238 AstTeR History; THE REGIMEN 
Monte Cassino, was a man most learned in the medical art [“ phys- 
ica’”’ was used in ordinary terminology at Salerno as a term for 
medicine ; as again of the Salernitan ‘‘ magister Thomasius ... doctor 
in physica”’ who died in 1200, p. 225. So in England, “ physics- 
garden ”’ was long used for a garden of medicinal plants]. After 
the transit from earth [in 1100*?] of his master Constantinus, 
Joannes edited the aphoristic code [Regimen sanitatis Salerni, of 
1101] so necessary to physicians. Joannes flourished moreover 
under the above-named emperors [1081-1143]. He died more- 
over at Naples, to which school of medicine he left all the books 
of Constantinus his master.”’ 
The incident related which produced the Regimen Salerni and 
led to its remarkable first line, 
Anglorum regi scripsit tota schola Salerni, 
was this: that Robert Curthose,+ just then proclaimed King of 
England, was healed at Salerno in 1100 of the effects of a poisoned 
arrow, which the crusader had suffered from since the siege of Jeru- 
salem, and which itis said, had degenerated into fistula. The physi- 
cians of Salerno stated that it could not be cured except by frequent 
suction by the mouth, which we are told that ‘the pious and 
excellent prince was unwilling ’’ to permit lest the poison imperil 
the life of another; but in his sleep his bride Sibylla ¢ repeatedly 
drew off the poison, “« being moved by such new love to him,” and 
sustaining no injury to herself; and he speedily recovered. Robert 
* If further evidence should at some time prove that I am wrong in conjecturing 
ry 
IV. of 
earlier than 1106, the date Meyer assigns it. In that case John of Milan may be held 
a reissue of it soon after 1106 as received the approval of the other ‘‘ masters.”” ; 
T Robert Curthose (short-hose), eldest son of William the Conqueror, heir of bis 
father in Normandy and of his brother William Rufus in England, had joined the a 
crusade 1096, wintering with the Normans in Apulia on his way. Declining the offered 
Kingdom of Jerusalem, he was told of the death of his brother William Rufus, was 
saluted King of England and returned to Apulia, where he married Sibylla de Conver- 
sana, and becoming alarmed at the development of fistula, repaired to Salerno. #€ 
reached Normandy September, 1100, invaded England r1o1, was finally defeated and 
imprisoned 1106, dying at Cardiff 11 34, aged 78. : 
fSibylla da Conversana, daughter of Geoffrey of Conversana (a town 12 the 
Apulian mountains, five miles from Bari), the brother of Gisulf II., Salerno’s last prince 
She died lamented in Normandy, 1103, mother of Robert’s young son William. 
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