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Editor: Steele, Robert Benson, b. 1860
Title: Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson
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Rights Statement: No Copyright
Transcribed from: Three Prose Versions of the Secreta Secretorum
Steele, Robert Benson, b. 1860, ed.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co, 1898
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/SSecr

Table of Contents
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NOTE.
THE SECRETE OF SECRETES.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
(MS. Reg. 18 A. vij. B.M.)
The Prologe of a gret doctour recomendyng Aristotille.
The Epistille that Alexandre sent to Aristotille the gret clerke. Cam. primum.
The answer of the same Epistille ayen to Alexandre. Capitulum ijm.
The prologe of him that translatid this book into latyne. Cam. iijm.
Of the largenes of a kyng. Cam. 4m.
Of largenes and skarsnes, and many oþir vertues. Capm. 5m.
Of vicis and vertues, and of þe doctrine of Aristotille. Cam. 6m.
Of entendement, that is vndirstondyng. Capm. 7m.
Of entencioun fynable of a kyng. Cam. 8m.
Of yvelys that cometh of bestly desires. Cam. 9m.
Of the wysdome and ordinaunce of a kyng. Cam. 10m.
Of a kyngis goodnes and holynes. Cam. 11m.
Of the purvyaunce of a kyng. Capitulum 12m.
Of clothyng of a kyng. Cam. 13m.
Of the countenaunce of a kyng. Cam. 14m.
Of the rightwisnes of a kyng. Cam. 15m.
Of worldly desires of a kyng. Cam. 16m.
Of þe chastite of a kyng. Cam. 17m.
Of pleiying of a kyng. Capitulum 18m.
Of discrecioun of a kyng. Cam. 19m.
Of reuerence of a kyng. Cam. 20m.
How a kyng shalle make Sugetis. Capitulum 21m.
Of the mercy of a kyng. Cam. 22m.
Of peynes and vengeaunce of god. Capitulum 23m.
Of knowleche of þe same peynes. Cam. 24m.
fforto kepe þe feith. Cam. 25m.
Of studie and wijsdome. Capitulum 26m.
Of the kepyng of a kyng. Capitulum 27m.
Of the difference of Astronomye. Cam. 28m.
Of the kepyng of helthe. Cam. 29m.
Of governaunce in seeknes. Cam. 30m.
In how many maners a man may kepe helthe. Capitulum 31m
Of dyuerse metys. Cam. 32m.
Of the stomake. Capm. 33m.
Signes to knowe þe stomak. Cam. 34m.
Of a pistille of gret price. Cam. 35m.
Of the maner of travayle. Capitulum 36m
Of Abstinence. Cam. 37m.
Nought to drynke pure watir. Cam. 38m.
Of the maner of slepyng. Capitulum 39m
Of kepyng of Custome. Capm. 40m.
How a man owith to chaunge Custome. Capm. 41m.
Of foure tymes of the yere. Cam. 42m.
Of prime temps, what it is .I. ver. cam. 43m.
Of somer tyme, what it is. Capm. 44m.
Of hervest, what it is. Capitulum 45m.
Of wyntir tyme, and what it is. Ca. 46m.
Of naturalle hete. Capitulum 47m.
Of thingis that fattith the body. Cam. 48m.
Of thingis that makith þe body lene. Capm. 49m.
Of the first party of þe body. Capitulum. 50m.
Of þe secund parti of þe body. Cam. 51m.
Of the thridde party of þe body. Cam. 52.
Of the fourthe party of þe body. Cam. 53m.
Of kyndis of ffisshis. Cam. 54m.
Of nature of watris, Of nature of wyne, Of soure Syrupe. Cam. 55, Cam. 56, Cam. 57.
Of the forme and maner of rightwisnes. Cam. 58m.
Of þe secretary of a kyng. Capm. 59m.
Of a kyngis messangeris. Capm. 60m.
Of governaunce of the peple. Capitulum 61m.
Of ffysnomye of folke. Capitulum 62m.
[Epistle dedicatory.]
THE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK.
epistles
Book I
BOOK II.
Book III.
Book IV.
Book V.
Book VI.
Book VII.
Book VIII.
Book IX.
Book X.
THE GOUERNAUNCE OF PRYNCES
OR
PRYVETE OF PRYVETEIS.
Here begynnyth the Chapiteres and the tytles of this boke.
Fryst, How and for Whate cause this arystotiles boke Was makyd̛. Capitulum primum.
Of the two thyngis pryncipalle the wyche behowyth a kynge to haue. Capitulum Secundum.
Here folwyth Ensamplis of olde stories to Prow the forsayde lasson Sothe.
Of the dyuersyte of kynges of maneris wych ben Praside and vnPrayside. Capitulum. iiijm.
Wher-for byth to Enchu folargesse and scarcite. And whate longyth to Fraunchis. Capitulum Vm.
What aualyth Sotilte of vndyrstondynge and connynge and how thay byth y-know. Capitulum vjm.
Of two thynges that makyth a kynge to haue good renoune. Als hit folwyth in this nexte Capytre. Capitulum vijm.
How a kynge shal haue hym̄ anent his Pepille. Capitulum viijm.
How a kynge hym Shall haue anente hym-self in vertues and in clothynge. Capitulum ixm.
Of the costome of Iwes, and how a kynge shold his Subiectis and namely his marchaundis mayntene. Capitulum xm.
Of the solace of a kynge. Capitulum Vndescimum.
That a kynge is lykenyd to reyne, wynde, wyntyr, and Somyr. Capitulum xijm.
Of the Purweyawnce of a kynge. Capitulum. xiijm.
Of the mercy of a kynge. Capitulum xiiijm.
Of thre thyngis wherof a kynge or a prynce shulde hym a-vyse. And pryncipally of the thyrde, that a man sholde kepe fayth in his othes makynge for any thynge, &c. Capitulum xvm.
How a kynge shulde auaunce prowyd men in armys, and the Study of clergi to hawe wyth hym. Capitulum. xvjm.
The Prologe of the foure Cardinall Vertues, declaryng the vertues of theologi, and fowre manere of goodis. Capitulum xvijm.
Of the foure Cardynal vertues. Capitulum xviijm.
Of the fryst vertue cardynal, that callit is, Prudencia. Capitulum xixm.
That a man sholde surmonte al bestis in vertues and namely in two. Capitulum xxm.
Of Prudencia and cunnynge to mayntene and haue. Capitulum xxjm.
Now here begynnyth olde stories to prowe the forsayde thechynge of Prudencia trowthe. Capitulum xx[jj]m.
Of the Parties of Prudencia. Capitulum vicessimum tercium.
Now of vndyrstondynge, that is the Seconde Parte of this vertu Prudencia. Capitulum Vicessimum quartum.
Of the thyrde Partie of Prudencia that is callid Purveyaunce. Capitulum Vicessimum quintum.
That Prudencia is moche to Prayse, Prowyth well this reysones folwynge. Capitulum vicessimum Sextum.
Of the Seconde vertu cardynall that is y-callid in latyn Iusticia. In englysshe ryghtfulnesse othyre ryght. Capitulum vicessimum Septimum.
That a prynce sholde not truste to his enemy. Capitulum Vicessimum octauum.
Of the manere correccion that a prynce sholde haue anent his Subiectis. Capitulum vicessimum nonum.
Here endyth the boke of Iusticia and begynnyth the thyrde vertu that is y-callid in latyn̄ fortitudo. In Englysshe Streynth of herte, othyr boldenys, othyr manhode, othyr hardynesse. Capitulum tricessimum
Here begynnyth old stories to Shewe the condicionys and the propirteis of the hardy or the manfull. Capitulum Trycessimum Prymum.
Of the Pite and mercy that a Prynce sholde haue. Capitulum xxxijm.
Of the Kynges titles to the land of Irland, aftyr the Cronyclis. Capitulum xxxiij.
Nowe here y an end makyth of the thyrde Cardynal vertue that ycallid in lateyn, Fortitudo, in Englysℏ Streynthe, And trete of the iiije cardynal vertue, that Is in latyn callid Temporancia, Is myn entente god helpynge. Amen. Capitulum Tricessimum quartum.
Thus myche haue y Sayde of this vertue Temporance for this tyme: Now here y write olde stories in comendacion̄ of the Same vertue. Capitulum xxxm quintum.
Now her is to wit of the temporat loue that shold be betwen A man and his wif, And how he shold know and us hir temporaly. Capitulum. xxxvi.
Of the comendacioun and of the werk of matrimony. Capitulum xxxvijm.
Off the keping of the body after the consaill of Lechis. Capitulum xxxviijm.
That Astronomy is necessari to the keping of mannys body. Capitulum tricessimum Nonum.
Herre begynnyth stories and ensamplis to proue that oryson is Souerayn remedy in euery trybulacion. Capitulum quadragessimum.
That god nath not in dispite the orisones of Paganes. Capitulum xljm.
Now gracious lord, to youre excellence here I write dyuers rygh good and necessary notabilitees of the vertu of Prayere, fryst in latyn and Sethyn̄ in Englysh, aftyr dyuers moste autentike auctoritees of holy wryte. Capitulum Quadragessimum Secundum.
Of dyuers ryght good and necessary nobilteis of the vertu of orison. Capitulum xliijm.
Of the vertue of Iusticie othyr ryghtfulnesse. Capitulum xliiijm.
Of the gouernaunce of man aftyr the v wittes. Capitulum Quadragessimum quintum.
Of the manere of the propirtees of consaillours. Capitulum quadragessimum sextum.
How thow shalte assay thy consaillours. Capitulum xlvijm.
Of the tokenesse and condycions that a good̛ Consailloure and a frende sholde haue. Capitulum xlvi[i]jm.
How a man hath al condycions of bestis, Hit is to Witte. Capitulum xlixm.
Of Notaries. Capitulum Lm.
Of messagers, and wych thay shold bene. Capitulum quynquagessimum Primum.
How that the Subiectes bene the tresure of Prynces, and lyke a gardyn̄ of dyuers tress growyn there-In. Capitulum Lijm.
Of barons, and wherof thay Serwyth in the roialme. Capitulum Liijm.
That a kynge sholde not entyr in battail in his owyn̄ Propyr Persone. Capiitulum Liiijm.
That Phisnomye Is a necessarie scyence to knowe the Maners of men. Capitulum Lvm.
Ensamples to Prow the forsayde thynge. Capitulum quinqu[a]gessimum Sextum.
Here is I-prowid that the Sowle Sueth the condycionys of the bodyes. Capitulum quinquagessimum Septimum.
Of the Science of Physnomye. Capitulum Lviijm.
Now gracious lorde, wylle I translate the scyence of Physnomye to you in a shortyr manere, for Sum bokys of arystotiles makynge haue that scyence shortyr than othyr: And so may ye chese wych ye beste Plesyth. Capitulum Lixm.
Here endyth the tretyse of Physnomye, and begynnynge the tretyce of gouernance of helthe, of the body of man, aftyr Phisike. Capitulum Sexagessimum.
Now here y translate yow, out of latyn into englysℏ, the techynges Whyche ye shall mowen kepe helth of body and of corage, that ye may the moore Worthely by bounte and delyuernesse, gouerne al that in youre iurysdiccioun Is. Capitulum lxjm.
Of two Pryncipall thyngis that helth kepyth. Capitulum Lxijm.
Of the gouernaunce of the body of man aftyr slepe, helth to mayntene. Capitulum Lxiijm.
Of the ryghtfull houris and tymes of ettynge and drynkynge. Capitulum Sexagessimum quartum.
Now hit is to witte of the gouernaunce of the body aftyr mette. Capitulum lxvm.
Of the foure Parties of the yere aftyr hare kyndes. Capitulum. Lxvjm.
[Of Somer. Capitulum Lxvijm.]
[Of Herust.] Capitulum Lxviijm.
Of thyngis that makyth the body fat, moisti, and wel dysposyd̛. Capitulum Lxxm.
Of thynges that done the contrarye. Capitulum Lxxjm.