next up previous contents
Next: Of the maner to Up: The governayle of helth. Previous: The sygnes to knowlege   Contents

An epystle of grete value.

Moost dere sone Alexander sythe it is so that the body of man is corruptyble by dyversite of complexyon, & of contrary humours that ben in it, wherby often there cometh corrupcyon to it, I thought to delyver the some thyng that shall be necessary & prouffytable to the. In the whiche I wyll treate of the secretes of physyke whiche shall please the. For certayne dyseases come to a kynge whiche be not honest to shewe to physycyens. And yf thou wylt observe this lesson, thou shalt have no nede of physycyens, except in causes that may come in batayle, the whiche may be exchewed. Alexander fayre sone, whan thou rysest frome thy slepe, walke and stretche thy membres egally and combe thy heed, for stretchyng of the lymmes gyveth force, and combynge reyseth the vapoures that ben come in slepynge and putteth them frome the stomake. In somer wasshe thy heed in colde water, whiche shall yelde the naturall heate, and shall be cause of appetyte to meate. Than clothe the with goodly and ryche apparell. For the hert of man delyteth in the beholdyng of precyous meates & clothyng. Than rubbe thy tethe with some cours lynnyn, or other thynge that is hote and drye of compleccyon, and swete of smell for it is holsom for the tethe, and kepeth them clene, clenseth the stenche of the mouth, and clereth the voyce, and gyveth appetyte to eate. And rubbe thy heed often in the same wyse for it openeth the claustres of the brayne, and thycketh the necke and other membres, and clenseth the face and the syght, and prolongeth stowpynge of aege, and amendeth the blode. Also anoynt the somtyme with swete smellynge oyntementes, as the tyme reqyreth, for in suche swetenesse thy hert taketh grete pleasure, & is nourysshed therby. And the spyryt of lyfe taketh refeccyon in good odoures: and the blode renneth meryly thrugh the vaynes of the body. After that take somtyme an electuary of a wood called Aloes, and of Rubarbe whiche is a precyous thynge, to the pryce of foure pens. Which thou shalt 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 savoure. After this I councell the that thou be often with thy noble and wyse men of thy realme, & speke to them of thy besynesses that thou hast to do. And governe them sadly accordynge to theyr good customes.


next up previous contents
Next: Of the maner to Up: The governayle of helth. Previous: The sygnes to knowlege   Contents
tashid 2001-09-09