Regimen Sanitatis Salerni

This booke teachyng all people to governe the[m] in health is translated out of the Latine tongue into Englishe, by Thomas Paynell, whiche booke is amended, augmented, and diligently imprinted 1575.    London: by Wyllyam How, for Abraham Veale. [1575]   Sixth Edition of ten of this translation. Small 8vo. [Text: 136 x 89mm]. [16 (**8 blank)], i-cxxvi, ?cxxvi?, cxxvii-clxvii leaves. Title-page and the blank leaf **8 a little dusty, old repair to a closed tear in **1 touching a few lines of text and in X2, a very few of the many sidenotes just shaved by the binder (see X1v and X6v for the worst case), a couple of minor spots and marks in places, grubby mark to M2.    Late 17th/early 18th-Century sheep, panelled in blind (worn, rebacked, remains of old spine laid down, later lettering in gilt to spine, extensive repairs to corners, edges and headcaps, red sprinkled edges, new endpapers).       STC 21601 (BL, Bodley, Cambridge UL [x 2; one ex Peterborough Cathedral], Cashel Cathedral Library (University of Limerick), National Library of Ireland, National Library of Scotland, Royal College of Surgeons, St Andrews UL; University of Chicago, Folger (x3), Huntington, University of Kansas, New York Academy of Medicine, US National Library of Medicine). The last copies of this edition sold at auction were in 1988, 1983, and 1958.    The Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum comprises the lengthy commentary of (Pseudo-) Arnaldus  or Arnoldus de Villa Nova (c. 1235/40-1311) on a medieval didactic poem on the preservation of health of uncertain date and of uncertain origin but attributed to John of Milan (Johannes de Mediolano) which was by legend written for Robert II (Curthose), Duke of Normandy (1051-1134; r. 1087-1106). The poem was ascribed generally to the medical school at Salerno in Italy which had been founded in the 9th Century teaching a synthesis of Western Classical, Arabic and Persian medicine and lasted until 1811. Although it may not have originated at Salerno the name was attached to the text from an early date and it gained the School of Salerno an international renown in the Middle Ages that lasted for centuries. It was first printed at Louvain by Johannes de Westfalia between 1477 and 1483 and reprinted countless times and translated into numerous European languages.    Thomas Paynell (d. 1564?), a canon of the Augustinian Priory at Merton in Surrey until the Dissolution and then, probably, rector of Cottingham in Yorkshire and of All Hallows, Honey Lane, London, was a prolific translator from Latin (see ODNB). His translation of the Regimen retains the original verses in Latin but translates the extensive commentary. It was first published by Thomas Berthelet in 1528 (STC 21596; BL x2 and John Rylands only). Four further editions appeared before the present 1575 edition (1530, 1535, 1541, 1557) and four after (1597, 1617 [3 issues], 1634 [with an added short discourse of fish], 1649[/50]. The first four editions were printed by Berthelet and the next two, 1557 and the present, for Andrew Veale (Vele) fl. 1550?-95. From 1617 the Latin verses also had English translations added by Philemon Holland.    This edition reprints Paynell?s dedication of the 1557 edition to William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, Lord Treasurer (c. 1483/5-1572). The first four editions were dedicated to John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford, Lord Great Chamberlain (c. 1482-1540) - only the names are changed - the text of the dedication remained the same.    The Regimen teaches a Galenic system of physical health ruled by the humours and recommends a life of moderation as the opening lines of the poem, here in the 1617 translation by Philemon Holland, suggest:    "All Salerno Schoole thus write to Englands King,  And for mans health these fit advises bring.  Shunne busie cares, rash angers, which displease;  Light supping, little drinke, doe cause great ease.  Rise after meate, sleepe not at after noone,  Vrine and Natures neede, expell them soone.  Lon.…