[Thus endeth the secrete of secretes of Arystotle]

C. ¶An epystle of grete value.

MOost dere sone Alexāder sythe it is so that the body of man is corruptyble by dyuer∣syte of cōplexyon / & of contrary humours that ben in it / wherby oftē there cometh corrupcyō to it / I thought to delyuer the some thyng y^• shall be necessary & prouffytable to the. In the whiche I wyll treate of the secretes of physy¦ke whiche shall please the. For certayne dyseases co∣me to a kynge whiche be not honest to shewe to phy∣sycyens. And yf thou wylt obserue this lesson / thou shalt haue no nede of physycyens / except in causes y^• may come in batayle / the whiche may be exchewed. Alexander fayre sone / whan thou rysest frome thy sle¦pe / walke and stretche thy membres egally and com¦be thy heed / for stretchyng of the lymmes gyueth for∣ce / and combynge reyseth the vapoures that ben co∣me in slepynge and putteth them frome the stomake In somer wasshe thy heed in colde water / whiche shall yelde the naturall heate / and shall because of ap¦petyte to meate. Than clothe the with goodly and ry¦che apparell. For the hert of man delyteth in the be∣holdyng of precyous meates & clothȳg. Than rubbe thy tethe with some cours lynnyn / or other thynge that is note and drye of cōplexcyon / and swete of smell for it is holsom for the tethe / and kepeth them clene / clenseth the stenche of the mouth / and clereth the voy¦ce / and gyueth appetyte to eare. And rubbe thy heed often in the same wyse for it openeth the claustres of the brayne / and thycketh the necke and other mem∣bres / and clenseth the face and the syght / and prolon∣geth stowpynge of aege / and amendeth the blode.

Also anoynt the somtyme with swete smellynge oyn¦tementes / as the tyme requyreth / for in suche swete∣nesse thy hert taketh grete pleasure / & is nourysshed therby. And y^e spyryt of lyfe taketh refeccyon in good odoures: and the blode reneth meryly thrugh y^• vay∣nes of the body. After that take somtyme an electua∣ry of a wood called Aloes / and of Bubarbe whiche is a precyous thynge / to the pryce of foure pens. Which thou shalte fynde wryten in the boke of physyke / and this shall do the moche good / for it voydeth the heate of the mouth of the stomake / and warmeth the body and wasteth wyndes / and maketh good taste and sa∣uoure. After this I coūcell y^• that thou be often with thy noble and wyse men of thy realme / & speke to the of thy besynesses that thou hast to do. And gouerne them sadly accordynge to theyr good customes.