Part 14 (2/2)

Cap{itulu}m 17^m de potu eligendo.

Cap{itulu}m 18^m de regimi{n}e replec{i}o{n}is & inanic{i}onis.

Cap{itulu}m 19^m de vsu coitus.

Cap{itulu}m 20^m de excercic{io} & q{u}iete.

Cap{itulu}m 21^m de sompni & vigilie regimi{n}e.

Cap{itulu}m 22^m de vsu acc{ide}nciu{m} anime.

Cap{itulu}m 23^m de bona {con}suetudi{n}e diete tenenda.

Cap{itulu}m 24^m de medic{in}is vicissim vtendis.

Cap{itulu}m 25^m de adu{er}sis nature infortunijs p{re}cauendis.

Cap{itulu}m 26^m de deo semp{er} colendo vt sanitate{m} melius tueatur.

[”Unpacked” text, omitting signs of abbreviations or ligatures:]

Incipit dietarium de sanitatis custodia preinc.l.i.tissimo principi ac metuendissimo domino, domino humfrido, duci Gloucestrie, Alijsque preclaris t.i.tulis insignito, Scriptum & compilatum, per venerabilem doctorem, Magistrum Gilbertum Kymer, Medicinarum professorem, arcium ac philosophie Magistrum & in legibus bacallarium prelibati principis phisic.u.m, Cuius dietarij colleccionem (?) dilucidancia & effectum viginti s.e.x existunt capitula, quorum consequenter hic ordo ponitur Rubricarum.

Sharon Turner (_Hist. of England_, v. 498, note 35) says euphemistically of the part of this treatise printed by Hearne, that ”it implies how much the Duke had injured himself by the want of self-government. It describes him in his 45th year, as having a rheumatic affection in his chest, with a daily morning cough. It mentions that his nerves had become debilitated by the vehemence of his laborious exercises, and from an immoderate frequency of pleasurable indulgences. It advises him to avoid north winds after a warm sun, sleep after dinner, exercise after society, frequent bathings, strong wine, much fruit, the flesh of swine, and the weakening gratification to which he was addicted. The last (chapter), 'De Deo semper colendo, ut sanitatem melius tueatur,' is worthy the recollection of us all.” It is too late to print the MS. in the present volume, but in a future one it certainly ought to appear.

Of Duke Humphrey's character and proceedings after the Pope's bull had declared his first marriage void, Sharon Turner further says:

”Gloucester had found the rich dowry of Jacqueline wrenched from his grasp, and, from so much opposition, placed beyond his attaining, and he had become satiated with her person. One of her attendants, Eleanor Cobham, had affected his variable fancy; and tho' her character had not been spotless before, and she had surrendered her honour to his own importunities, yet he suddenly married her, exciting again the wonder of the world by his conduct, as in that proud day every n.o.bleman felt that he was acting incongruously with the blood he had sprung from. His first wedlock was impolitic, and this unpopular; and both were hasty and self-willed, and destructive of all reputation for that dignified prudence, which his elevation to the regency of the most reflective and enlightened nation in Europe demanded for its example and its welfare.

This injudicious conduct announced too much imperfection of intellect, not to give every advantage to his political rival the bishop of Winchester, his uncle, who was now struggling for the command of the royal mind, and for the predominance in the English government. He and the duke of Exeter were the illegitimate brothers of Henry the Fourth, and had been first intrusted with the king's education. The internal state of the country, as to its religious feelings and interest, contributed to increase the differences which now arose between the prelate and his nephew, who is described by a contemporary as sullying his cultivated understanding and good qualities, by an ungoverned and diseasing love of unbecoming pleasures. It is strange, that in so old a world of the same continuing system always repeating the same lesson, any one should be ignorant that the dissolute vices are the destroyers of personal health, comfort, character, and permanent influence.”[24]

After narrating Duke Humphrey's death, Turner thus sums up his character:--

”The duke of Gloucester, amid failings that have been before alluded to, has acquired the pleasing epithet of The Good; and has been extolled for his promotion of the learned or deserving clergy. Fond of literature, and of literary conversation, he patronized men of talent and erudition.

One is called, in a public record, his poet and orator; and Lydgate prefaces one of his voluminous works, with a panegyric upon him, written during the king's absence on his French coronation, which presents to us the qualities for which, while he was living, the poet found him remarkable, and thought fit to commend him.”

These verses are in the Royal MS. 18 D 4, in the British Museum, and are here printed from the MS., not from Turner:--

[Fol. 4.]

Eek in this lond--I dar afferme a thyng-- Ther is a prince Ful myhty of puyssau{n}ce, A kynges sone, vncle to the kynge Henry the s.e.xte which is now i{n} frau{n}ce, And is lieftenant, & hath the gouernau{n}ce Off our breteyne; thoruh was discrecion He hath conserued in this regiou{n}

Duryng his tyme off ful hih{e}[A] prudence Pes and quiete, and sustened riht{e}.[A]

?it natwithstandyng his n.o.ble prouyde{n}ce He is in deede prouyd a good knyht, Eied as argus with reson and forsiht; Off hih{e} lectrure I dar eek off hym telle, And treuli deeme that he doth{e} excelle

In vndirstondyng all othir of his age, And hath gret Ioie with clerkis to co{m}mune; And no man is mor expert off language.

Stable in studie alwei he doth contune, Settyng a side alle chau{n}ges[B] of fortune; And wher he loueth{e}, ?iff I schal nat tarie, With{e}oute cause ful loth{e} he is to varie.

Duc off Gloucestre men this prince calle; And natwithstandyng his staat & dignyte, His corage neuer doth appalle To studie in bookis off antiquite; Therin he hath{e} so gret felicite Vertuousli hym silff to ocupie, Off vicious slouth to haue the maistrie.[25]

And with his prudence & wit his manheed Trouthe to susteyne he fauour set a side; And hooli chirche meyntenyng in dede, That in this land no lollard dar abide.

As verrai support, vpholdere, & eek guyde, Spareth non, but maketh{e} hym silff strong To punysshe alle tho that do the chirch{e} wrong.

Thus is he both manly & eek wise, Chose of G.o.d to be his owne knyht{e}; And off o thynge he hath a synguler[C] price, That heretik dar non comen in his siht{e}.

In cristes feith{e} he stant so hol vpriht, Off hooli chirche defence and [c]hampion To chastise alle that do therto treson.

And to do plesance to oure lord ih{es}u He studieht[D] eu{er}e to haue intelligence.

Reedinge off bookis bringth{e} in vertu,-- Vices excludyng, slouthe & necligence,-- Maketh{e} a prince to haue experience To know hym silff i{n} many sundry wise, Wher he trespaseth, his errour to chastise.

[Text Notes: A: These _e_-s represent the strokes through the _h_-s.

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