University of Virginia Library

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[The Gouernance of Kynges and Prynces.]

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The forme of the firste Pystyll that kynge Alysaundre sent to his mayster Arystotyles.

Reuerende fader/doctor of dyscyplyne.
Moste notable/and dygne of reuerence.
Phebus the sonne/more clerely doth nat shyne.

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As the reporte/of experte prudence.
Aforne prouyded/of royall confydence.
In fewe termys/I purpose to reherse.
Thynge tolde to me/towchynge the londe of perce.

Fyrste howe that londe/and regyon.
All other Realmes/in Phylosophy.
It dothe excelle/and of hyghe reason.
And moste inuentyf/experte in eche party.
Theyr nobylnes/for to magnyfy.
Ferthest procede/by clere entendement.
For to accomplysshe/the fyne of theyr entent.

To encrease/theyr lordshyppes/& haue ye seuerente
Ouer all Cytees/and straunge Regyons.
And by theyr grete/magnanymyte.
To sprede aborde/theyr domynacions.
Wherupon/lyke our entencions.
Firste on this people/I caste me to begynne.
By your aduyse thyse/percyens for to wynne.

And here vpon/to make delayes.
Maugre theyr myght/and theyr rebellyon.
With my knyghthode/I wyll make assayes.
To haue all Perce/in subgeccion.
Abydynge oonly/for shorte conclucyon.
Of your letters/for my purparty.
On this mater/playnly to sygnyfy.

Answere of Arystotyles.

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Sone alysaundre/this mater to me is straunge
And includyth/in maner of dyspayre.
Peyse in thy selfe/if it be lyght to chaunge.
Firste from the Erthe/the water and the Eyre.
And parte the Elementis/in their speerys fayre.
Whan this is done/ferthermore in dede.
Agaynst percyens/in thy conquest procede.

Firste thy purpose peyse/it in ballaunce.
Bothe in Perce/and septemtryon.
Counte of theyr Cyties/the famous gouernaunce.
And haue therwith/consyderacyon.
By afore syghte/and clere inspeccyon.
My counsayll is/touchynge the londe of perce.
From thy purpose/I counsayll that thou cesse.

Begynne no thynge/without grete aduyse.
A grounde of trouthe/firste that it be possyble.
And I counsayll/if that thou be wyse.
Foreyne Empryses/whiche that be terryble.
Attempte them nat/but if it be credyble.
Lykely in nature/by disposycion.
Fully to accomplysshe/thyne entencion.

Firste set a preef/in thy prudent aduyse.
In easy wyse/by attemperaunce.
And by the counsaylle/of Phylosophers wyse.
To brynge them/easyly to good gouernaunce.
Of one accorde/without varyaunce.
Under the wynges/of thy royall bountye.
Them to cherysshe/in thy benygnyte.

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If thou thus do/by vertuous repayre.
God shall encrease/thy gracious influence.
And of full truste/shall brynge out of dispayre.
That fynally/thy royall excellens.
Shall please god/in verrey existens.
And thy subgiettis/of hole herte and entent.
Shall hole obey/to thy cōmaundement.

For entyer loue/firste grounded vpon the.
And effeccion roted/vpon royall confydence.
Uoyde of all charges/and mutabylyte.
Paysyble/in thy magnyfycence.
As monarke/pryued in existence.
Lyke thy desyres/thy herte for to queme.
Amonge percyens/to werre as a dyademe.

Thus by wrytynge/as made is mencion.
By Arystotyll/he gatte all Percy londe.
With all the lordshyppes/and euery royall towne.
And large Cytees/made subgiettis to his honde.
Thus firste of Percy/as ye shall vnderstonde.
Thoughe he be byrthe/with other londes many.
After his fader/was kynge of macedony.

The seconde Pystyll that kynge Alysaundre sent to Arystotyles.

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Whan Alysaundre/as is rehersyd heer.
This phylosopher/for vertues many folde
Sent vnto hym/a secret messangeer.
Without excuse/to come to his housholde
But for he was feble/and olde.
And Impotent/on the other syde.
And vnwyldy/for to ryde.

But chefe cause/why Alysaundre sent.
A purpose take/and a fantasye.
To declare/playnly what he ment.
He wyste in sothe/that in Phylosophy.
With other secrettis/of Astronomy.
He was experte/and moste coude vnderstonde.
This was the chefe/cause of the kynges sonde.

Power of planettis/and meuynge of all sterrys.
And of eueryche heuenly/intellygence.
Disposicion of peas/and eke of werrys.
And of eche other straunge/hyd scyence.
As the seuen goddes/by theyr influence.
Dispose the ordre/of Incantacions.
Or of .vij. metallys/the transmutacions.

With other craftis/whiche that ben hede.
As calculacion/and Geomancy.
Dyfformacions/of Circe and mede.
Lokynge of fatis/and pyromancy.
On londe and water/crafte of geometry.
Heyght and depnesse/with all experyence.
Therfore the kynge/desyred his presence.

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But for all this/within hym selfe a thynge.
There was a secret/he kept not to disclose.
Nor to publysshe/it openly to the kynge.
Takynge example/by two thynges in a rose.
Firste howe the floure/grete swetnes doth dispose.
Yet in the Thorne/men fynde grete sharpnesse.
And thus to cunnynge/it may be a lykenesse.

In Erbe and floure/wrytynge worde & stone.
Eche hath his vertue/of god and of nature.
But the knowynge/is hyde from many one.
And nat declared/to eury creature.
Wherfore he caste/bytwene reason and measure.
To shape awaye/the kynge for to please.
And somwhat to vnclose/and set his herte at ease.

It is a right/grete dyfference.
Bytwene a prynces/coy all dygnyte.
And comons rude/of Intellygence.
To whom belongeth/nat to medle in no degree.
Of comynynges/that shulde be kepte in secretee.
But to a kynges/famous magnyfycence.
And to Clerkes/whiche haue experyence.

It accordeth well/to serche out scrypture.
Mysteryes hyd/offowles beestis and tree.
And of aungellys/that be moste pure.
Of meruaylles/and fysshes in the see.
And of stonys/specyally of thre.
Don mynerall/a nother regatyfe.
Parted or foure/to lengthe a mannes lyfe.

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Of whiche I radde/amonge other stonys.
There was one/called anymall.
Foure Elymentis/wrought out for the nonys.
Erthe/water/and Eyer/and in especiall.
Ioyned with fyer/proporcion made egall.
And I dare saye/brefly and nat trary.
There is none suche stone/in the lapydary.

I radde onys/of a Phylosopher.
Agayne eche sekenes/of value doth moste cure.
All the treasoure/and golde of Cresus cofer.
Nor all the stonys/that growe by nature
Wrought by crafte/or forgyd by pycture.
Lapys and none lapys/stone of grettest fame.
Arystotyles/gaue it the same name.

And for I haue/but lytell redde or seyne.
To wryte or medle/of so hyghe materys.
For presumpcion/some wolde haue dysdeyne.
To be bolde/or clymbe in suche desyrys.
To scale the ladder/aboue the .ix. sperys.
Or medle of Rubyes/that gyue so clere lyght.
On holly Shrynes/in the derke nyght.

I was neuer/none experte Iewellere.
In suche maters/to put my selfe in prees.
With Phylosophers/myne iyen were not clere.
Nother with Plato/nor with socratees.
Excepte the famous doctor/Arystotyles
Of Phylosophers/to Alysaunder kynge.
Wrote of this stone/the meruayle in all thynge.

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In preuy wyse/lyke to his Ententis.
Secretys hyd/Close/in Philosophye.
Firste the departynge/of the foure Elementis.
And afterwarde/as he dothe specyfye.
Eueryche of them/for to ratyfye.
And after this/lyke his opynyon.
Of these .iiij. to make a coniunccyon.

And in suche wyse/perfourme vp this stone.
Seen in the ioynynge/there be none outrage.
But false out errynge hathe famyd many one.
And brought them after/in full grete rerage.
By expensys/and outragyous costage.
For lacke of brayne they were made so wode.
Thynge to begynne/whiche they nat vnderstode.

For he that lyste/put in experyence.
Forbode secretys/I holde hym but a fole.
Lyke hym that temptyth/of wylfull neglygence.
To stonde vpon/a threfoted stole.
Or sparyth a stewe/& fyssheth a barayne pole.
Whan all is done/he getteth none other grace.
But men to scorne hym/& mocke hym to his face.

It is no crafte/pore men to assaye.
It causeth Coffres/and chestys to be bare.
Also marryth wyttes/and brayne dothe affraye.
Yet by wrytynge/this boke dothe declare.
And be reasons/lyste nat for to spare.
With golden reasons/in taste moste lykorous.
Thynge per ignotum/preuyd per ignocius.

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Tytle of this boke/laboure Philosophorum.
Namyd also dereginime principum.
Of Philosophers/secreta secretorum.
Tresoure compyled/Omnium virtutum.
Rewle directorie/set vp in a sūme.
As complexions in helthe and in sekenesse.
Dyspose themselfe/to mornynge or to gladnesse.

Whiche boke/dyrected was to the kynge.
Alysaunder/bothe in werre and in pees.
Lyke his requeste/and royall cōmaundynge.
Full accomplysshed/by Arystotyles.
Feble of age/and impotent doutles.
Hole of corage/and trewe of his entent.
To obey his byddynge/this boke to hym he sent.

A Pystyll of the translatoure with the seynge of Arystotyles.

In the name of/Arystotyles.
Well aduysed/a proces to prouyde.
In excuse/he was nat rekeles.
But Impotent/for to go or ryde.
And alleggynge/on the other syde.
The kynges letters/he well vnderstode.
Whiche to obey/his herte & wyll was gode.

Yef Impotence/of his vnwylddy age.
In desyrys/put hym nat abacke.
To go or ryde/to let his passage.
Hole in his wyll/there was neuer lacke.

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Thoughe his heer/was turned whyte from blacke.
He besoughte hym lowly/of his royall grace.
To take a leyser/competent and space.

In excuse this Pystyll/to hym he dyde vnclose.
And hym aduertysed/in especyall.
To wyt and corage/hym selfe to dispose.
And to leue all maners/that be bestyall.
Uertuse to folowe/that be Imperyall.
And firste prudently/to discerne.
Bytwene vyce and vertue/his people to gouerne.

Of this Pystyll/a breef subscripcion.
To Alsyaunder/he wrote in trouthe.
That he sholde alwaye/be gouerned by reason.
And of all vyces/to auoyde slouthe.
For it was chefe vyce of all vntrouthe.
And that it was/a thynge fynall.
Of distruccion/of Realmes Imperyall.

Also prudent counsayll/make thy chefe pryncesse.
That she maye prouyde/and take hede.
Withouten handes/by great aduysenesse.
Chace flaterys/and them that take mede.
For fauoure or for olde hatrede.
And tunges/whiche of custome be double.
And namely them/that can sowe trouble.

Wysperynge tunges/of taste moste serpentyne.
Scalyd syluer/whose mouthe is full of blode.
Smothe afore folke/to flater and to shyne.

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And to shewe .ij. faces in one hode.
Theyr fygure is sote/theyr gall doth no gode.
All suche sholde be/voyded from counsayll.
For a bee yeueth hony/and styngeth with his tayll.

And as touchyng/the stone of Phylosophers olde.
Of whiche they make souereygne mencyon.
But one there is/as Arystotyll tolde.
Whiche all excelleth/in comparyson.
Stone of stonys/most souereygne of renowne.
Touchynge the vertue/of this ryche thynge.
This he wrote/to the moste souereygne kynge.

O alysaundre/grettest of dygnyte.
Of all the worlde/Monarke and regent.
And of all nacyons/hathe the souereygnete.
Eche one the obey/and ben obedyent.
And to conclude/the fyne of our entent.
All worldly treasoure/brefly shytte in one.
Is declared/in vertue of this stone.

Thou musest/firste in substaunce.
What maner/of vncouth dyuysyon.
Water from eyre/make dysseueraunce.
And fyer from eyre/by departycyon.
Eche one preserued/from corrupcyon.
As Phylosophers/or this hathe specyfyed.
Whiche by reason/may nat be denyed.

Water from eyer/departed prudently.
Eyer from fyer/and fyer from erth adowne.

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The chaste conceyued/and deuyded truly.
Withouten Errour/or decepcion.
Dureth euery Elyment/in his complexyon.
As it apperteyneth/to his parte.
And as is remembred/parfytely in this arte.

This stone of colour/is somtyme Cytrynade.
Lyke the sonne/stremyd in his kynde.
Golde tressed/maketh hertes full glade.
With more treasoure/than hath kynge of ynde.
Of precyous stonys/wrought in theyr dewe kynde.
The Cytryn coloure/for the sonne bryght.
And whyte for the mone/that shyneth all nyght.

This Phylosopher/brought forthe in parys.
Whiche of this stonys/wrotefully the nature.
And all the deuysyon/sette by grete aduys.
And therupon/dyde his besy cure.
That the perfeccyon/longe sholde endure.
Lyke the entent/of Arystotyles sonde.
Whiche none but he/coude well brynge on honde.

For thoughe the mater/openly were nat tolde.
Of these stonys/what Phylosophers ment.
Arystotyles/that experte and olde.
And he of parys/that forth this present sent.
In his best faythfull trewe entent.
With circūstaunce of Arybe/ynde and Perce.
Touchynge all stonys/that clerkes can reherse.

Hermogynes/had hym selfe alone.

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With one Phylyp/that with hym was secrete.
Knewe the vertue/of euery Preuy stone.
As they were/dysposed of degree.
From hym was hyd/none vncouthe pryuyte.
Hermogynes and he/knewe euery thynge.
Of all suche vertues/as longe to a kynge.

Of .iiij. maner kynges dyuers of dysposycyon.

There be kynges/dysposed by nature.
And some that brayde/on lyberalyte.
And of hole herte/with all theyr besy cure.
Theyr study set/in largesse to be free.
That theyr imperyall/magnanymyte.
Sholde nat be spotted/in no maner wyse.
Touchynge the vyse/of frowarde Couetyse.

The Phylosopher/in ordre dothe expresse.
That some kynge/to hym selfe is large.
And to his subgiettis/sheweth great largesse.
And some for to take/on hym the charge.
Largely dothe parte/and hathe hym selfe scarsenesse.
And Italyance/recorde by wrytynge.
Large on eche party/is vertue in a kynge.

Arystotyles wryteth/of them in ynde.
And reporteth that/that kynge is gloryous.
Whiche to hym selfe/is moste scarse of kynde.
And to his subgiettis/is large and plenteous.
yet they of Perce/be contraryous.

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But to my dome/that kynge whiche hath the charge
Is moste cōmended/that is to both large.

I meane as thus/by adyuysyon.
Towarde hymselfe/kepe his astate royall.
By attemperaunce/and by dyscresyon.
Lyke his subgiettis/in especyall.
As they deserue/to be lyberall.
Bytwene myrthe and lyte/a meane to deuyse.
Of to moche/and streyght couetyse.

There as a maner/straunge difference.
For lacke of reason/bytwene prodygalyte.
And a kynges/royall magnyfycence.
Whan he lyste/parte of lyberalyte.
To his subgiettis/as they ben of degree.
And egally/to holde the ballaunce.
Eche man content/with discrete suffysaunce.

Also a meane/paysed in ballaunce.
Bytwyx hym/that is a grete wastoure.
And hym that is content/by attemperaunce.
To kepe a meane/so paysed by measure.
And that Errour/brynge in none errour.
Consyderynge firste/of prynces the power.
And nexte the merytes/of the labour.

Conclude thyse two/good wyll and grutchynge.
Of them that ben/faythfull in seruyse.
And of frowarde/wranglynge.
That wyll nat obey/in no maner wyse.

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To folowe the doctryne/and great empryse.
To put his body in peryll/moste mortall.
And in partyes/that be percyall.

To all suche a prynce/of hyghe noblenesse.
Shall nat spare/his golde/nor his treasour.
And to parte with them/stuffe of his rychesse.
Thynge appropryd/to euery conquerour.
But yet fredom/conducte his labour.
That lyberalyte/his conquest to prouyde
At his moste nede/his men wyll nat abyde.

Arystotyles/made a discripsyon.
Full notable/in his wrytynge.
And set a maner/of dyuysyon
That there be foure/maner of dyuerse kynges
Some be large/in their departynges.
Bothe to ryche/and noble of blode.
That kynge that so dothe/truely yeueth his gode.

But he that is streygth/in his kepynge.
And locketh vp his treasoure/in his Cofre.
And lyste nat parte/with no maner thynge.
Nor to his subgiettis/no good dothe profre.
In nede or myschef/lyst no parte to offre.
I can nat greatly/his fredome cōmende
That vnto nouther/lyste nat to attende.

A kynge ye partyth/with suche as god hath sent.
That cōmyth by fortune/or conquest of bataylle.
To his knyghtes/and sould yours of entent.

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Suche in trouthe/at moste nede may auayle.
And them to releue/that fall in parayle.
What foloweth after/brefly to termyne
Lyght of his noblynesse/shall euer encrease & shyne.

Nature hathe set/two extremytees.
Firste by maner/of dyscrete prouydence.
That the stremys/of lyberalyttees.
May be set in good measure/& groūde of prouydēce
Paysynge in ballaunce/with ye moder of sapyence.
Quene of all vertues/and lady souereygue.
Shewynge alway goodnesse/ye lyst her to obteyne.

And firste conceyue/and beholde eche astate.
That there be none/frowarde transgressyon
Or wylfulnesse/nor yet of wey warde debate.
Eche thynge/conuey by reason.
That measure/maye haue domynacyon.
Bytwene right trouthe/and equyte.
And also auaryce/and prodygalyte.

But to my dome/and to my fantasye.
Seyth Arystotyles/that kynge is most cōmēdable,
That hath largesse/in his royallye.
With meanys of vertue/to stonde stable.
Trewe in his feyth/not feynt nor varyble.
Bytwene Aueryce/trouthe and equyte.
The vyce auoydynge/of prodygalyte.

And vertue by royall hyghe largesse.
Set in a Prynce/by prudent gouernaunce.

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That there be neyther/scarsyte nor excesse.
But ryght rule/of attemperaunce.
And that measure/wey the ballaunce.
To recompence/with equyte and ryght.
Lyke theyr merytes/to euery maner of wyght.

Bytwene trouthe/and forged flaterye.
There is straunge/vncouthe dyfference.
Contraryus poyson/I dare well certyfye.
To all estatys/of royall excellence.
Where double meanynge/hath ony assystence.
There groweth fraude/and couerth false poyson.
With sugred galle/honyed with collusyon.

Of prynces Erys/they be labourers.
The tenour rounde/and mery gothe theyr bellys.
For with theyr tunge/they stynge worse then brerys
For hunger thurste/a myde Tantalus wellys.
Sprygeth proserpyna/that fayre & bytter smellys.
So semblably/be flaterers in apparaunce.
Outwardly/sugred and galle in exystence.

And he that wyll be/famous in largesse.
And haue a name/of lyberalyte.
Let hym conceyue/aforne in his noblesse.
The demerytes/of hyghe and lowe degre.
Bytwene measure/excesse and scarsyte.
So departe/by attemperaunce.
That lyke desertys/eche man haue suffysauce.

In departynge/standes wysdome and foly.

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With discrecion/medled in this matere.
Who yeueth his treasoure/to them that be worthy.
And them gouerneth/with glad coūtenaūce & chere.
As right reason/and tyme doth requere.
In his departynge/as to myne aduyse.
Suche a kynge/is prouydent and wyse.

And his lordshyp/and all his regyon.
Shall encrease/in longe felycyte.
With laude and prayse/loue and subieccion.
As apperteyneth/vnto his dignyte.
To were his Crowne/in longe prosperyte.
I dare afferme/as it is tolde.
Suche were cōmended/of Phylosophers olde.

It hath ben sene/that ouer large expence.
In regyons/and many grete cytie.
Hath vnwarely brought in indygence.
Bothe of astates/and Comynaltie.
But Arystotyles/of grete auctorytie.
Wrote in a Somme/playnly concludynge.
Ye vertuous peruydēce/& moderate largenes/was moste notablyest in a kynge.

Ferther Arystotyles saith/ye kyng ye in his royally
Wylfull vntrouthe/by false presumpcion.
And by extorte power/groundes hym on robory.
Is greatly blynded in abusyon.
And in all his werke/for a shorte conclusyon.
To saye by recorde of scripture.
In prosperyte/shall nat longe endure.

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Howe a kynge shulde be relygyous.

A Kynge shulde be/of his lyfe.
Good of exaumple/sad and relygyous.
Mercyable/and kepe hym out of stryfe.
And in his domys/nat to be rygorous.
And to chastyse all/that ben vycyous.
And namely all/that ben founde shrewes.
And contrary to all maner of lawes.

Of full purpose/hooly to worche.
To chastyse them/by equyte and ryght.

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That ben enymyes/vnto hooly churche.
And on herytykes/for to proue his myght.
And if there be/ony maner wyght.
Hardy in dede/of presumpcion.
That fende his lawes/haue dewe coreccion.

Howe it longeth to a kynge ones in the yere to shewe hym/in his Astate royall and beste Array/and his lordes in the same wyse to shewe them selfe in his presence.

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After the custome/of royall excellence
And the vsage eke/of rome towne.
Kynges are wonte/in theyr magnyfycence.
To shewe theyr noblesse/and theyr hyghe renowne.
Theyr lordshyp/and domynacyowne.
To kepe theyr subgiettis/verrayly in dede.
Under a yerde/betwyxe loue and drede.

So that loue haue/a prerogatyfe.
To be preferryd/suche as haue power.
To shewe them selfe/durynge all theyr lyfe.
Of discrecion/auoydnge all daunger.
This to saye/eche stats in his maner.
Shall dewely/with euery circumstaunce.
As to hym perteyneth/do his intendaunce.

After his lawes/his statues to obeye.
On payne of deth/no wyght be contrarye.
What he cōmaundeth/his byddynge to with seye.
For what euer/from his precepte varye.
Or on his byddynge/bestowe or lyst nat tarye.
Where of he ought/hym to hye.
But lyfe and deth/stonde in Ieopardye.

Of the dewe obseruaunce that longeth to a kynge.

Who that euer/of presumpcyon.
Dare attempte/on any maner syde.
The kynges right/in his opynyon.
To interupte of malyce/or of pryde.

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And therupon/presume to hyde.
To withstonde/the kynges royall myght.
Or ony thynge/that longeth to his ryght.

The symylytude of a kynge.

In foure maners/muste consydred be.
Towarde god his obedyence.
And to the people his lyberalyte.
As they deserue/with due reuerence.
The kynge to aquyte in his magnyfycence.

---

As his subgiettis/be goodly to hym sayne.
Lyke their discertis/he quyte so agayne.

---

---

Howe a kynge houeth to haue a leche. to kepe the obseruaunce of his body.

For helthe of body/the kynge of hool entent.
Must haue/lyke to his desyre.
Suche one as knoweth/cours of the firmament.
And is expert/a good astronomyre.
Whiche that knoweth/seasons of the yere.
As in his tyme/was olde Cypryan.
A phylosopher/and an expert man.

He knewe the cours/and disposicion.
Of moyste and drye/bothe of hete and colde.
Chaunge of the yere/and reuolucion.
For in suche thynge/he was expert and bolde.
Knewe the cours of planettis/many folde.
And of Elementis/the reuolucions.
Chaunge of tymes/and of compleccions

And specially/in astronomye.
Knowe the tyme/when he shall slepe or wake,
Under a rewle/of Phylosophye.
In no wyse that he/none excesse make.
He must also/all surfettis for sake.
For ony luste/of frowarde appetyte.
Counseyll of lechys/to modefye his delyte.

Saturne is slouthe/Mars malencolyous.
And Phebus causeth/disposynge to gladnesse
In retoryke/helpeth Mercuryous.
For in the moone/is no stabylnesse.

---

Fortune braydeth/aye on doubylnesse.
And sythe a kynge/vpon eche partye.
Scant vpon chaunges/full harde hym to guye.

Howe moche auaylle is comprehendyd in the dylygence of a good leche.

A good leche expert/in a kynge.
For dilygent/obseruacyon.

---

A kynges helthe/be wrought in all thynge.
So that in qualyte/be founde none errynge.
Nor hynder his appetyte/in mete nor drynke.
Nor be discrasyd/to hyndre his appetyght.
Wherof nature/hath contrarious delyght.

And one rule specyally shall I teche
Touchynge the tyme and houre of his dyete.
So he nat wante/the presence of his leche.
To his complexion/as it is moste meete.
Tyme set atwayne/colde and heete.
With this rewarde/by reason to expresse.
By good aduyce/that he do none excesse.

A specyall Epistyll to the synguler heithe of a Prynce.

Naturall Phylosophers/assentyd all in one.
Saynge ye a man is made/of .iiij. humours.
And they assentynge in wrytynge euerychone.
After the wedder reynes/hayles/and shrours.
Planettis a lofte/and the heuenly tours.
After they sette/in heuen a gouernaunce.
In erthe foloweth of helthe attemperaunce.

Of moche excesse foloweth corrupcion.
Excesse of trauaylle/causeth febylnesse.
Thought sorowe be grete occacion.
To engendre/great sykenesse.
And putteth folke/in frowarde distresse.
That vndigestyon without remedye.

---

Causeth ofte sythe/by processe that they deye.

Howe a leche shall gouerne a Prynce slepynge and wakynge.

If thou wylt be hole/& kepe the fro syknesse.
And resyste the stroke/of pestylence.
Loke thou be glad/and voyde all heuynesse.
Flee wykked eyres/eschewe the presence.
Of infecte places/causynge the vyolence.

---

Drynke good wyne/and holsome metys take.
Walke in clene Eyre/eschewe the mystes blake.

And if so be lechys/do the fayle
Than take good hede/and vse thynges thre.
Temperat dyete/and temperat trauayle.
Nat malencolyous/for none aduersyte.
Meke in all trouble/glad in pouerte.
Ryche withe with lytell/contente with suffysaunce.
If Phesyke lacke/make this thy gouernaunce.

After mete beware/make no longe slepe.
Hede fote and stomake/preserue aye them fro colde.
Be nat pensyfe of thought/take no kepe.
After thy rente/maynteyne thy housholde.
Suffre in tyme/in thy right to be bolde.
Swere none othes/no man to begyle.
For worldly ioye/last here but a whyle.

Thus in two thynges/stondeth all welthe.
Of soule and body/who so lyste them sewe.
Moderat fode/yeueth to mannys helthe.
And all surfettis/dothe from hym remewe.
And charyte/to the soule is dewe.
Wherfore this dyet/O alysaundre kynge.
To all indefferent/is rychest thynge.

At the foure seasons of the yere/fyrste of all I begynne at veer.

---

That tyme/the season of the yere.
The heuenly hawme/ascendynge fro ye roote
The fresshe season/of lusty grene vere.
Whiche quycketh corages/and dothe hertes boote.
Whan rownde buddys/appere on braunches soote.
The growynge tyme/and the yonge sonne.
I meane the season/whan ver is begonne.

And bryght Phebus/entreth the rammys hede.
And begynneth/ascendynge in his spere.
Whan the Crowne/of alcest whyte and rede.
Aurora passyd/full fresshely dothe appere.
For Ioye of whiche/with heuenly notys clere.
The byrddes syngynge/in theyr armonye.
Salue that season/with sugryd melodye.

Bytwene hote and moyste/this ver is temperat.
Hauynge his moysture/of wynters sharpe shoures.
Of somer folowynge/to Flora consecrat.
Hathe moderat hete/be recorde of auctours.
The season ordeyned/to aray with newe colours.
As gardeynes herberys and to sowe sedys.
And to the lusty syluer dewe/in the grene medys.

Entrynge this season/wynter doth leue take.
Frostys departyd/and molte with the sonne.
And euery foule/chosen hathe his make.
And Nyghtyngalys/for Ioy theyr songe begonne.
Yonge rabettys ben from theyr claperys ronne.
And the cokkowe/that dyde in wynter dare.
In euery lay/to synge she lyst nat spare.

---

Louers of custome/do this season preyse.
And yonge folkes flourynge/in tender age.
Erly on the morowe/tytan maketh them aryse.
So can nature/prycke them in theyr corage.
Walkynge by ryuaylles/holdynge theyr passage.
On plesaunte hyllys/so holsome is the eyer.
Hauynge grete Ioye, the weder is so fayer.

Wherfore alysaundre/who so take hede.
And lyst consydre/by good auysement.
Of our yonge age/accounte we must in dede.
Howe we haue dispendyd/our talent.
Outher lyke folys/or lyke folkes prudent.
To vs cōmyttyd/whyle we haue ben here.
Tofore the Iuge/whan we shall appere.

Nexte than foloweth the season Estas.

This tyme begynneth/soone vpon barnabe.
Iune Iule and August/lacketh this season.
Endeth in Septembre/the sonne in virgyne.
Hoot and drye/of disposycyon.
And coloryke/of complexyon.
As I remembred/of auctours olde.
Endeth with Bertylmewe/with his dewys colde.

Fyer color Estas/and inuentus age.
Togyder accorde/in hete and drynesse.
And coloryke men/Cytryn of visage.
Roughesly and angry/some haue grete hardynesse.

---

Of growynge sklendre/fumous of hatynesse.
With smoke and fyre/haueth grete accordaunce.
Furyous of yre/and frowarde of dalyaunce.

Been at mydsomer/brynge hony to theyr heuys.
The lelyes whyte/abrode theyr leuys sprede.
Bestes pasture/and shade he vnder leuys.
Agayne the sonne/grasse dyeth in the mede.
Chaplettis be made/of rosys whyte and rede.
And euery thynge/draweth to his rypynge.
As it faryth by man/in his age growynge.

Strawberys cheries/in gardens men may se.
Beenys rype/and pescoddes grene.
Agayne heetis/whan men diltempryd be.
Folkys gader purslane/and letuse that be clene.
The season flora/that is of flours quene.
Hir fresshe motles/she turneth nowe cytryne.
The vertue of herbys/doth agayne declyne.

In this processe/it nedeth not to tarye.
But holy to god/set thyne inwarde entent.
Wherfore O alysaundre/wt herte loke thou nat varye
But thanke the lorde/of what thynge that he sent.
Pouerte or ryches/therwith to be content.
As god disposeth/therin to haue plesaunce.
As one in god/and god thy suffysaunce.

For by the sentence/of seyntis and of clerkys.
Of thy discretis/after the rekenynge.
And lyke the fruytis/of thy good werkys.

---

Thou shalt be gouernyd/this sothe & no lesynge.
With peas eternall/last at thyne endynge.
With criste to reygne/in the heuenly consystorye.
Whan thou by tryumphe/hast of thy foon victorye.

Than foloweth after the thyrde season/called Autumpne.

This tyme of custome/set folkys in besynesse.
Eche tyde man/yeueth hym to trauaylle.
To repe and mowe/and exclude ydelnesse.
No man sparyd/and husbondes wyll not faylle.
To ryse vp erely/and call vp poraylle.
Blowe theyr hornys/or the larke synge.
And stuf their graūges/wt corne ye they home brynge.

The tyme by processe/voydeth the felde of greyne.
Taketh a waye from braunches/theyr swetnesse.
Causeth the trees/of fruyte to be barreyne.
The leuys falle/the wynde abrode them dresse.
The daye the nyght/bothe of one gretnesse.
The sonne in Lybra/Egall by ballaunce.
As is the wyll/of goddes ordynaunce.

The season is dredefull/and distemperate.
Disposyd to feuers/through eyer of pestylence.
Of chaungynge/and selde in one astate.
Perylous for syknesse/and with vyolence.
Of trouble humorous/doth folke full grete offence.
For flewme this tyme/hath domynacion.
Beware of syknesse/that gynnyth in that season.

---

Erthe autumpnus/and age accordynge in one.
Slough malencolyk/spatlynge euer amonge.
Dull courbyd downward/what might & lust is gone
Full of yre/though he be nat stronge.
Soone meuyd/whether it be right or wronge.
And thus senectus/with autumpne doth accorde.
He and this season/drawe bothe by one corde.

Autumpne taketh his leue/of seynt Clement.
The tyme dyuers/and wonder varyable.
With straunge passyons/sodeynly men shent.
By vnware syknesses/whiche be vncurable.
And for this season/is vnkouth and vnstable.
With sodeyne chaunges/& complexions to greue.
Therfore in nouembre/he taketh his leue.

Wherfore consydre/in thyne astate royall.
Take the morallyte of/Autumpne the season.
Howe it is appropryd/and in especyall.
To the thirde age/and the complexion.
Of the and me/for shorte conclucion.
Wherfore O alysaundre haue in remembraunce.
Peyse euery thynge/and kepe the in gouernaunce.

The fourthe determynacion/of the foure seasons of the yere.

After heruest/whan men thresshe sheuys.
So we where/gadre wynter fuytl ī gardynes
And somer trees/be bareyne of their leuys.
Men put in selers/cowche newe wynes.

---

Muste lese his name/towarde seynt martynes.
Muryly dronke/whan it is through fyne.
And lasteth to the season/of seynt martyne.

The dayes shorte/the nyghtes wonder longe.
Colde and moyste/of flewme nutrytyfe.
Contrary to Estas/the frostis be so stronge.
In rotis resteth/the vertue vegetatyfe.
Grene herbis/and braunches/loste theyr lyfe.
The sonne this season/beynge in aquarye.
Beestis to their bynne/for stormys dare not tarye.

Thus the foure seasons/deuyded of the yere.
Firste ver/whan phebus doth in his spere aryse.
The growynge tyme/whan buddes out appere.
Estas folowynge/whan floures in their guyse.
Spredeth on their stalkys/ageyne tytan doth aryse.
Autumpne after/whiche longe doth nat tarye.
And yemps endeth/the ende of Februarye.

Thus foure tymes/maketh vs a merrour clere.
Of mannes lyfe/a full playne yemage.
Uer and inuentus/togyder haue sogere.
Estas foloweth/longynge to sadder age.
To vs autumpne/bryngeth his message.
Of senectus/wynter laste of all.
Howe deth his orlogge/doth on vs call.

With ver in youthe/we hadde lustynesse.
Whiche is vnpossyble/agayne to recure.
Estas gaue vs strength and hardynesse.

---

Flourynge in fresshenesse/not longe to endure.
Autumpne after/bryngeth vs a fygure.
Of senectus wynter/of crokyd age.
Howe all thynge passeth/halt here none ostage.

Lo alysaundre/ye mo we se thynges tweyne.
Auauntynge lyenge/longynge vnto age.
Malencoly fals demynge/and disdeyne.
Many passyons/rancour and dotage.
Ende of this lyfe/terme of our vyage.
For decrepitus/hath his merke sette.
This worlde shall ende/it may not be lette.

This to make/a combynacion.
Of ver and youthe/by a maner accordaunce.
Of mannys sadnesse/and astat the season.
Flourynge in luste tyme/of moste pleasaunce.
Autumpne and elde/with the grete habundaunce.
Than foloweth wynter/and all doth ouer caste.
So doth age/for it may nat alwaye laste.

Of this forsayde/take the morallyte.
Setteth asyde all maters/spoke in vayne.
The foure seasons/shewe in their degre.
Firste ver & Estas/nexte autumpne with his grayne.
Constraynt of wynter/with frostis ouer layne.
To our foure ages/the seasons well applyed.
Deth all consumeth/may nat be denyed.

Here dyed this tanslatour & noble poete Iohn lydgate/ & the folower gan this prologe on this wyse.

---

Where floure of knyghthod/ye batayle doth refuse.
What shulde dwerf/entre into the place.
Bareyne in sentence/shulde hym selfe excuse.
And by presumpcion/not shewe out his face.
Of Iohn̄ lydgate/howe shulde I the sotyll trace.
Folowe in secrees/celestyall and dyuyne.
Sythe I am nat aqueynted/with the musys nyne.

Fronessis sent/from the lady nature.
For a conclucion/hir Iourney to conueye.
As of an thy claudian/reherseth the scripture.
By the seuen susters/in their passage toke the waye.
Gynnynge at grāmer/as for locke and kaye.
In ordre and proporcion/folowynge doctryne.
Whiche well was aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

This seuen sustryne/souereygne and entyer.
If I my penne/to this matere do applye.
The nyne musis/blame shall in maner.
That they on laboured/scant on my partye.
I gaue none attendaunce/I may it nat denye.
Howe shulde I than/my mater do conbyne.
Whiche am nat aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

If I shulde talke/in scyencis tryuyall.
Gynnynge at grāmer/in sygnes & fygures.
Or in meetrys/the feet to make equall.
Be tyme and proporcion/kepynge my mesures.
This lady lyst nat/to parte the treasoures.
Of her substaunce/to my rudenesse in dygne.
Whiche am nat aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

---

This mater to conueye/by trewe conclucion.
Uerytees of logyke/Certis I must applye.
Where vnder floures/restyth the scorpyon.
Whiche I fere to take/for my partye.
Premyssis congrewe/whiche can nat applye.
Of olde phylosophers/to folowe the doctryne.
Syth I am nat aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

I haue with tully/gaderyd no fresshe floures.
The chare of fronescis/to paute in dewe maner.
With [illeg.] petrak of rethoryk/no colours.
Of termys ye sentence/in my wrytynge doth appere.
Arythmetryk/or musyk/my dulnesse/do nat clere.
Howe shulde I than/by geometrie drawe right lyne
Whiche am nat aqueynted with the musis nyne.

Of astronomye/the secrees in vysyble.
Unknowen with tholomye/I faylle cognycion.
Whiche by inuencion/to me be in possyble.
Without doctours/and exposicion.
Or of these senne/to make a declaracion.
After your entent/in this treteyse to enclyne.
Whiche am nat aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

Thus atwene twayne/perell of the see.
Silla and carybdis/put in disperacion.
What to receyue/and whiche for to flee.
Constrayned I am/to make dubytacion.
The sharpe corosie/of fretynge detraccion.
Firste I fere/to my party shall enclyne.
Syth I am nat aqueynted/with the musis nyne.

---

Thus set in peryll/faylynge of socoure.
Me doth conforte/a prouerbe in myne entent.
Eche tale is endyd/as it hath fauoure.
Wherfore to drede/no lenger I wyll assent.
But breffely fulfyll/your cōmaundement.
In moder tounge/this matere to conbyne.
Whiche safe supporte/knowe nat the musys nyne.

Here Arystotyll wryte a speciall pystyll to Alysaūdre how he shall conserue natur all hete and helthe of body.

Soone alysaundre/of helth to be sure.
One thynge I the pray/first and pryncipally.
Dewe proporcion/of hete in nature.
To conserue for to knowe/that redyly.
In double wyse/man deyeth fynally.
Of whiche as be age/one is naturall.
The tother by fortune/as by thynges accydentall.

Ferther thy body/to make it moyste and fat.
After this sentence/folowe this doctryne.
Moche slepe wyll kepe the/in hygh stat.
Metys swete/and wyne lycoure deuyne.
Merydyen reste/mylke whyte and argentyne.
All good hodoures/and floures after theyr tyme.
With swete bathes/of herbys good and fyne.

Peyse thy tyme/nombre it parfyghtly.
And in the bathe/be nat ouer longe.
Tyme contynewed/wyll feble the body.

---

And all Ioyntes/wyll weyke whiche be stronge.
Drynke no wyne/but water be there amonge.
And in wynter/take water of alchymyne.
Whiche hoot is of nature/to put in thy wyne.

The malowe in somer/and eke violente flours.
Whiche of nature/be colde of trouth and ryght.
To speke playne/and vse none colours.
Frome corrupte humours/maketh the body lyght.
Ones in the moneth/to haue a vomyght.
Pourgeth the stomake/maketh it pure and clene.
That no corrupcion/therin may be sene.

Ferther be it knowe/to thy magnyfycence.
That this vomyth/restoreth hete naturall.
If it be do/without vyolence.
And these cōmodytees/causeth in especyall.
Moystnesse good grees/well to defye withall.
Understandynge reason/glorye and gladnesse.
Of thyne enmyes/victorye expelleth all heuynesse.

If thou wylt be hole/& kepe the fro syknesse.
And resyste the stroke of aduersyte.
Loue to se playes/voyde all heuynesse.
And put delyght/in these thynges thre.
Fayre men and women/be delictable to the.
To beholde on thy body/clene clothynge.
And of antyquyte/to se and rede wrytynge.

Here Arystotyle wrytte in a Pystyll to alysaundre tho thynges whiche enfeble ye body & make it drye.

---

Soone set a preef/in thy prudent auyse.
To ete and drynke/by attemperaunce
For after the sentence/of Phylosophers wyse.
The body done feble/and sette in perturbaunce.
So ete lytell/and drynke without gouernaunce.
Slepe before mete/ouer moche to trauaylle.
With ferynge wrothe/gretly done disuaylle.

And whoso wyll/breefly in sentence.
Gone agayne myght/doute or it be nede.
To eche tale/gyue hasty credence.
Often gone to chambre/ouer often to blede.
With salte metys/lyste hymselfe fede
Or drynke olde wyne/in grete foyson.
Dothe drye his blode/by naturall disposicion.

In water also/contagious of nature.
Be nat bathed/in none degre.
The kynde of brymstone/is peryllous I the sure.
And full replesshyd/I exhorte the.
Flesshely lustes/to flee.
Rennynge after mete/also rydynge.
Whiche cause wyll/a syknesse callyd quakynge.

In ettynge of fysshe/make no contynuaunce.
For after the sentence/of expert ypocrase.
Fysshe the complexion/putteth to varyaunce.
And pure blode/corruptyth in shorte space.
Medlyd with mylke/causeth body and face.
With lepre to be smyt/through disposicion.
Of vnkynde humours/by inwarde corrupcion.

---

Howe the body is deuyded in foure partes and whiche they be.

O Alysaundre /peyse in ballaunce.
Howe pryncypall partes/foure there be
In mannes body/whiche for remembraunce.
And auayle to thyne/magnanymyte.
Shall entytle/and gyue superfluyte.
Of euyll humowres/to ony of them inclyne.
I shall the teche/a specyall medycyne.

Of these secrees/to gyue cognycion.
The firste membre/this matere to applye.
Where power organycall/vse theyr operacion.
Is the heed/wherein the fourth partye.
Set in resydence/is the fantasye.
And nexte in ordre/Imagynacion.
With mynde remembraunce/and estymacion.

If superfluyte/or ony euyll humoures.
Of qualytees/gendre/by in proporcion.
In the heed/be sygnes and coloures.
Knowe thou shalt/the indisposycion.
By this doctryne/and instruccion.
The eyen dymme/the browes waxe grete.
The nosethryllys shrynke/the templys downe bete.

This to recure/a souereygne medycyne.
Is aloyes/as say doctours of fame.
Sore boylled/in dowset and swete wyne,
With a rote of whiche/is the name.

---

Pulgichyn/whiche boylle muste in same.
Tyll tyme the wyne/haste wastyd be.
Whiche than thus vsed/is profytable to the.

Take these herbis/souereygne and entyer.
Into thy mouthe/with the swete lycours.
And them close there/in dewe maner.
Whiche distroye shall/eche corrupt humours.
And kepe them there/tyll tyme thou sauours.
Of amendynge/the cōmodyte.
And expulcion/of superfluyte.

Ferther to gyue the/enformacyon.
Of mustarde whyte/the seede is profytable.
Grounde to pouder/for conseruacion.
Receyued in tyme/a quantite mesurable.
And if thou be neclygent/and vnstable.
In these thynges/thou shalt haue grete malady.
In eyen and brayne/enspecially.

The seconde pryncipall parte of the body.

The seconde parte/this mater to conbyne.
Is the breste/whiche yeueth syknesse.
Do enfeble/in degree or sygne.
Tokens foure/to the shall it expresse.
Tonge lettyd mouthe salt/with bytternesse.
Or ouer swete of stomake/the mouthe Eger.
Ache in membrys/in eche season or wedder.

For breste thus brosyd/vse this medycyne.

---

Lytell to ete/is good phesyke.
To make vomyth/after in doctryne.
Sugre roset/with aloes mastyke.
Well chawed/as saye doctours antentyke.
Receyued in tyme/proporcion and measure.
Of vnkouth syknesse/the breste done recure.

And if so be/that these doth the faylle.
Take some spyce/good and confortatife.
Whiche to the appetyghte/gretly doth auaylle.
And the body/conseruyth in gode lyfe.
Causeth peas/where was debate and stryfe.
All corrupte humours/expelleth echoon.
With aletuarie/called diouysion.

In foure wyses/thou shalt haue grete peynes.
If my counsaylle/thou refuse in this partye.
Sharpe feuers/ache in heed and reynes.
Enpesshement/the trouthe to specyfye.
Properly to speke/the tonge dothe denye.
And is occacion/auctours bere wytnesse.
Of many vnkouth/and straunge syknesse.

The thirde pryncypall partye of the body.

The thyrde partye/to speke ī termys playne.
Is the wombe/in the body naturall.
Whiche yef euyll in degre/or sygne conteyne.
Knowe thou mayste/by these thynges in especyall.
Rednesse in the kne/the wombe bolnyth with all.
Of kynde causeth/to gone heuely.

---

Agayne whiche these medycynes/take for remedy.

Receyue inwarde/some lyght purgacion.
Whiche suttyll and lyght/is of nature.
And of the breste/the conseruacion.
Aforesayde also/wyll it recure
And if thou leue/these medycynes I the sure.
As olde phylosophers/clerely doth expresse.
In many folde cause/it wyll syknesse.

Ache in the rottle/and eke in the haunches.
In backe ioyntes/and also reynes.
With the flyxe/and many other braunches.
Euyll dygestyon/with other dyuers peynes.
This sheweth experyence/whiche neuer feynes.
Moder of cunnynge/and chefe maystresse.
As olde phylosophers/in wrytynge bere wytnesse.

Of the fourthe pryncypall party of the body.

The fourth party/this matere to termyne.
As the genytall/founde in certayne.
Unto whiche/if corrupcion do enclyne.
These be sygnes/as phylosophers sayne.
Mete to receyue/the stomake doth disdayne.
To Coyllons and zerde/rednesse doth resorte.
Agayne whiche these medycynes/doth conforte.

An herbe namyd apus/breefly to expresse.
With seede of fenell/is profytable to the.
Of archeunse the rote/acheen and atracies.

---

Whiche thus disposeth/this syknesse to make flee.
The herbe the roote/put togyder all thre.
With whyte wyne drynke it/in the mornynge.
From syknesse in genitall/kepe soget and kynge.

Ferther be it knowe/to thy magnyfycence.
That water with wyne/take in smale quantyte.
Lytell to ete mesuryd/by prudence.
Amonge other/is profytable to the.
And if this doctryne/of the dispysed be.
Thou shalt renne/in ache of the bladder.
Whiche of the stone/syknesse soone gadder.

An ensample howe a kynge shulde be in quisityf to knowe dyuers oppynyons of Lechis or physiciens.

Herther I haue radde/in storyes of antyquite.
Howe to asemble/made a myghty kynge.
All physyciens/hyest of auctoryte.
Of ynde and Grece/them streyghtly cōmaundynge.
One medycyne to teche/whiche agayne all thynge.
Noyous to the body/were suffycyent.
To whome the Grecis/thus sayde their entent.

Who in helthe/to perseuere wyll be sure.
And conserue the hete/naturall.
Without langoure/longe to endure.
Hote water to drynke/hym doth befall.
The mouthe replesshyd/by proporcion equall.
Tymes thre/in aurora fastynge.
Erly to drynke/is moost medycynable thynge.

---

The phesyciens/of ynde in theyr oppynyon.
Sayde that medycyne/moost profytable.
Was to vse/in dewe proporcion.
Mylke whyte/with mascursu thynges medicynable
Receyued fastynge/moost auayllable.
Man to conserue/in prosperyte and welthe.
Good inwarde/disposicion and bodely helthe.

But knowe alysaundre/and peyse in ballaunce.
That in this doctryne/myne oppynyon.
Clerely to entytle/in thy remembraunce.
Breefly is this/for full conclusion.
Who slepeth well/by naturall reason.
Tyll wombe auoyde/poudorosyte.
Excludynge syknesse/scant in lyberte.

Slepe receyued/in tyme and measure.
As reason preuyth/and experyence.
From these syknesses/the body dothe recure.
Whiche preuyd is/by physychall prudence.
Palsy and gowte/comynge of neclygence.
Ache from the wombe/and Ioyntes echone.
From tremblynge/& quakynge kepeth mēbre & bone

And he that vseth in morowe/these thre thynges.
Alibi aurei thre dragmys/in substaunce.
Une passes/or good swete reysynges.
Of flewme inwarde/shall haue no perturbaunce.
The mynde hool/excludynge varyaunce.
Shall be of kynde/and ignoraunce disdeyne.
The body free/from the feuer quarteyne.

---

Ferther to entytle/in the audyth countable.
Of thyne remembraunce/secrees of my doctryne.
Nottis to ete and fyggys is profytable.
Or leuys of rewe/agreable and fyne.
Agayne all venyme/souereygne medycyne.
And breefly to conclude/in especiall.
All these conserue/the hete naturall.

How profytable it is to knowe dyuersyte of kyndes of metys and drynkes.

Ferther alysaundre/be it knowe to the.
That profytable is/in specyall to a kynge.
Of metes and drynkes/knowe dyuersyte.
Wich proporcion and tyme/of receyuynge.
For after the sentence/of phylosophers wrytynge.
Some are suttyll/some groos by nature.
Outher atwene bothe/in meane kepe measure.

Blode pure engendre/and enlumyne.
Metes smale/and subtyll in substaunce.
As whete hennys/chekenys good and fyne.
The body nourysshe/the stomake kepe fro greuaūce
Groos metis/make no perturbaunce.
In labourynge/men/whiche may them defye.
In other engender/malyncolye.

Whiche atwene bothe/kepe their measure.
As physiciens wryte/of auctoryte.
Engender no flewme/by kynde of their nature.
Ne of humours/superfluyte.

---

As grete motowne/and other that be.
Hote and moyste/in theyr operacion.
Moost indifferent/to eche complexion.

Howe be it/that somtyme in certeyne.
These flesshes by kynde/make wombe harde & drye.
It newly rostyd/receyued and newly slayne.
Take fro the spete/and ete hastelye.
They be holsome/reason doth it not denye.
And breefly to conclude/this matere in sentence.
Of fysshes the kynde/is lyke to experyence.

The fysshe lytell/and of sotyll skyn.
Nourysshed in water/swete and rennynge.
I meane as perche/with sharpe fyne.
Be moost holsome/to man them receyuynge.
And in dedde water/both of olde and yonge.
Fysshe nourysshed/is vnprofytable.
And vnto kynde/not auaylable.

Of knowynge of waters and whiche be moost profytable.

Thou oughtest to wete/ye water is profytal
Here in erthe/to eche creature.
To man woman/and beest vnresonable.
Whiche from corrupcion/the body doth recure.
Rennynge from hylle/and erthe whiche is pure.
Or nere to cytees/styllynge as perlys rounde.
Passynge holsom/where merschys do none haboūde

---

Water also/whiche that is moost lyght.
Swete or bytter/in eche degre and sygne.
From the see cōmynge/of trowthe and ryght.
Through hygh hyllys/as perle argentyne.
Knowe may be/whan they be good and fyne.
By sygnes syxe/folowynge insentence.
Prouyd by reason/and experyence.

Lyght of nature/to make repetycion.
Clere therwith/and of good odoure.
Soone hoot soone colde/by dyuers operacion.
Without corrupcion/and of good sauoure.
Whyte also/and of bryght coloure.
Of whiche the contrarye/by pollytyk prudence.
Thus knowe thou mayste/by experyence.

Of slepynge wayours/watrys in certayne.
Salte bytter and fumous/the wombe doth drye.
In lowe valeyes also/whiche be playne.
Be hoot and heuy/trowthe to specefye
Where strenghe of phebus/reneweth his partye.
And watrys their places/kepe as they began.
Of them to drynke/causeth Coleram nigram.

Waters that renne/by many dyuers londes.
Be hoot greuous/vnholsome and heuy.
Whiche terage haue/of foreyne dyuers sondes.
As by experyence/preuyd is redely.
Who drynketh water/febleth his body.
Afore mete of stomake/withdraweth the hete.
And of flewme/man maketh replete.

---

As olde Phylosophers/accorde all in one.
Slepe is noryse/of degestyon.
To drynke water/as they say echone.
At mete contynually/causeth corrupcion.
In the stomake/and is occacion.
Of heuynesse slouthe/and dysturbaunce.
Whiche putteth a man/out of good gouernaunce.

Thou oughtest to drynke in somer water colde.
Namely whan phebus/is in his hyghe degre.
Luke warme in wynter/in phesyke as it is tolde.
Amonge other/is profytable to the.
For as doctours recorde/of auctoryte.
Colde in wynter/in euery maner wyght.
And hote in somer/distroye the appetyght.

Of knowynge of wynes and noyinges and bountes of them.

Soone alysaundre/in the secrets dyuyne.
For chaunge/of complexions by drynesse or humydyte.
Profytable is/in eche degre and sygne.
Of wyne to knowe/the werkynge & the properte.
Whiche receyued/where is nessessyte.
And tyme requeryth/after my doctryne.
Agayne all syknesse/is souereygne medycyne.

Wyne of the grape/whiche groweth euen vpright
Agayne hyllys to/synguler conforte.
Where as phebus/with flamynge bemys bryght.
Dayly vprysynge/newely dothe resorte.

---

Is more drye after/phylosophers reporte.
Than other/whiche groweth naturally.
In places playne/moyste and shadewy.

The firste to flewmatyke/as folke in olde age.
Gretely dothe profyghte/take by attemperaunce.
Hote and yonge/putteth to damage.
In olde mysse humours/restoreth to gouernaunce.
Superfluytes/and all disturbaunce.
Putteth to flyght/and sheweth to exigent.
Bycause it is/to their nature conuenyent.

Wyne moste rede/and thykke by kynde.
Engendreth good blode/as auctours reporte.
Whiche stronge and myghty/dulleth the mynde.
Take out of measure/do not conforte.
Corrupte humours/causeth to resorte.
To eche membre/breefly to expresse.
Noyeth the stomake/reyseth/wyndynesse.

To eche complexion/of mannes nature.
Moste medycynable/and lycour indeferent.
Is of the grape/whiche groweth in the sure.
In large feldes/them conuenyent.
Stretchyd abrode/without impedyment.
With hylle and valeyes/enuyronyd aboute.
Gadred in tyme/beste lycoure withouten doute.

Breefly as thus/to expresse what I mene.
Loke they be rype/and of good swetnesse.
Stronge in substaunce/no grennesse let be sene.

---

From the stocke/exclude all moystnesse.
And of this doctryne/to haue more redynesse.
Loke wyne of the grape/a lytell departyd be.
From the kernell/for lacke of humedyte.

Wyne holsome also/oughteth to be of coloure.
So atwene reed/and golde fyne.
Ponyaunt delictable/sharpe in sauoure.
Thykke at the bottome/of coloure Cytryne.
Aboue clere/whiche lycoure dyuyne.
Receyued in tyme/and mesurably.
Excludynge dysease/conforteth the body.

Ferther alysaundre/to expresse what I mene.
Knowe and entytle/in thy remembraunce.
That wyne good propertees/hath fourtene.
Of olde phylosophers/paysed in ballaunce.
Enforsynge the stomake/excludeth perturbaunce.
Fortyfyeth the heete/in the body naturall.
Good dygestyon/causeth me specyall.

Conseruyth the stomake/from corrupcion.
By all the membres/the mete dothe lede.
Whiche conuerteth/by transmutacion.
Chaungyd to norysshynge/the body doth fede.
With pure blode/of this matere take hede.
Maketh to aryse/the hete by measure.
From the stomake/to brayne by nature.

Euyll humours distroyeth/ye colour maketh rede.
Conforteth corages/claryfyeth the syght.

---

The tonge eloquent/and delyuer in the hede.
From fretynge malencolye/maketh the body lyght.
Causeth good appetyte/maketh hardy to fyght.
But these be vnderstande/breefly I the sure.
Of wyne receyued/in tyme and measure.

And knowe alysaundre/that wyne outragyously.
Out of tyme receyued/and measure.
Of these cōmodytees/cause contrary.
And the body longe/to endure.
Do nat permytte/in gode chaunce and measure.
But more of syknesse/causeth abundaunce.
Than wyne measuryd/cōmodytees in substaunce.

Tokens also/of phesyke and medycynes.
By a maner/of comparyson.
Atwene the renbarbe/gode and holsome wynes.
Thus syknesse make/indisposicion.
As the renbarbe/holsome of condycion.
Take out of measure/is deedly and venym.
For shorte conclucion/so holsome is wyn.

Here specyally prayseth wyne & techyth a medycyne/agayne dronkennesse of hit.

In sentence breef/to wryte in termys playne.
Surryppis bytter/be profytable to the.
Full or fastynge/receyued in certayne.
Of humours or flewme/whan superfluyte.
Done habundaunce/in sygne or degree.
Whiche in the body/cause corrupcion.

---

Of qualytees shulde/be in proporcion.

Ferther I meruaylle/in my oppynyon.
Howe man compyled/and made of foure humours.
May be syke/or tende to corrupcyon.
Whyle he may haue/speciall thre socours.
Good brede of whete/flesshe that well sauours.
Of terage and stocke/gode and holsome wyne.
Receyued in measure/lycour moste deuyne.

Contrarye be of nature/to these thre.
Moche to ete/ouer moche to trauaylle.
Drynke to receyue/in superfluyte.
Of the body eche membre/doth disuaylle.
But if these/the body doth assaylle.
And of drynke/superfluyte specially.
By suttyll meanes/vse this remedy.

Firste to be wasshe/is profytable thynge.
In water boyled/hoot and temperat.
After ouer a ryuer/rennynge.
To be set arrayed/lyke to thyne astat.
With salues oyllys/enuyronnyd preparat.
After the stomake/anoynted with all.
With onyment/called sandall.

Physiciens also/preue by prudence.
Howe norysshynge/that tyme is the sauoure.
To nature of good spyces/and incence.
Mesuryd in tyme by dylygent laboure.
And who of wyne/lyst to leue socoure.

---

Hym behouyth/by succession redely.
It to leue/and not sodeynly.

Of the ryghtwysnesse of a kynge. and of his counsaylle.

Ferther alysaundre/gyue aduertence.
Though of accorde/pylosophers expresse.
To a prynces hyghe/magnyfycence.
Thynge celestyall/is ryghtwysnesse.
Made to conserue/the blode and rychesse.
Of his subgiettis/possessyons and werkes.
In whiche his regalye/scant as say clerkes.

From god sent/for his creatures.
Ryghtwysnesse namyd/sharpe of intellygence.
In subgiettis obeysaunt/souereygne recures.
Whiche doth causeth/groundyd on prudence.
Sent was/noote this sentence.
Unto prynces/to conserue from pylage.
All subgiettis/extorcion and damage.

Men of ynde/in their oppynyon.
For this concludyd/wrytynge beryth wytnesse.
Of a prynce/for breef conclucion.
To his subgiettis/better is ryghtwysnesse.
Than habundaunce/or plente of rychesse.
In the realme/and more auayllable
Than rayne from heuen/a kynge resonable.

---

And for they shulde make/no disseueraunce.
But theyr kynge and ryghtwysnesse/ioyne in one.
Atwene them they made/affyaunce.
Whiche was this wrytte/in a marbyll stone.
Without ryghtwysnesse/prynce may be none.
And breefly to wryte/without superfluyte.
Ryght and the kynge/as bretherne owne to be.

It is to the/also grete auaylle.
And accordynge/to thyne magnyfycence.
Oppynyons to here/of thy counsaylle.
And benygnely/to gyue audyence.
To theyr counsaylle/gyue aduertence.
Intytle and rolle/eche oppynyon.
In thy remembraunce/but lerne this conclucion.

Thyne entent/do not expresse.
Whiche thou haste/at the begynnynge.
For thou oughtest/of verray ryghtwysnesse.
Therof be blamyd/as wytnesseth wrytynge.
Kepe tonge in mewe/be cloos in werkynge.
Tyll tyme thou be/inpurpose for auaylle.
In effect/to folowe their counsaylle.

Conceyue counseyll/peyse it in ballaunce.
Of eche parsone/hyghe or lowe degre.
Whiche dothe Iuge/without varyaunce.
For moste loue/whiche he hathe to the.
And whan all thynges/determyned be.
By thy counsaylle/them put to execucion.
For to a realme/delayes cause destruccion.

---

To make delayes/namely tyme of nede.
Is grete perryll/as Phylosophers dyuyse.
Of tender in age/to this mater take hede.
Prudent counsaylle/loke thou nat despyse.
To some of nature/be prouydent and wyse.
Some folkes/by disposicion.
After theyr tyme/and constellacion.

This to conclude/wrytynge I fynde.
A lykenesse preuyd/by experyence.
Of an enfaunt/in the countre of yende.
Bore in a place/where men of intellygence.
Herborowed were/whiche gyuynge aduertence.
Of this childe/to eche proporcion.
This dome gaue/by naturall reason.

Bore he was/vnder suche sygne.
Constellacion/and planette delictable.
That he shulde enclyne/to doctryne.
Be lyght of membres/curtoyse and amyble.
Louyd of states/to counsayll auayllable.
Of seuen sciences/hauynge in syght clere.
Whose fader of weuynge/was an artyfycere.

Tyme passyd/this childe grewe to age.
Well proporcionyd/in membres erganycall.
Whom his fader/for worldly auauntage.
Bonde and disposed/to crafte mechanycall.
But this enfaunt/for nothynge myght befall.
Lerne myght/ne for correccyon.
Bycause it was/agayne disposicion.

---

They toke awaye the brydell/of arest.
Hym parmyttynge/to folowe his owne entent.
He sette his herte/to byde with the wysest.
Of that countre/and moste prudent.
Whiche in laboure/wolde be dylygent.
Hym to enforme/in scyence by lecture.
The kynde of thynges/conteyned by nature.

The menynge/of ye firmamēt & all other thynges.
Under nature/he lerned redely.
Good maners also/to gouernaunce of a kynge.
And by his wysdam/and scyence fynally.
Bycause he was/trustyd specially.
He had the rewle/and disposicion.
Of the kynge/and all his regyon.

Contrarye to this/in wrytynge I fynde.
Howe a noble/and a royall kynge.
Two children had/in the londe of yende.
Of whiche whan one/came to growynge.
He was sette/to lyberall cunnynge.
Taught by maystres/of hyghe auctoryte.
As apperteyned/to his dignyte.

But in that part/he was vntretable.
Mayster ne fader/myght no thynge auaylle.
Science nor crafte/to hym was delictable.
But to forge/mallyable metaylle.
Put no delyght/in counterfete apperaylle.
But disposed/in yonge and tender age.
As childe bore of vyle and smale lynage.

---

The kynge stonyed/gretly in this party.
Of his realme/assemblyd in presence.
All grettest clerkes/cōmaundynge streyghtly.
That they shulde do/theyr entyer dylygence.
Hym to enforme/by theyr scyence.
Why his sone/of disposicion.
Saue oonly to forge/wolde take none informacion.

In theyr oppyny on/they cordyd all in one.
And soone this answere/for full conclucion.
Of his nature/what enfaunt that were borne.
In that sygne/or constellacion.
He shulde be/of naturall reason.
Disposyd that crafte/oonly to vse.
And all other/vtterly refuse.

These experymentis/owe to meue a kynge.
Not to despyse/a man I the sure.
Lytell of stede/and lytell of growynge.
But after he spryngeth/in vertue and nurture.
So hym to cherysshe/oughteth of nature.
Whether he be/of lowe or hyghe degre.
A kynge flowrysshynge/in excellent dignyte.

He oughteth to be louyd/that vyces wyll eschewe
Whiche loueth trowthe/and counseylleth trewely.
To the thy subgiettis/stedfast iuste and trewe.
And of thy wyll/somtyme the contrary.
Whiche doth nat spare/to tell the forthe fully.
To his counsayll/gyue affyaunce.
Whiche in thy realme/cause wyll good gouernaunce

---

Ordre thy materys/after theyr substaunce.
Sette nat the laste/there the firste shulde be.
In all nedes/with dewe circumstaunce.
To vse counsaylle/is profytable to the.
With preuy counceyllours/prudent and secre.
For good counsayll/more dothe auaylle.
Than of people/grete puyssaunce in bataylle.

For this entent/in wrytynge as I rede.
A grete man wyse/and prouydent.
Whoos dwellynge was/in the realme of mede.
A letter wrote/and to his sone it sent.
Of whiche the tenoure/and the content.
With the prohemye/and conclucion.
This was without/varyacion.

Dere sone it is/nede in all werkes.
To haue counsaylle/for thou arte but one man.
Of qualytees/contrary/compyled as say clerkes.
Wherfore thy counsayll/take of them that can.
The directe/by polytyk wysdam.
In eche meuynge/habyte or passion.
The to reduce/by good discrecion.

From thyne enemy/I counsayll the be sure.
Shewe thy power/and thy victorye.
Upon hym/thy ryght to recure.
But I the monysshe/firste and pryncypally.
From hym to flee/in tyme prudently.
Put none confydence/in the gretnesse.
Of thyne prerogatyf/and excellent hyghnesse.

---

Take counsaylle/in thought do not muse.
As it pleaseth/so it receyue.
The beste accept/badde to refuse.
Who foloweth thy wyll/the shall disceyue.
Werse smyte flaterynge/than polax or gleyue.
Wherfore parceyue/by logicall reason.
That vnder good floures/resteth the scorpion.

Be sad of chere/playe nat the enfaunt.
In answere prudent/wyse and nat chaungeable.
One synguler man/to make thy lyef tenaunt.
To the nor thyne/is nat auayllable.
For if he be wood/and vntretable.
He may in his/furyous cruelte.
Thy people thy realme/destroy and also the.

Ferthermore sone/take hede to my doctryne.
To haue offycers/is profytable to the.
Thy worshyppe and profyghte/for to maynteyne.
And if thou wylte/lerne this of me.
Preue thyne offycer/of hyghe or lowe degre.
By styll meanes/vse persuacion.
And than fynally/take this conclucion.

Make compleynte/shewe grete heuynesse.
Fayne the nedy/take hym to the nere.
By suttyll meanes/thy conceyte to expresse.
Is to thy frende/touche thyne offycere.
And if he counsaylle/to cheueth syluere.
Of thy iowellys/or thyne treasoure.
He is trewe/and loueth thyne honoure.

---

If he caste or gynne/to counte thy dettis.
It is sygne of grete/prouydence.
Fals and vntrewe/if of thy subgettis.
Goodes to receyue/he gyue aduertence.
And if he offre/of polytyk prudence.
Parte of rychesse/get in thy seruyce.
He is so trewe/no good may hym meynpryst.

Comende that offycer/in thyne oppynyon.
As hym that loueth/more prosperyte.
Unyuersell/of thy regyon.
Than pryuat auaylle/to his syngularyte.
Sygne of good soget/take this auctoryte.
Is whan he dothe/for thy hygh honour.
More than his charge/to thy synguler pleasour.

And truste nat on hym/of dyscrecion.
Whiche in treasoure/putteth his delyght.
With herte mynde/hath delectacion.
Good to gadre/whether it be wronge or ryght.
Of whom groweth euer/the appetyght.
In grete rychesse/and mony to abounde.
Whiche as a depnesse/is without grounde.

Gyue no credence/to suche a offycere.
That is corruptyd/in his affeccyon.
For he wyll redely/seke matere.
And soone consent/to thy destruccion.
Tretynge with lordes/ne cognycion.
Let hym none haue/and if he this offende.
Out of thy presence/hym vtterly suspende.

---

Loue that offycer/of hool herte and entyer.
Whiche the louyth/and is aye tretable.
To thy subgiettis/take hede of this mateer.
Them to make/to the agreable.
From thy seruyce/whiche is not permutable.
In whom also/these vertues may be sene.
By computacion/folowynge here fyftene.

In membres perfyghte/well to trauaylle.
In thyne offyce/hym cōmyttyd to.
Swyfte vnderstandynge/gretely doth auaylle.
With redy conceyte/where men haue to do.
That hym is charged/to execusion also.
Soone to put/curteys and doughty.
Fayre speker/without flatery.

Groundyd in scyence/and a good clerke.
Trewe of his beheest/hatynge lesynges.
Gentyll of condicions/treable in eche werke.
Well mesuryd/specially in two thynges.
Mete and drynke/for aboute kynges
Insaciable glotonye/is detestable.
In conuenyent/and abhomynable.

That the loue worshyppe/and encrease.
Aboue all thynges/to thy goodlyhede.
To gadre golde/leue besynesse.
For as afore rehersyd/thou mayste rede.
Suche an offycer/in tyme of nede.
Wyll be enclyned/by persuacion.
The to destroye/for ambycion.

---

That he loue the/preuy and estraunge.
Men of worshyppe/put to reuerence.
Whiche for corrupcion/trewthe wyll nat chaunge.
But to eche/be polytyk prudence.
Graunte his laboure/and his dylygence.
To socoure them/whiche greuyd be in dispence.
Without carnalyte/makynge no difference.

In his purpose/stronge and perseueraunt.
Withouten drede/to se thyne auaylle.
Meke of condicions/and no tyraunt.
Of thyne rentis/knowynge the rehersaylle.
Secrete in werkynge/sharpe in trauaylle.
From grete spekynge/hym kepeth discretly.
For moche spekynge/is sygne of fooly.

In moche laughter/that not abounde.
To thy subgiettis/gracious and benygne.
Of reporte aye/that he be founde.
Trewe and stable/in eche degre and sygne.
Amonge the people/trewthe to maynteyne.
To symple also/if supportacion.
And them correcte/whiche vse extorcion.

It is to be tytlyd/howe preuyd without obst[illeg.]
As olde phylosophers/put in remembraunce.
That in man is founde/grete myracle.
Namyd the lytell worlde/by auctours allegaunce.
For many vnckouthe/and dyuers circumstaunce.
Founde in hym/moste souereygne creature.
Named beste resonable/by intellygence in sure.

---

He is hardy as a Lyon/dredfull as the hare.
Large as the cokke/and as an hounde coueytous.
Harde as an harte in forest whiche doth fare.
Buxum as the turtyll/as lyonnesse dispytous.
Symple as the lambe/lyke the fox malycious.
Swyfte as the roo/as bere slaught in taryenge.
And lyke the Olefaunt/precious in eche thynge.

As the asse vyle/and contagious.
As a lytell kynge/hasty and rebelle.
Chaste as aungell/as swyne lecherous.
Meke as the pecok/and as a bull wood and felle.
Profytable as the bee/in his hyue which is his celle.
Fayre as the hors/as the owle malycyous.
Dowme as the fysshe/and as a mowse noyous.

Note this processe/in audyght countable.
Of thy remembraunce/and knowe redely.
That in beest/nor thynge vegytable.
Nothynge/may be vnyuersally.
But if it be founde/naturally.
In mannes nature/wherfore of one accorde.
Olde phylosophers/called hym the lytell worlde.

Of a kynges secretarye.

Ferther alysaundre/conceyue in thyne entent.
Thy preuy wyse men/for to vnderstande.
In speche fayre/in langage prudent.
Gaye in endytynge/fayre wryter with hande.
Loke they be/and ferther in thy lande.

---

Loke the wryter/of thy decrees.
In preuy place/wysely kepe thy secrees.

Lyke as a robe/fayre of grete rychesse.
Worshyppeth the body/of a myghty kynge.
So fayre langage/trowthe to expresse.
Worshyppeth a letter/with gode endytynge.
Loke thy secretarye/conceyue in all thynge.
Thyne entent/and it redely.
To execucion/than put wyttyly.

Thy hyghnesse also/for to enhaunse.
And thy magnyfycence/lerne this of me.
With grete rewardes/do them auaunse.
After theyr merytes/and theyr degre.
Whiche are all dayes/besy and wakynge be.
In thy nedes/for in them scant the waryson.
Of thy worshyppe/thy lyfe or thy destruccion.

What a kynges messagere ought to be.

Ferther alysaundre/to spede thy materys.
For auaylle/enforse thy corage.
For to haue swyfte/messangerys.
Wyse redy/experte in langage.
Moste suffycyent/for thy auauntage.
For a messanger/as phylosophers recorde.
Is the eye the eere/and the tounge of his lorde.

His iourney lette/whiche lyst for rayne ne shoure.
To whom thou mayste/thy wyll vncure.

---

Whiche the louyth/and thyne honoure.
And if thou ne may/of suche one be sure.
At the leste/gentyll and demure.
Loke he be whiche/well and faythfully.
Can bere a letter/and reporte truely.

Rakyll of tunge/or moche whiche doth muse.
To gette gyftis/what tyme he is sent.
On thy message/hym vtterly refuse
And ferthermore/neuer vtter thyne entent.
To hym whiche wyll be/impotent.
In all membris/be outragyous dronkennesse.
For more than he knoweth/suche one wyll expresse.

Ferther by prudence/entytle this mater.
And it rolle/in thy noble mynde.
That hyghe astate/ne grete offycer.
On thy message/thou vse for to sende.
For if he to treason/condiscende.
Of the and thy realme/he may be destruccion.
Whose punysshement/I remytte to thy discrecion.

Of equiyacion of sogettes/& cōseruacion of Iustice.

Conceyue dere sone/how ye hous of thy mynde.
Be thy subgiettis/and the treasoure.
By whiche thy realme/confermyd as I fynde.
Dothe contynewe/in grete and hyghe honoure.
Lyke a gardeyne/of redolent sauoure.
Aboundynge/in dyuers fruytis and trees.
Whiche graffyd on stokkis/by braunchys encrees.

---

The braunchys brede/the fruyte doth multyplye.
And in case lyke/and comparable.
Of power excellent/treuthe to specefye.
And of a realme/treasoure pardurable.
By the prudence/famous and agreable.
Of the comones/by pollytyk leuynge.
Growe all vertues/to worshyppe of a kynge.

In werke worde/and all theyr dedes.
To be mesuryd/is couenable.
From velonye/and wronge in all their nedes.
Them to diffende/to the is profytable.
People to gouerne/to the is auayllable.
After custome/and condycyon.
In their partye/vsed in thy regyon.

To theyr supporte/gyue them an offycer.
Whiche tendeth not to theyr destruccion.
Good of condycyon/wyse in eche mater
In tyme pacyent/vse none extorcion.
For take this/for full conclucyon.
If the contrarye/thou doo that I the tell.
Agayne the thy subgiettis/shall rebell.

To encrees of thy courte/and also of thy realme.
Haue Iuges trewe/good and wyse.
Not parcyall/but indifferent meane.
Whiche for lucre/trouthe wyll nat despyse.
Preuotaryes to haue/I the aduyse.
Ne that the Iuges/corrupt of entent.
Agayne Iustyce/gyue the Iugement.

---

Of the gouernaunce of bataylle.

Ferther alysaundre/conceyue auaylle.
That to thyne hyghnesse/it is conuenyent.
Not to contynewe/warre and bataylle.
In thy parsone/conceyue myne entent.
For couetyse or enuye to make busshement.
Or folyly to fyghte/for presumptuousnesse.
Is thynge temerarye/and no manlynesse.

Of thy courte/loke thou be dylygent.
For to here/the comon oppynyon.
Thy men of armys/dispreyse not of entent.
But of me/lerne this conclucion.
Gyue them fayre speche/behoote them waryson.
And into bataylle/entre nat sodeynly.
But thou haue armowre/and wepyn necessary.

Upon thyne enemy/renne not sodeynly.
Ne dispurueyed/drede not for to fle.
What tyme thou art/besegyd traytoursly.
For disworshyp/to thy magnanymyte.
It is none lerne this of me.
Kepe well thy ooft/an the logge alwaye.
Nyghe hyllys/waters and woddes if thou maye.

Haue also grete habundaunce/of vytaylle.
More than the nedeth/by lyklynesse.
Fresshe trumpettis/gretely done auaylle.
Whiche to fyghte/gyue grete hardynesse.
Strengthe vertue/ioye and lyghtnesse.

---

Unto the ooft/whiche is on thy partye.
And by that/many discōforte of thyne enemye.

Be not at all tymes/armyd with vnarmure.
Loke thou be kepte well/with good archerys.
Some of thy people/to stande fix and sure.
Other renne vpon/to destroye arbalasterys.
Fayre behestis/wyll make fell all sterys.
Wherfore whan thou shalt/entre the bataylle.
Thy people to conforte/gretely dothe auaylle.

Fle all hastynesse/in speciall chydynge.
And if through treason/constreyned thou be to fle.
To haue good hors/swyfte of rennynge.
Dothe apperteyne/to thyne excellent dignyte.
Whiche saffe thyne ooft/shall and also the.
For thy conseruacion/if thou resorte.
To all the puyssaunce/gyueth grete conforte.

And if thyne enemyes/begynne for to fle.
Chase them not ouer/hastely.
Holde all tyme/togydre thy meyne.
Whiche shall cause the/haue victory.
Enginys to haue/is speciall remedy.
If thou assaylle wyll/castell or toure.
With maysters to myne/and speciall socoure.

Their waters destroye/or ellys enuenmyne.
Experte in langage/haue explouatourys.
Them to betraye/by some suttyll engyne.
And to knowe/all their labourys.

---

Apoynt of warre/thoughe vnder flourys.
Of paynted langage/reste the scorpyon.
For a traytoure/to betraye is no treason.

Lerne this conclucion/folowe my doctryne.
In poyntis of warre/take thyne auaylle.
And if thou may/through grace whiche is dyuyne.
Without warre/take hede to my counsaylle.
Gette thyne entent/or without bataylle.
Of thyne enemyes/thou oughtest as say clerkes.
For warre shulde be/the laste of thy werkes.

Of the crafte of physonomye whiche doth treate of the qualytees/and condycyons of eche membre & of the Image of Ypocrase.

Ferther I wyll/thou knowe in this partye.
The excellent scyence/celestyall and dyuyne.
Founde by Phylomon/I mene Physonomye.
By whiche thou shalt/folowynge my doctryne.
Knowe disposicion/in eche degre and sygne.
Of all thy people/by pollytyk prudence.
Whiche folowe we sensualyte/and whiche intellygence.

The qualytees to enserge/and the natures.
With other craftis/whiche that be secre.
Power of planettis/in all creatures.
Dyfformacions/of Circes and mede.
Lokynge in faces/lerne this of me.
And of membres/to se proporcion.
Of eche wyght/declareth disposicion.

---

In this scyence/Phylomon expert was.
And in all the partyes/of pholosofye.
In whose tyme reygned/ypocras.
Expert in phesyk/and astronomye
Of whom for purpose/and a fantasye.
To preue Phylomon/in his Iugement.
Disciples of ypocrase/this dyd of entent.

Of moste wyse ypocrase/they put in pycture.
The Image in eche/proporcion.
And to phylomon/they offred that fygure.
Hym besechynge/the disposicion.
Them to tell/with qualytees and condycion.
Of that man/by his experyens.
Whose fygure they had/their in presens.

Power of planettis/he knewe and eke of sterres.
And of euery euynly/intellygence.
Disposicion of peas/and eke of warres.
And of eche straunge/other scyence.
As the seuen goddes/be theyr influence.
Or of naturall body/the transmutacion.
Of whiche he droue/this conclucion.

This man he sayde/of naturall reason.
Was a disceyuoure/louynge lecherye.
For whiche the disciples/in that season.
Hym to destroye/purposed fynallye.
And hym rebukynge/with wordes of velonye.
They sayde fole/this Image prynted was.
After the fygure/of moste wyse ypocras.

---

This wyse phylosopher/of grete prouydence.
Them disposyd/sayenge/on this maneer
With this reason/stonde at his diffence.
And sayde this Image/souereygne and entyer.
Is of Ypocras fygure/bryght and clere.
Wherfore I gaue you/not informacyon.
Of actuall dede/but disposicion.

They answere you/they passed his presence.
And to ypocras/soone relacion.
Howe the had/attempted the science.
Of wyse Phylomon/for his disposicion.
Whiche conceyuynge/his owne complexion.
Sayde it was trewe/in sykernesse.
All that of hym/Phylomon dyd expresse.

For this dere sone/I wryte in this partye.
Rewlys a breggyd/and suffycient.
In the scyence/of physonomye.
Whiche to parceyue/loke thou be dylygent.
In all doughtes/whiche wyll the content.
To nature perteynynge/in substaunce.
And atwene qualytees/make disceueraunce.

In sentence breef/to wryte to thyne honoure.
And exclude/all superfluyte.
Man whiche is feble/of coloure.
For thyne auaylle/loke that thou fle.
For she is/lerne this of me.
To lechery disposed/by nature and kynde.
And other euyllys/many as I fynde.

---

Man whiche that/with wyll and herte.
Iuste stedfaste/and trewe is of nature.
Out of thy presence/whiche wyll not sterte.
But to beholde the/delyteth in sure.
Reed shamefast/wytty and demure.
whiche with teerys/and syghynge maketh mone.
Whan thou hym blamyst/loueth thy parsone.

As from thyne enemy/flee his presence.
Whiche accomplysshed/in membres organy call.
Is not and note/this sentence.
For auaylle/of thyne excellence royall.
From hym that is/loke thou fall.
Markyd in vysage/for lerne this conclucion.
He is disceyuable/by disposicion.

Beste of compelxion/to eche creature.
Is breefly to expresse.
Well proporcyoned/and of meane stature.
In eyen and heerys/hauynge blaknesse.
Coloure meane/atwene whyte and rednesse.
Uysage rounde/body hole and ryght.
With meanes of the hede/is good in eche wyght.

Meane in voyse nouther/to hyghe nor base.
In moche speche/whiche doth none offence.
Spekyth in tyme/and dothe no trespase.
Unto the Eerys/of the audyence.
Conueyeth his mateer/by reason and prudence.
In eche circumstaunce/vseth discrecion.
Suche a man is beste/of complexion.

---

Eerys playne/and softe done sygnefye.
Man to be buxum/curteys and kynde.
Colde of brayne/trouthe to specefye.
And the contrarye/conserue this in mynde.
As Eerys sharpe/and thykke as I fynde.
Be euydent tokens/and sygnes palpable.
Of a foole nyse/and varyable.

Of heer also/who hath grete quantyte.
On wombe and breste/he is I the sure.
Good of condycion/in eche sygne and degre.
Meruayllous/of complexion & synguler in nature.
In whose herte/longe doth indure.
Thynge agayne reason/do vnfaythfully.
To his rebuke/shame or velony.

Heeris blacke/shewe rightwysnesse.
In a man/and loue/of reason.
The rede also/be sygne of folynesse.
Lacke/of prouydence/and discrecion.
Of fretynge wrothe/without occacion.
And colour bytwene bothe/to speke breefly.
Of pesable man/is sygne and wytty.

And he that hath/eyen out of measure.
Ouer grete/without proporcion.
He is enuyous/of kynde and nature.
Slowe vnshamefast/without subieccion.
Atwene bothe/whiche kepe dymencion.
Of coloure browne/nouther blacke nor whyte.
Curtoyse trewe/and cunnynge be of ryght.

---

Eyen longe/and extendyd vysage.
Sygne be of malyce/and enuye.
Dull of chere/whiche lyste nat to rage.
But as the Asse/euer casteth his Eye.
To the erthe take hede of this partye.
He is a foole/malycyous vntretable.
Harde of kynde/and not sociable.

Eyen also/whiche be lyghtly meuynge.
Uysage longe/without measure.
Of hasty man/vntrewe and lyenge.
Be sygnes euydent/and tokens I the sure.
Coloure rede/causeth of blood pure.
Is sygne of strengthe/and grete manlynesse.
Whiche to fyghte/gyueth grete hardynesse.

But of this mater/loke thou hede take.
That worste sygne/in disposicion.
Is whan spottis rede/whyte or blake.
Mannes eyes/do enuyron.
Werste of other/without comparyson.
And who so heer thykke/do bere.
On the browes/is a shrewde spekere.

Ferther who hathe/moche heer dependynge.
Bytwene the browes/is a shrewde sygne.
Browes large/to templys eche stretchynge.
Sygne of hym that falsnesse/wyll maynteyne.
Whiche kepe meane/take hede of my doctryne.
And in moche heer/be not aboundynge.
Euydent sygne/be of good vnderstandynge.

---

Note this mater/entytle it redely.
Longe nose stretchynge/to the mouthe.
Token is man bolde/and hardy.
And he that hathe/to nature that is vnkouthe.
Camyd nose/bore/in northe or southe.
With grystell of nose/lytell redely.
Is soone wrothe/hoote and hasty.

Ferther take hede/to my doctryne.
Large nose in myddes/whiche dothe vp ryse.
Of a lyer and grete spekynge/is sygne.
As olde Phylosophers/clerely dothe deuyse.
By their planet and nature/is theyr guyse.
That nose thryllys/ne nose I the hete.
Ouer lytell hathe/ne ouer grete.

In this mater/ferther to procede.
And it entytle/vnto thy good grace.
Mo of membres/to the it is nede.
Proprytees to knowe/in speciall of the face.
Derke ignoraunce/awaye whiche wyll chase.
Whiche platte and pleyne/thoughe it be specious.
Is sygne euydent/of man euyous.

Sygnes before/full conclucion.
As in wrytynge/phylosophers sayne.
Whan face kepeth/dewe proporcion.
These dymencions/he kepyth in certayne.
Not engrosyd/nouther ouer playne.
Iawes and temples/in meane vprysynge.
Whiche sygne is of wytte/& grete vnderstandynge.

---

Meane in voyse/nouther to grete nor small.
Sygne is of trouthe/and ryghtwysnesse.
Who speketh soone/or any man hym call.
Is vnresonable/as phylosophers expresse.
Grete voyse sygne/of hastynesse.
Grete so wnynge/enuyous and angry.
Fayre an hyghe/of wylnesse and foly.

Consydre alysaundre/by dylygent labour.
Who in talkyng/conceyue what I meane.
Handes doth meue/is a disceyuour.
He stande stable from/these/is pure and clene.
With nekke to smale/in proporcion who be sene.
Is a fole ouershorte/disceyable.
And ouer groos a lyere/detestable.

He that hathe wombe/grete without measure
Proude lecherous is/and vnprudent.
Breste large/and shuldres grete in sure.
With bakke well shape/be sygnes euydent.
Of man worthy/wyse and prouydent.
Good of vnderstandynge/hardy to fyghte.
Who hathe the contrarye/is noyous to eche wyghte.

Armys longe/stretchynge/to the kneys.
Token of wysdame/is and hardynesse.
Shuldres sharpe/I mane nat reysyd with sleuys.
Of euyll faythe is/lyklynesse.
Longe fyngers/trouthe to expresse.
Craftis to lerne/yeueth disposicion.
In especiall/of manuall operacion.

---

He that hath fyngers/grete and shorte.
Is disposed note/this doctryne.
To be a foole nyse/in his disporte.
Who hath grete fete/vntrouthe wyll maynteyne.
Lytell and lyght/by euydent sygne.
That he is harde/of vnderstandynge.
And smale legges/betoken of symple cunnynge.

Of legges and helys/be tokeneth largenesse.
Myghty to be/in streyngthe of body.
In knees also/trouthe to expresse.
He that ouer moche/flesshy.
Is lofte and feble/lerne this naturally.
Who hath lytell pacis/he is of euyll wylle.
In all thynges/and hasty without skylle.

To all vertue/disposed/and scyence.
Good and kynde/of complexion.
Is a man/hauynge in sentence.
Sygnes twelue/by computacion.
Flesshe softe/of disposicion.
Of meanely sharpe/and of meane stature.
Bytwene whyte and rede/in colour kepeth measure

Swete of loke/and the eerys playne.
Eyen meanely/grete by measure.
The hede not grete/but bytwene twayne.
Moche and lytell/is good I the sure.
Necke suffycyent/and of good stature.
Whose shulders/bowe a lytell mesurably.
In legges nor knees/be not moche flesshy.

---

Clere of voyse/and eke mesurable.
Palmys and fyngers/longe in suffysaunce.
Skornes to vse/is not cōmendable.
Lawghynge vysage/is good in dalyaunce.
Usyd in meane/with dewe circumstaunce.
For after the mater/requyreth and audyence.
So countenaunce/to shewe is good prouydence.

Be oon in syght/deme no man to soone.
In sentence breef/folowe my doctryne.
For hasty demynge/where men haue to done.
Of in prouydence/is euydent sygne.
And this boke/breefly to termyne.
In one membre/for full conclucion.
Neuer deme mannys/disposicion.

Beholde all sygnes/gyue aduertence.
Whiche moste haboundynge/to se is auayllable.
And in mynde/by polytyk prudence.
Noumbre of them/whiche be moste profytable.
In partye beste/and moste amyable.
Whiche the maye graunt/the lorde moost impiall.
Aboue all heuens/supra celestyall.

AMEN

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