noyant sterrys lokys nogℏt him to, but þat it ys ynens Mercury, And þat þe mone be with Venus, or ellys þat Venus or Mercury loke þarto. Whenne þe mone ys yn oon constellacioun vpstyand þanne haues he mygℏt and lordschipe vp-on þe self stede yn þe body.

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

Whenne þou wille take a medicyn laxatyue [folio 25a] be þou certein þat þe mone be in þe scorpioun, or in balaunce, or in fissℏes, but be-war þat þe mone be nogℏt negℏ saturne, ffor þanne it makys þe humours to engele, and þe medicyn yn þe body; And ay þe more farre it ys fro Saturne, so mekyƚƚ it ys þe better; And it ys nogℏt to doute, whenne it ys yn Mercury, And be þe bygynyng of þy werke after good constellacioun of þe mone, & his remuynge fro nusant sterrys, and his prosperyte of his vpstiyng.

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 monetℏ þat ys present, if þou besily beholde þe tokenynges put yn þe present spere and writen̛; ffor if it be yn tokenynge coleryk, It byhouys þanne to make more scharpe þe medicyn; And yn þe tokenynge malencolien mekyƚƚ more. If it be yn tokenynge ffleumetyke, a lityƚƚ 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,

or fleumatyke, or malencolien; If bothe þe ligℏthes in þe coleryk tokenynge be sette or byholde it, a medicyn þat þat tyme gyuen shaƚƚ lityƚƚ profyt a man or styrre, And if þay be yn tokenynge malencolien, it shaƚƚ make þe takere rigℏt nogℏt solyble, or ellys ful liteƚƚ; And yf þe sonne and þe mone bothe be yn tokenynge fleumatyk, ligℏtly þe medicyn takere shal fortℏ lede, And most whenne þe mone ys yn waxynge; ffor as Plinius seitℏ, "þe mone waxynge, þe humours of aƚƚ þe body waxen̛, And also al moyst þynge & [harmful] & superfluiteȝ of egestioun; And whenne þe mone wanys aƚƚ þes þinges wanys." þes priuiteȝ of kynde þat we haue compyled to-gedir, ilk-a man may knowe hem witℏ-outen doute, þat wyl preue hem expertly yn hym-self.

Cap. 79. Off propertes of herbes and stones.

[folio 25b] We shhaƚƚ determyn after by a short trete, of properteȝ & vertuȝ of herbes, and hir profitȝ. We haue maad a cleer sheuynge yn oure oþer bokes, of properteȝ of stones, and of vertuȝ of herbes, and þe kyndes of þe planytes, But now it ys to say of planetȝ, and of stones, als mekyƚƚ as sufficetℏ to þis present werk. But, alexander, þe awe to wete rigℏt as yn þe planetys er dyuers kyndes, and dyuers stryngthes, set of god, so yn stones er founden̛ diuers spyces and vertuȝ, of whem þe fayrheed and profyt er of prys, þat may nogℏt be hopyd to a kynges mageste: And namly and principaly, þay seme to a kynges dyademe to be ahournyd by in fayrhede, of whilke fayrhede þe sigℏt ys helpyd, and mannys corage delytys þerynne, and þe dignite maad fayr; And by þaire vertuȝ greuous siknesse of þe body er aȝeyn-put, witℏ-outen̛ whom medicyn lityƚƚ profytes, And þarfore, leches vsen hem in medycynes, to caste out greuous syknesses. Gret and merueillous vertu ys gyuen̛ of god, to planetes, and to stones, if aƚƚ it be hyd en greet party to man. But we haue fully expounyd yn þe bokes of planetes and of stones, þaire properteeȝ and her vertuȝ.

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

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

soule: And it ys foundyn yn ilke stede, and yn ilke tyme, and yn ilke man: and it may be turnyd to eueryche colour, and it holdys yn him alle þe elymentȝ, and it ys callyd þe lesse world; And y shaƚƚ nemyn þe þe nome as þe comyn folk clepytℏ it, þat ys þe terme of þe Eyrn, þat ys to say þe Eye of Philosophers. Now depart it yn ffoure partyes, & euery partye [folio 26a] hauys oon kynde. After ordeyn it euenly in euyn porciouns, so þat þare be no diuisioun, no noon aȝeynfegℏtynge, þanne shaƚƚ þou haue by þe helpe of god þi purpos. Þys manere ys vniuersele, But y shaƚƚ departe hit in specials wirkynges. It ys partable in ffoure, and he hauys hym wel yn two maners witℏ outen̛ corupcioun; þanne whenne þou hauys water of eyre, and eyre of fyre, and fyre of erthe, þanne shalt þou fully haue þis craft. Ordeyne now þanne þe substance of þe eyre by discrecioun, and þe substance of þe erthe by moysture and hete, to þai assemble and ioyne to-gedre, and þat þay disacorde nogℏt, no nogℏt departe; And þanne put to hem twoo vertuȝ wirkand, water and fyre, And þanne shaƚƚ þe werke be fulfyllyd, ffor if þou leue þe water aloon, it shal make whit, and if þow ioynge to ffyre by þe gyft of god it shal wel fare.

Cap. 81. Off þe Oppynyoun of Hermogenes.

Oure ffader Hermogenes, þat ys fuƚƚ fayr in Philosophie and wel faire Philosophiant, says, "Sotℏfastnesse hauys him so, þat it ys no doute þat þinges by-negℏ answeres to þinges abown, And þinges abown to þinges bynetℏ. And þe werkere of meruaylles ys oon god, ffro whem ilke merueylouse werk descendys, And so alle þinges er maad of oon aƚƚ-oon substance, of oon aƚƚ-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 enchantementȝ, þe tresour of myracles, þe geuer of vertuȝ. Of fire ys maad þe erthe, of suaille erthly þinge, ffor delye þinge ys more wortℏ þan greet, and þynne more wortℏ þan þycke, and þat done wysly and discretly, ffor it assendys vp fro þe ertℏe to þe heuen̛, and it fallys doun̛ fro þe heuen̛ into þe erthe, and þare it slas þe souerayn vertu, and foreyn. So þanne ys lordschipe in fforeynteȝ & soueraynteȝ, and so shal þou be lord heye and lawe, ffor witℏ ȝow ys [folio 26b] þe lygℏt of ligℏtes, And þerfore alle derknesse shal flee ȝow. Þe souerayn vertu maynteignes alle þinges, ffor it geues

latnesse, and it makys swyftnesse, and þat after þe ordinance of þe gret world shortys þe werk," And þarfore hermogenes is callyd fuƚƚ feyr yn Philosophy.

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

And [this stoon ys ['he ys fader' in MS.] ] of þe merueilles of þe werld þat with waters and wyndes fightes; ffor þou seeȝ [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 nogℏt be þat any hoste mowe laste aȝeyn þe, or aȝeynstande þe, but it shaƚƚ faiƚƚ fallynge byfore þe. And þar er two precious stoones of merueillous vertu þat er founden̛ yn derk stedes, yn oon ys whit, þe oþer Reed, þat men fynden̛ yn rynnand waters, of whom þe wyrkynges er swylk; þe whyt bygynnes to appere at þe settynge of þe sonne abown̛ þe waters, and it dwellys on hem to mydnygℏt, and þanne it bygynnys to falle donward, And at þe risyng of þe sonne he comys to þe ground. Þe rede wirkes aƚƚ 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 wegℏt of a moote vpon a hors of þin host, alle þe hors of þyn ost shal nogℏt 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 mekyƚƚ wortℏ in vsynge of wachis, and to þe vse of ostys; And also þes ar þer properte; If two men stryuen̛ togedir, put þe whit stoon yn oon of here mouthes, or of þe toþer, and if rigℏt falle to him he shaƚƚ sone speke, if he haue nogℏt þe rigℏt he shaƚƚ be doume, to whilys þe stoon ys yn his mouth. And þe rede stoon wirkys aƚƚ þe contrary. Now y shal determyn þe properteȝ and vertuȝ of stoones in eschauntementȝ, and oþer þinges y shal after trete.

Cap. 83. [Off þinges vegetable.]

[O Alexander] ffor þou hauys knowynge fuƚƚ by myn oþer tretys afore, where y haue tretyd þe of þe kyndes and secretȝ of creatures, þat ys of degreeȝ and ordinance of þe planetys, and after þe degrees and ordynaunce of [folio 27a] science of myne, after þaire

beynge, and þaire proper ffourme, þat þey ressayue after þaire firste growyng, and þe kynde of kyndes abown̛, þat ys to wete ouercomand and lordschype purchesand in it; ouercomand in watery planetys Of nature, and of stoones of myne ouercomand ys þe kynde of þe erthe, þanne þe kynde of þe planetys ressayues þe kynde of out-spredyng of waterys, Als it-self ressayues water be outputtynge of wyndes yn his stede, And als water ys of dyuers lyknesse, ffor many lyknesse er in hit, so it fallys of planetys, ffor aƚƚ lyknesse er founden̛ þerynne. And whenne water ys ouercomand in Planetys, and staunches nogℏt but by doun-shedyng, and as þe wirkere of dissolucioun of waters ys with outen̛ reles, oon ay-lastand wirkere in his heuen̛, þat ys to say, Mercury; ffor with-outyn doute it ys sotℏ, þat eueryche planet ys gouernyd and ordeynyd yn accordance of his kynde; as þou may see here, Saturn haldys þe erthe, Mercury þe water, Iubiter þe eyr, þe sonne þe ffyre. And no disconuenyent þing ys founden̛ in wirkynge of þe Planetes þat þay haue contynueƚƚ and ay lastyng, by þe hyeste vertu & vniuersele, þat ys aboven̛ alle vertuȝ of swylk wirkyng. But here ys no stede to shewe of so hard and streyt science, And noþeles y haue maad mencioun þarof, ffor it ys necessary and profitable to þe, ffor the tretee folwand in þe whilk we saƚƚ determyn of singuleryte, And vndepartyng of some planetis vegetableȝ: wherof þe knowynge of swylk þinges fallys to Philosophers, And þe knowynge of wirkynges of naturele þinges fallys to leches. And y wiƚƚ nogℏt, þat it be hyd to ȝowre knowynge, þat what þinge wantys ligℏt of þe nombre of þinges vegetable, þat er to be sustenyd, Saturn gouernys hem, and to hym it ys apropird; And what þing þat florysshetℏ and shynytℏ of þinges vegetable, of Mercury is gouernyd, and to him attournyd. And what þinge vegetable þat florschys and makys fruyt, to þe sonne ys apropird, and by hym gouernyd. After ordeyne and ioyne to-geder þese diuisiouns, and say aƚƚ þinge vegetable þat berys fruyt and nogℏt florysshis, as porret and palm, ys assignyd to Saturn and to þe sonne, And ilk þinge florysshand þat berys nogℏt fruyt ys attityld to Mercury, and to Mars. Also some þinges [folio 27b] vegetables or sustenables er by [cuttings], oþer by sedys, & with-outen̛ plantyng [grown]. Þanne it shewys opynly by þat þat ys afore sayd, þat euerylk kende of vegetabiliteȝ haues a propre ordre, þat ys, complexioun, & it folwys þe vertu of a planete, and ys assignyd and apropryd to hym, and som tyme apropred to his

felawe, and it ys atturnyd to þe vertu of two planytes, or of moo after þat it mowe ressayue, And ilke vertu helpys of his properte þat ys assignyd to hym, þat ys to wete þat kyndly vertu þat his kynde ordeynes, As in colour, in sauour, in odour, and in lyknes; And þe kendly sowel gedyrs to-gedyr aƚƚ þes propertes, & kyndly vertuȝ þat comen̛ þarof and folwys it, and makys it laste by as mekyƚƚ tyme, as þei determyn hit of þaire vertu, ffor þar ys no wirkynge but it come of sterynge, no noon wirkynge witℏ-outen̛ terme. And so þou saƚƚ persayue oon kynde vegetable noyant, And anoþer kynde wyrkand hele, And some engendrys gladnesse and ioye, some loue & some hatredyn, and some vpberyng reuerence and honour, & some vilte and despyt, some gyfnesse auysiouns of fantasye and falshede, & oþer certeyn and trewe auisiouns; some engendrys pruesse & stryngℏ, and some sleuthe and febelnesse; some sauys þe body fro dedly venyms, and some corumpys þe body and brynges it to þe detℏ. And y shal make þe a certeynesse vpon aƚƚ þes kyndes witℏ opyn argumentȝ and preuys.

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

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 [folio 28a] of vygour, and his braunches spredyn hem on þe erthe, and ys of good sauour; he þat berys it witℏ hym shal be prowous and hardy. It is nogℏt good to stryue witℏ þat man or figℏt, ffor euer-more his aduersary shaƚƚ falle afore hym, And he shal euer ouercome yn aƚƚ his wirkynges. And of þe kyndes of trees ys oon kynde þat haues long leuys, and it losys hem̛ or þat he bere ffloures; and he haues three ffloures longe and rede, of delycat sauour; he þat etys þo ffloures, ioye and lagℏenge shal come to hym; and he þat racys it vp by þe rote, and etys þe flour þynkand of any woman̛ persone, sho shaƚƚ bycome brynnand yn his loue. Þare ys anoþer herbe þat ys clepyd androsinoun þat grewys yn þe lond of syn, & ys entrikyd; it hauys drye leuys and rigℏt lityƚƚ, and his seed

ys lityllb; and round, whit with-ynne. If þou take seuen graynes of þat seed, yn þe name of any persone, and breke hem yn þe vpsryngynge of lucyfer and venus, so þat þayre bemys touche hem, and gyf hem to hym to ete or drynke, þe drede of þe shal dweƚƚ yn his herte, And alle his lyf he shaƚƚ obeysant to þe. And of þe kynde of plauntouns ys oon þat engendrys langour, whos rote plauntyd, and þe branches spredyn hem by oon arme, whos floures er whit, ouerpassant þe leuys, but it berys nogℏt fruyt; his properte ys of Mars and Mercury, & his kynde of ffyre and eyr. He þat berys þis herbe with hym, he shaƚƚ nogℏt be witℏ-outen̛ langour to he caste it away. Anoþer ys of þe maner of plantouns þat ys helefuƚƚ, whos seed er soone sawen, whos braunche ys quarre, whos leuys er round, and his flour of heuenly colour; his seed ys reed, his odour softe, of good effect; he þat drynkys it, witℏ þe sauour þeroff he shaƚƚ fele hele, and he shal be sauf of catarre, of Malencoly, of curiousite, of drede, of ffrenesye, and of many oþer syknes. Anoþer plantisoun ys sayd for collodioun [folio 28b] þat engendrys [hate and contempt]. Anoþer is Matifoun clepyd, and þat ys of greet value to conquere loue and reuerence. O Alexander, y haue fully maad þe tretee to þe, þat y behigℏt þe, And y haue fully shewed þe of playn solucioun. Be þou euer-more vertuous and glorious; God þe susteyne, þe dresse, and þe kepe, ffor hys bounte ilk-a creature takytℏ.