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Reprint. Originally published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Col., Ltd. and Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1916.
Derived from Princeton, University Library, Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections, Garrett 141.
Words broken by page breaks have been joined silently. Words broken by milestone breaks (i.e., leaf breaks in the manuscript) have likewise been joined, and these are:
The division between books one and two of
Marginal notes and glosses in
The notes for the text that appear on pp. 159-66 of the printed edition have been integrated into the main text in this electronic edition and those pages omitted. Unless otherwise noted, all textual emendation was performed by the editor.
EDITED FROM THE UNIQUE MS. IN THE GARRETT COLLECTION IN THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, BY HARDIN CRAIG, PH.D., PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LTD., 64-74 CARTER LANE, E.C. AND BY HUMPHREY MILFORD, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, AMEN CORNER, E.C., M DCCCC XVI
Price Fifteen Shillings
THE generous gift of this volume to the Early English Text Society by the American owner of the manuscript was a source of very special gratification to Dr. Furnivall, and the more so because many of the distinguished English scholars of the United States have actively associated themselves with the work of the Society.
Much of the editorial investigation could only be done in England; and the delay in the appearance of the volume is due to the preoccupation of its editor, Professor Hardin Craig. The thanks of the Society are due to him for his work.
THE unique manuscript of the works of John Metham is now in the Garrett Collection in the Library of Princeton University.
Amoryus and Cleopes, five signatures of eight leaves.
The date of the poem and approximately of the principal manuscript, no doubt, is fixed by ll. 2175-76 of the poem:
The twenty-seventh of Henry VI is from September 1, 1448, to August 31, 1449. There are no other indications of date in the manuscript except that it is of one piece throughout as regards handwriting and dedication to Sir Miles and Lady Stapleton. The main treatises are independent of each other in the composition of the signatures of the manuscript, and there is nothing to show that they were intended to be bound together. The binding is late, probably of the seventeenth century, but it almost certainly replaced an older one.
Two of the three principal works, Palmistry and the poem, begin with a capital letter illuminated with the Stapleton arms which, together with the dedicatory statements contained in all of them, indicates that this particular manuscript was written for Sir Miles and Lady Stapleton. The arms in the manuscript are: Stapleton impaling Delapole:—Stapleton or, a lion rampant sable; Delapole, azure, on a fess between three leopards faces or, a mullet sable. These were the arms of Sir Miles Stapleton of Ingham, who married Catharine, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Delapole, son of Michael, Earl of Suffolk,
The volume of Metham's works was until a few years ago in the possession of Lt.-Col. Robert Hamilton Lloyd-Anstruther, of Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich, a pedigree of whom will be found in Burke's and Debrett's Peerages under Anstruther. The manuscript had been in the possession of the Lloyd family at least since the 17th century, as witnessed by the fact that it was at that time elaborately rebound with a handsome cover of red velvet with flowing edges of silk and the front and back covers ornamented with the arms of the Lloyd family worked with white silk thread. They are three nag's heads erased arg. The pedigree of the Lloyds, above referred to, begins with Sir Richard Lloyd, Baron of the Exchequer, and known, as regards his family connexions, only as the son and heir of Talbot Lloyd of Lichfield.
It is obvious that, if some connexion could be discovered between the owners of Hintlesham Hall and the owners of Ingham, it would form a connecting link in an otherwise perfect enough chain in the history of the manuscript. The various owners of Hintlesham Hall, however, have no obvious point of connexion with the descendants of Sir Miles Stapleton or the subsequent possessors of Ingham, and we have only the fact that the manuscript seems to have remained for some centuries in the same locality, since Hintlesham Hall and Ingham are relatively near together. It might be said that the care bestowed upon the manuscript by the Lloyds, after it came into their possession, shown in rebinding it and ornamenting it, indicates a particular interest in it on the part of some member of that family, so that it may have been purchased by Sir Richard Lloyd or by some of his immediate family.
There is a vague and distant connexion between the name of Metham and that of Stapleton. The Metham family is of Metham, Co. Yorks.,
At the beginning of the treatise on Palmistry, Metham speaks of himself as 'sympyl scoler of philosophye', and says that he translated the work the 'xxvth wyntyr off hys age', and at the end of the treatise on Physiognomy occurs the signature 'Quod Jon Metham, scolere off Cambryg'.
The only other manuscript of Metham's works which I have been able to find is a copy of his treatise on Palmistry in the Library of All Souls College, Oxford. The following is the description in H. O. Coxe's
Dr. Furnivall states on the authority of the Registrary, Dr. J. W. Clark, that Metham's name does not occur in any of the Cambridge University records.loc. cit., p. 308.
Metham's name does not occur in any catalogues of printed books which I have been able to consult. Nor have I been able to find any other works by him in manuscript except the copy of his treatise on Palmistry at All Souls College, Oxford. My closest search has been at the British Museum and at the Bodleian Library, but I have examined the printed catalogues of the manuscripts at Cambridge University Library and at the various colleges in Cambridge and Oxford, the Publications of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, and the catalogues of all British public and private collections which I have been able to find. I have also gone through a considerable quantity of records of Norfolk in the 15th century in print and manuscript. I have not been able to gain any information about Metham except what he gives himself.
He tells us, as stated above, that he translated his treatise on Palmistry in the twenty-fifth winter of his age and that he wrote the poem
He shows familiarity with at least two of Lydgate's works, and, it must be added, with Lydgate's style. His early knowledge of Lydgate's death, which he says had already occurred in the year in which he wrote, as well as the affectionate way in which he speaks of Lydgate, may point to some personal acquaintance between the two men.
The poem
The marriage into the lineage of Darius seems an allusion to the marriage festival at Susa, and may form a definite link connecting Metham's work with the Alexander story. It is not, however, with Pseudo-Callisthenes and the various works derived from it that we have such a connexion, but with the more authentic writers on the life of Alexander. It appears in Plutarch's Life of Alexander,
But there are some reasons to suspect a connexion with one branch of the Alexander romance itself. There is a general resemblance to the Alexander romance in the marvels and monsters, herbs and stones, which Metham introduces, as well as some possible parallels in incident with the Alexander story to which attention is called in the notes. It is also possible that we have in the word 'Fyrage' a blundering reference to the name 'Fuerre de Gadres', or 'Forray of Gaderis', denoting an extensive subdivision, or offshoot, of the Alexander romance. The form 'Fourage', parallel to Forray, may be intermediary, and Metham may have thought that Forray, or Fourage, rendered 'Fyrage', in
As to Metham's declaration that his author Fyrage tells the story of Amoryus and Cleopes, it may be that he was acquainted with an Alexander romance in which the story of Pyramus and Thisbe had been incorporated, or had seen a manuscript which contained both an Alexander romance and a version of Pyramus and Thisbe. Or, finally, being in some measure familiar with the Alexander romance and with Jason, Troilus, and possibly other separation romances,
The end of the first book and the beginning of the second are not clearly defined, but the division is probably after line 723. The first book Metham calls 'introducyng matere'. I quote with a few minor changes a summary of its contents from the racy narrative of Dr. Furnivall. 'The properties of the lovers' fathers were separated only by a stone wall. Amoryus's father was Palemedon of Thessaly; Cleopes's was Dydas, who founded a temple of Venus, in which the citizens put up a pillar of brass in his honour, because this temple was destroyed by a thunderbolt, and he rebuilt it. They ask Palemedon to come to the Dedication of the new temple. With the Emperor's leave, Palemedon and his son Amoryus start, [but not until Palemedon has surveyed the starry heavens and prayed to the gods]. A young knight rides up and warns Amoryus of the troubles of love. They are welcomed by Dydas and taken to their dwelling. Next day they admire the temple of Venus; and the priest or necromancer says he'll dedicate it that day week. What gold, &c.;, he requires is given him; he throws treasure and dead men's bones to the damned spirits, and gets 700,000 of them to complete the magic sphere, from the first circle of which the planets' sweet harmony comes. The second circle contains the stars, and is the College of Gods. After much astrological talk and a vision of Venus and the ruin of her Temple, seen by her Priest or Secretary, the Temple is dedicated.'Loc. cit., p. 303.
Sources for this book are difficult to find. Palamedon's prayer recalls Troilus, as also the jesting of the youths about Amoryus. The astrological material Metham refers to Haly, and doubtless it might have come from Haly or from any of the numerous works on the stars which bore his name. There are many works on the structure of the Universe from which the idea of the sphere reproducing the solar system in miniature might have been gained.
The second book extends to line 1023, and, continuing Dr. Furnivall's narrative, we learn that 'Amoryus sees Cleopes, sends for his prayer-roll, and does his devotions to Apollo and Venus. Then he and Cleopes fall in love with each other. She has, in her Book of Devotions, a picture of a hind holding a heart, which she shows him. The service ended, they separate, after confessing their mutual love. They want to express their feelings; and as "woman's wit is ready", Cleopes holds up her Book of Devotions in red and green, containing a picture of a hind lying down, holding a heart, before which kneeled a knight holding in one hand another heart, and in the other hand a ring. Amoryus sees this, speaks to Cleopes, and wonders what her picture means. After service, his fellows chaff him; but he takes leave of his lady and prepares for the coming jousts. He gets a kerchief painted with a copy of Cleopes's picture, and winds it round his right arm, and tells his father that Venus bade him wear it as a token of victory. Cleopes is delighted to see her champion wear her badge; and in the eight days' jousting, he proves to be the best man. He then gives a challenge to every knight and unhorses many. A knight adventurous then challenges him, and Amoryus runs him thru the brain at the first charge, and salutes Cleopes.'
The meeting of Amoryus and Cleopes suggests the first acquaintance of Troilus and Creseyde, and, still more, the first acquaintance of Paris and Helen in Lydgate's Troy Book. There are many parallels to the tournament and to the single combat with the strange knight. This part of the story is fullest of the echoes of the romances of chivalry. 'The third book shows us the separated lovers grieving bitterly. But Cleopes goes to her father's orchard, in whose wall is a cranny (Pyramus-and-Thisbe wise) covered with ivy, and thru it she sees and hears Amoryus lamenting his hard fate. She throws the bottom of a broken glass to him; he comes to the rift in the wall, and they have a love talk, agree to meet again, each putting a gold ring in the cranny "for true love's everlasting continuance", and kissing the wall, instead of one another's person. 'Then come tidings to King Palemedon of "a merulus 'Serra cornuta is the name of the serpent Amoryus is to fight; and for this he must have charms: 1. instead of his helm, a "bugyl" gaping, with a bright carbuncle on its forehead; 2. the ring with a "smaragd", that Cleopes gave him the other day, and which is to be turned towards the beast's eyes; 3. a drink before the battle, made of herbs that she names, mixt with 5 powderd stones, "orytes, lyguryus, demonius, agapys, acates," for which he is to send to Walter jeweler in her name: a spoonful of this confection will cure any one. The "bugyl" is to tempt the serpent to attack, and then the carbuncle will help. 'Amoryus rides to the town, and next morning, having taken his drink and ring, proceeds to the dragon's den, and thrusts his spear into the brute's mouth. It kills his horse; but Amoryus puts out one of its eyes, and holds his ring to the other. Its stink is enough to kill a man. The carbuncle frightens the dragon; but it comes open-mouthed at Amoryus, who throws a phial of his potion between its jaws. This closes them at once, and is about to kill the dragon, when it spreads its wings to fly, and Amoryus drives his sword up to the hilt into its heart. He then goes home triumphant, and arranges with Cleopes to meet him in the forest at a well. She gets there first, washes her hands and face, and, hearing a lion roar, rushes off too and hides herself in a den, dropping her headkerchief in her flight. This the lion tousles with his bloody mouth; and having drunk some water, goes away. Amoryus comes, and on seeing the kerchief, thinks a wild beast has kild and eaten Cleopes. He laments her, and at last puts his swordhilt on the ground, falls on it, and drives its point into his left side. Cleopes hearing his last call on her, rushes up. He is just able to speak to her, and then dies; whereupon she, after lamenting him, pulls his sword out of him and kills herself.'
This book, which completes the Pyramus and Thisbe story, ends with line 1777. The version of Pyramus and Thisbe has nothing about it which serves to connect it with any
Metham proceeds from this point independently of his author as is evident from the following strophe, the last in book iii:
What Metham has to tell may again be said in Dr. Furnivall's words. Subject-matter is commonplace enough and yet I know of no similar event in any romance: 'A pious hermit hears her last cry, and, after prayer, comes up and sees the piteous sight. He then prays to God to bring the two lovers to life again, which He does. The hermit converts and baptizes them, takes them into the city and causes the image of Venus to tumble down, and the magical sphere to vanish. Then he marries Amoryus and Cleopes; they live long and have children, die, and are buried together.'
Of the two versions of Metham's treatise on Palmistry printed here, the one from All Souls College MS. 81 is manifestly later and less characteristic of Norfolk in orthography.
There is no reliable work on the origin or earlier history of Palmistry. Almost all writers on the subject make extensive claims with regard to its antiquity and give lists of well-known ancient writers who are supposed to have written about it. We are told that it was known to the Greeks of the age of Homer
In the article on Palmistry in the 11th edition of the
The article on Palmistry in
There is a significant difference between Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus in this respect. Paracelsus places Palmistry very high in the scale of importance among sciences, finding in it a link between the human microcosm and the universal macrocosm; this to such a degree, that one is led to suspect that his special emphasis may point to a comparatively recent rise of the subject from popular, if not vulgar, sources. He himself attributes the origin of the subject to the Magi, and says, with possible significance, that it was greatly practised by the Gipsies.praefatio, chiromancy is presented as the mother of the arts; also in book three of the same treatise, praefatio; see also De Caducis, par. iv, 674. In vol. iii,
The writers on Palmistry themselves are usually even more lavish than the encyclopædists in their citation of authorities.
There are, however, unquestioned references to the subject of chiromancy in ancient writers. Aristotle in
Of the treatises on Palmistry in manuscript I have so far seen none which are certainly older than the beginning of the 13th century. I have sought for manuscripts only in England, and, there, mainly at the British Museum and at the Bodleian Library. I have not made any attempt to classify fragments or the short treatises made up merely of drawings of hands with comment interspersed, though these are, I am inclined to think, the oldest of all. The following lists are made up of such manuscripts as I was able to consult at the British Museum and the Bodleian, and such others as printed catalogues have enabled me to classify with any degree of probability.
—treatises in which there are three principal lines described, the formal part being slight. In this treatise there is no mention of planets, or hills, and there are many special signs. In its simplest form this treatise is hardly more than a series of notes accompanying drawings of hands:
This treatise begins
This may be said to be the fundamental treatise on Palmistry and to have endured in its essential features until the present day. It is the work followed by John Metham in the treatise published here. There are four principal lines in the description of the hand, then a brief assignment of planets and hills to the fingers, description and prognostication from the triangle, the lines, the sister lines, the quadrangle, the hills, special lines, general proportions of hand, the nails, joints, special figures, general considerations.
This treatise usually begins
The planets are treated at greater
This treatise begins
This differs in arrangement and in some detail from
The preliminary treatise begins
It does not differ greatly in form and content from the preceding treatise, with which it also shows many verbal agreements, but is shorter.
Begins:
There are, as stated above, apparently no manuscripts in the English libraries earlier than the 13th century, and the period of the greatest popularity of Palmistry seems to have been the 15th and 16th centuries.
The most ancient work on Physiognomy comes to us under the name of Aristotle. Its genuineness as a work of Aristotle's has been defended on the ground that Diogenes Laertius (v. 12, 25) and Strobaeus (serm. clxxxix) attribute such a work to him and that there are physiognomical references in
Polemon, the author of declamations, who lived in the time of Hadrian and is mentioned by Philostratus, is also the author of a work on physiognomy preserved in an Arabic translation. This is published by FörsterLoc. cit., i. 93 ff.loc. cit., i. lxviii for further references and a discussion of the subject. On Polemon particularly see W. von Christ,
In John Metham's treatise on physiognomy he has made use of two main sources, the anonymous treatise of Loxus, Polemon and Aristotle, and the physiognomical part of Secreta Secretorum.
Albertus Magnus also makes use both of the anonymous treatise of the three authors and that of the
The name Philemon seems to be a form of Polemon coming back into western literature from Arabic as if Philemon were a separate authority on Physiognomy through the reference to him in
The series of prognostications published on pages 146-7, 157-8, is widely distributed throughout mediaeval literature and is frequently attributed to the prophet 'Esdras', or Ezra. It is fundamentally the same as the famous German Bauern-Praktik, first published in 1508, issued sixty times and translated into French, English, and various modern languages. The English translation appeared about the middle of the 16th century and was known as 'The Husbandman's Practice'.
In its earlier forms the prophecy relates mainly, if not exclusively, to the weather with, perhaps, a few agricultural details, as is indicated in the heading of the manuscript, 'Howe the yere schuld preve, afftyr that Crystemes day fallyth vpon any day off the weke'. But most of the versions preserved, including the one here printed, represent the contamination of the Esdras prognostic with the general lunations discussed below and with other prognostics.
On fol. 86 b: '
On the other hand, Sl. 340, fol. 74, Sl. 1609, fol. 47, Sl. 213, fol. 111, Sl. 293, fol. 73 b, all referring to the first of January, and Harl. 3902, fol. 26 b, the version in the Bauern-Praktik,
The earliest version of the prophecy is in a Greek manuscript of the fourth book of Esdras.
'Iff the first day of Januare be Sonday, than wynter xal be good and warme; veer wyndy, moyst and good; dry somer; wyndy hervest; mykel corn and good: good wyn and also hony; and plenty of frutys xal schewe; and gret plente xal be in many thyngges: scheep and bees and bestes xal waxe: caluys xul dye: delite of batayles xal be: kyngys and lordys xul be dysseyuyd: many thefts xul be; and many tydynggys of princes and lordys: olde folke and yonge children xul deye; and pees xal be in lond: in the hed of August, it xal reyne sore, and hey xal be greet plente.'
Other Latin versions are Bodl. MSS., Digby 75 and 103; Rawl. B 196 and C 486 and 814; Ashm. 345, fol. 68 a and fol. 69a; Brit. Mus. MSS., Cleop. B ix. Royal 12 C xii, fol. 86 b, Jan. 1, and fol. 87, Christmas day; Cambridge Univ. Libr. MSS. 1687, fol. 67 and 1338, fol. 65 b.loc. cit., p. 88, and in M. Förster, Loc. cit., 85 ff.loc. cit., 89ff. One copy of it is in Brit. Mus. MS. Royal 12 C xii, fol. 88, and the first stanza of another in Sl. 3469, fol. 37b. There is also an Old French version published by P. Meyer,
Old English versions in print are (1) Hatton MS. 115, fol. 147 a (ca. 1100), printed by O. Cockayne,
A middle English prose version from Bodl. MS. Digby 88, fol. 25 a, with mention of Ashm. 392, fol. 36 a and 37 a, Ashm. 189, fol. 36 a, and Digby 88, fol. 77 a, is printed by M. Förster,
Yf Crystmas day on the Sonday be, A trobolus wynter ye shall see.
Also in the same MS., fol. 154 b, a complete version, also foundloc. cit., cx. 349.loc. cit., pp. 70-72, Ellis Brand's
Another rhymed version occurs in Camb. Univ. Libr. MS. 5. Ff. 48, fol. 75 b, printed by C. Hardwicke, in Notes and Queries, 2nd Ser., 1856, i. 273-5. This one refers to January 1st, and begins:Lordynges, I warne you al be-forne, Yef that day that Cryste was borne Falle uppon a Sonday.
Finally, there is a rhymed 'Esdras', as far as I know unprinted, in Bodl. MS. Digby 88, fol. 75, beginning:When the yere begynnes with the Monday Strong wynter then come may. See M. Förster, loc. cit., cxxviii. 292.
Now hath ye herde, both young and olde Descryved many a dyuers thing.
The most widely known version of the Esdras prognostic was that contained in the book known as
'In the yeare that Janyuere shall enter upon the Sondaye, the wynter shalbe colde, and moyst, and the somer shall be hote, and the tyme of harueste shalbe wyndy, and rayny, with great habundaunce of corne, of all gardyne fruyte and herbes. There shalbe lytell Oyle, habundaunce shall be of all maner of flesshe. Some great newes shall men here spoken of Kynges, of prelates of the churche and other erthly prynces. Great warres and robboryes shall be made, and many yonge people shall dye.'
There are also two series of prognostics, one based on Christmas Day and the other on New Year's Day, in the larger and fuller book of the character:
'If the Nativity of our Lord shall fall on a Sunday, then shall the winter be moderate, the Spring seasonable, the Fruits of the Earth flourish, and Peace shall grow up and encrease on Earth. He that is born on that day shall be fortunate and shall thrive in all he undertakes; but let him beware of letting blood on that day.'
R. L. Bensley,
In mathematics he was greater Than Tycho Brahe, or Erra Pater See also M. Förster, .Archiv , cx. 349.
There are also Esdras prophecies in the English versions of the
'If the Natiuitie of our Lord come on a Sondaye, wynter shalbe good, Ver shalbe wyndy, swete and hote, vyntage shalbe good. Oxen waxeth, shepe shalbe multyplyed. Honny and mylke, and all goodes shalbe plenteous. Olde men and women shal dye, peace and acorde shalbe in the lande. Also the Sondayes of eche yeare suynge, in the houre of the day, or of nyght, to do all thynges that thou wylte begyn, it is profytable. Who that ben borne shalbe stronge, great and wynynge, who that flyeth shalbe founde.'
The prognostications for every day of the moon's age, which are printed on pages 148-56 under the title, 'The Days of the Moon', is a version of a widespread compilation of various simpler ones. They are usually known collectively in Latin as 'lunationes', and are frequently found in conjunction with the Esdras prognostics, the
M. Förster,
Sickness lunations are found in a Milanese MS. of the 13th century in Greek, published in Bassi and Martini, loc. cit., iii. 39 ff., and noticed by Förster, loc. cit., cxxix. 30 ff. Förster there gives a list of Latin versions and divides them into two classes; the first made up of Cott. Tib. A iii, fol. 36 b-37, with O.E. gloss; Cott. Tib. A iii, fol. 65 b (fragmentary); Cott. Calig. A xv, fol. 125 b-126, printed in
Of dream lunations there are two O.E. texts in Cockayne's
Prof. Förster's account, Archiv, cxxix. 16 ff., of the lunations of the birth of children is very full and I call attention to the following lists of texts there given: Latin texts: Tib. A iii, fol. 36 b, with O.E. gloss; Tib. A iii, fol. 65; Titus D xxvi, fol. 7 b (printed in part in Birch, loc. cit., p. 16); Vat. lat. 42, fol. 91; Arnamagnaeanus 194, fol. 49 (pr. by Kr. Kålund,
Of general lunations, made up of the five special kinds just mentioned, there are a very great many, but not a large number are in print. M. Förster, loc. cit., xxix. 38-42, prints, under 'Tagwähllunare', a general Latin version from Vat. Cod. lat. 642, fol. 91 b-94. It is based on a lunation of days for undertakings such as the Old English fragments, but it is itself a general version. Other Latin versions in manuscript are the following MSS. representing simple combinations of the earlier series: Brit. Mus. MSS., Sl. 475, fol. 211-16, 10th-11th century; Sl. 2030, fol. 134-5 b, 11th-12th century; Eg. 2852, fol. 107, 14th century; Eg. 847, fol. 20, 15th century; Harl. 2558, fol. 191. Fuller versions are Cott. Cleop. B ix, fol. 25 b; Harl. 3902, fol. 134; and two texts which agree with each other, Sl. 282, fol. 82 b, 15th century and Cott. Vesp. E x, fol. 114, 13th-14th century. Cockayne, loc. cit., iii. 184-97 prints with translation into English an Anglo-Saxon version without, however, the Latin text which it glosses. Bodl. MS. Ashm. 342, fol. 23 gives a French version. In Bartsch, Denkmäler der provenzalischen Lit., 316-17, there is a series of lunations including all subjects except bleeding.
Early English prose versions are found in Bodl. MS. Ashm. 189, fol. 84 b, and Brit. Mus. MS. Sl. 213, fol. 113-15, both of the 15th century. Metham's version here published is the fullest
Bodl. MS. Ashm. 189, 213 b, has a rhymed version beginning:
Another appears in Digby 88, fol. 64 b, which is the same as that published with the title:
God that all this worlde hath wrought And all mankynd hath made of nought. And on the cross us bought with payne and wo.
There is a version of general lunations contained in a publication of the early 16th century and frequently reissued until the middle of the 18th century. It is the
In his verse Metham employs a degenerated form of rhyme royal. His intention was evidently to write decasyllabic verse; but, in point of fact, according to Professor Saintsbury's computation,
John Metham's
Amoryus and Cleopes
THYS ys the story off a knyght, howe he dyd many wurthy dedys be the help off a lady, the qwyche taught hym to ouercome a meruulus dragon, the qwyche was a .c. fotte longe. And this knyght was clepyd Amoryus The name Amoryus was probably invented by Metham from a somewhat obvious source; the form Amorius occurs in the sidenote on page 76. The name Cleopas occurs in the alliterative romance, King Alysaunder, vi. 4907., the lady Cleopes.
'Þe gold dewe-dropes of rethorik so fyne Our rude language only tenlwmyne.'
Thales Mylesyes,
Ther be, in creaturys handys, lynys and tokynnys of the qwyche sum be accydental and sum be natural. Accydental lynys be thei the qwyche be causyd off hete, or of cold, or of laboure; of the qwyche yt charge noght, for thei sygnyfye noght as in werkyng off nature. Natural lynys be thei the qwyche comyn of dysposycion off nature, off the qwyche myne autoure trethyth in this boke here folowyng.
And for a ground, ye schal conceyue that ther be in yche hand wele dysposyd foure lynys pryncypal.
The fyrste lyne ys the fyrst parte off the tryangyl, and yt gothe aboute the hylle of the thombe.
The secunde lyne ys the mydlyne that pasyth thorw the
The thyrde lyne ys the fote off the tryangyl, and the space, the qwyche ys in the tryangyl, ys namyd the holle of the hand.
The fourthe lyne ys the tabyl lyne, for that parte off the hand ys clepyd the tabyl the qwyche ys be-twene the myd lyne and the tabyl lyne. And be this fourth lyne, the dysposycion off the hert ys knowyn, bothe off man and woman; and this fourthe lyne begynnyth be-twene the schewyng fyngyre and the longe fyngyr, and procedyth owte of the hand forby the lytyl fyngyr, and this lyne longyth to the pryuyte of man and woman: and tho partys of the hande the qwyche ben be-twene the tabyl lyne and the fyngyrrys be clepyd the hyll off the fyngyrrys; and that parte the qwyche ys be-twene the tryangyl and the schewyng fyngyre ys clepyd the hylle off the schewyng fyngyr. And to yche off this fyngyrrys ther ys a planete longyng: Saturne longyth to lengest fynger with hys hyl; Mercury, to the leche fyngyr with hys hylle; Venus, to the thombe with hys hylle; Jubyter, to the schewyng fyngyr with
Atryangyl that ys off one length, evyn on alle partys wele colouryd, and yff yt
And yff the lynys off the triangyl be schort and the tryangyl narwgh, yff the persone be yonge that hath this tokyn, with gode gouernauns, he schuld lyve longe, and that persone schuld be a trwe frend and off gret fame.
And yff the space with-in the tryangyl be brod and pleyn with-owte strekys and wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyith largenes and hardynes. And yff thise tokyns be noght foundyn lyke as thei be here specyfyid, thei betokyn the contrary; as thus: yff the lynys off the tryangyl be longe and yvyl colouryd with a gret dystauns, yt sygnyfyith schort lyfe and febylnes off
And yff yt be soo that the lefte be lenger than the ryght, yt sygnyffyith a dysworchypful ende and a wrechyd lyfe before a bodyis deth.
And yff this ryght lyne be so longe that yt pase the braune or the hyl off the thombe, yff yt continue and be noght lettyd with none odyr strekys, and yff yt be a-lyke brode and wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyith gode dysposycion off the hert, and off spyrytwall
And yf the ryght parte of the tryangyl be depe and gret and off an erthely coloure, yt sygnyfyith rudenes and boystusnes, and that a body lyuyth lyke a best.
And yff the ryte lyne off the tryangyl ende or poynte
And yff the same ryght lyne be fulle of smale lynys strekyn thru with hem, and noght cause the lyne to dyscontynw; yff thei go ryght up to the hylle off the thombe and noght dyuyde this forsayd lyne,—yt betokynnyith ryches and wurchyp.
And yff in the same lyne sqwyche strekys decende and in the myddys be kyt or dyuydyd with odyr lynys or strekys, thise lynys sygnyfye gret vexacion, troubyl and angyrrys. And this owyth to be notyd that off euery lyne be-syde the
And yf sqwyche lynys pase up owte off the same streke to the myd lyne and pase thorw the tryangyl or by the tryangyl, yt sygnyfyith a trosty persone and a louyng; but that persone yn the fyrst age schuld haue gret vexsacion and troubyl.
And yff ther be smale lynys kyttyng thise forsayd lyne asundyr, passyng up to the hylle off the thombe, thei sygnyfye many sorowys; but that persone schuld wele ouyrcome hem at the last with laboure.
The myd lyne yff yt be
And yff this lyne be semely longe and pase noght the hylle off the schewyng ffynger, yt sygnyfyith hardynes and lenght off lyfe.
And yff the fforseyd lyne be schort and pase noght the holle off the hand, yt sygnyfyith lytyl resun and fferfulness.
And thei that haue this tokyn thei be so enuyus that yff thei do a body ony gode, owdyr in worde or dede, sore thei repent hem afftyrwarde.
And yff this myd lyne be so longe that yt come be-fore the lytyl fynger and ther ende, yt sygnyfyith schortenes off lyfe and that a body schuld be pore be-fore hys ende.
And yf this same lyne turne vpwarde to the fyngyrrys, yt sygnyfyith a myche fole.
And yff this myd lyne be crokyd and noght ryght, yt sygnyfyith that the persone that hath this tokyn ys fulle off malyce, and that thei vttyr here malyce and euyl wylle in the absens off tho personys that thei hate, and be-fore hem speke feyre to hem and flatyr hem; and myne autour repreuyth this maner dysposycion gretly, seyng more-ouer that this tokyn ys trwe in alle foure complexcionis.
And yff this forsayd lyne be brod and depe, yt sygnyfyth a rwde wytt and lytyl wysdam.
And yff at the
And qwan the
And this ys a general rwle, that yff a lyne be ryght depe and wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyith gode dysposycion off that membyr to the qwyche yt ys corespondent; by opyn exsampyl as thus: The lyne the qwyche gothe about the thombe longyth to the hert; than yff this lyne be wele colouryd, ryght and deppe, yt sygnyffyith goode dysposycion off the hert. And yff yt be the contrary, yt sygnyfyith euyl dysposycion off the hert. Thus off alle odyr.
The myd lyne longyth to the brayne.
The tabyl lyne longyth to the pryuyte of man and woman
The fote off the tryangyl longyth to the lyuer, and the same rwle ys of thiis as off the fyrste lyne rehersyd here before.
Thys ye muste consydyr, that a tryangyl ys made off thre lynys and no moo, and yt hath thre cornerys as ye may see in this ffygure the schap off a tryangyl.
The fyrste cornere off the tryangyl in euery hand ys causyd off the myd lyne; for the lyne the qwyche goth aboute the braune off the thombe and the myd lyne
Iff the fyrste cornere off the tryangyl pase noght the space the qwyche ys betwene the shewyng fyngyr and the longe
And yff this cornere be iuste off bothe lynys metyng to-gydyr scharp, as yt apperyth here in this ffygure <, yt sygnyfyith couetyse and streytnes in kepyng off money.
And yff the lynys off the tryangyl mete to-gyddyre agens the myddys off the schewyng fyngyr, yt sygnyffyith a sotel wytt. But sumtyme yt happyth that thise lynys mete noght to-gyddyr in the ouer parte off the tryangyl, and than yt sygnyfyith that a body schuld be vycyus and crwel. And yff he that hath that tokyn be bond, he schuld neuer be free; and thowe he be a lord that hath this tokyn, he schuld dye myschewsly.
And sumtyme yt happyth that thise to .ii. lynys be but lytyl asundyr; and than thei sygnyffye that a man schuld dye in bateyl; and yff yt be a woman, off tribulacion and sekenes sche schuld dey.
And yff the ryght parte off the tryangyl be wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyith a gode stomak.
And yff this cornere be rounde, it be-tokynnyth gret rwdenes off wytt.
And yff the lynys off the triangyl appere noght veryly, yt sygnyfyith onstabylnes and ontrwth and theuyschnes.
And yff the left cornere off the triangyl be round, yt sygnyffyith
And yff this tokyn appere in ony parte off the triangyl
The fourthe lyne ys the tabyl lyne;—yff this lyne contynw and be depe and brod, yt sygnyffyith gode dyposycion off tho partys the qwyche longe to the begetyng off chyldyr. And also yt sygnyfyith ryteffulnes and enduryng in gode werkes and pesybylnes and vertu.
And yff this tabyl lyne pase the myddys off the schewyng ffyngyr.—yff yt be rede, yt sygnyffyith crwelnes off
And yff this lyne turne
But here I leve myne autour as in this matere; ffor here he tretyth myche off perell off this sekenes the qwyche afftyr my conseyte ys more conuenyent to
And yff this forsayd lyne turne vp agens the lenger fynger and pase no ferther, yt sygnyfyith that fortune schuld help hym that hathe this tokyn; and eke that persone schuld haue a frend vpon home he schuld trost, the qwyche schuld dysseyve hym qwan he hath most nede.
And yff the hed off this lyne ende withinne the lengest fyngyr, yt sygnyffyith that the persone that hath this tokyn schuld neuer be withowte trybulacion and laboure.
And yff the hed off this lyne, that ys to sey the ouyr-parte, by dyuydyd with a cros of smale lynys or with lynys that crosse nout rytely, yff this cros or this lynys gone vp be-twene the schewyng fyngyr and the longe fyngyr, yt sygnyfyith that a man schuld alwey be sure off hys lyuyng, that eke women schuld loue hym myche, and odyr men schuld euer laboure for hym to magnyffye hym and to make hym ryche.
And yff so be that the tabyl lyne hath many ryght strekys, yt ys a tokyn off wurchyp and hye degre in tyme comyng.
And yff so be that this same be bare withowte strekys, yt
And qwan this lyne goth to the hyl off the schewyng fynger
And yff that parte the qwyche ys clepyd the busche off the hand—many men haue this tokyn and many noght; and thei acordene noght in this tokyn that be autourys off this syens qwere this busche schuld be; for summe say yt schuld be in the hylle off the hand and summe sey yt
And yff one .i. or too .ii. or many
And yff a lyne decende fro the tabyl lyne and pase then the myd lyne and the ryght parte off the triangyl, yt sygnyffyith that a body schuld dey sodenly or be hedyd or slayn with mannys hand.
And this foresayd lyne entyr in-to
And yff this lyne be ffule off strekys lyke to a
Afftyr I haue determynyd off foure lynys the qwyche moste generally be founde in men and womenys handys, I afftyr myn autore wryte off odyr foure .iiij. the qwyche be clepyd systyrrys, the qwyche be lynys longyng to the fyrste .iiij. lynys.
But this ye schal conceyue also, that thow a man be the tokynnys in hys hand be dysposyd to haue wurchyp, hys condycionnys may be sqwych and hys gouernauns that grace schal fayle hym; therfore yff a body be dysposyd be the to-kynnys off hys hand and haue hem neuer as to wurchyppys, yt
And off thise systyrrys this ys the sygnyfycacion: yff the lynys the qwyche be clepyd systyrrys be ryght, depe, and euyn, and wele colouryd, the betokyn dowbyl godenes off alle the gode tokynnys in a mannys hand. And yff thei be dyscontynuyng, thei sygnyffye euyn the contrary; and most in specyal yff thei be evyl colouryd.
And yff the qwadrangyl be wele colouryd and large, yt betokynnyth largenes and hardynes. And yff yt be streyt, yt sygnyfyith the contrary.
And yff ther be founde a cros in the qwadrangyl
And yff in the qwadrangyl be ffoundyn a fygure lyke to this
And yff in the qwadrangyl ther be founde a cerkyl, yt sygnyffyith stedfastnes in purpose and in dedys.
And yff ther be in the qwadrangyl the fygure off one triangyl alone, yt betokynnyth aduersyte.
And yff ther be founde .ii.
Here determynyth mayster Aurelyan off the tokynnys with the sygnyfycacionnys the qwyche be founde in the ryght parte off the triangyl, seyng vndyr this forme:
The hyl off the
And yff ther be a lyne as longe as the ryght parte off the triangyl, the qwyche ascendyth iuste vp be this forsayd lyne,—yff yt be rede, yt sygnyfyith a gret leccherus persone.
And myne autoure seyth that yff yt be wele colouryd, yt sygynyfyith ryches.
And yff thise lyne noght in the fyrste parte appere, yt sygnyfyith faylyng off ryches in the fyrste age; yff this lyne fayle in the myddys, in the mydyl age; and yff in the last parte yt noght dothe appere; yt sygnyffyith pouerte in the last age.
And for a conclusyon, in qwat
And
And the more depe that ony lyne be, the gretter ys the sygnyfycacion, qwedyr yt be in gode or euyl.
And this ys a general rule: that yff ony lyne the qwyche longyth to wurchyp be kytt or dyuydyd with smale lynys, yt ys a gret tokyn off many lettyngys, or a man may come to wurchyp.
And yff thise lynys may noght esyly be seyne, yt sygnyffyith that the worchyppys be paste.
And yff at the rote off the thombe ther ryse a lyne and procedyth to the triangyl, yt betokynnyth that a man dysyryth to see many cuntreyis and to knowe many dyuerse condycionnys and craftys.
And yff ony lyne procede fro the rote off the thombe to the hyest parte off the triangyl, yt sygnyffyith veyne glory and dysyre off gode.
And yff in the hylle off the thombe ther ys
And yff in the same hylle sqwyche a fygure be ffounde
And yff within the triangyl, or ny the tryangyl, ther be
The hyl off the schewyng fynger, yff yt be pleyn and wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyith clennes in lyuyng.
And yff ony lyne wele colouryd pase fro the tabyl lyne and ascende vp to the hylle off this foresayd fynger, yt sygnyfyith boldnes off hert, and a man schuld with gode gouernauns come to wurchyp.
And yff that lyne be kytt at the ouyr-parte a-sunder with on .j. lyne or with many lynys, thei sygnyfyei a wounde vp-on a mannys or a womannys hede; yff thei be rede, that the wounde ys to come; and yff thei be pale, that the hurt ys paste.
And yff smale lynys pase fro the rote off the foresayd fyngyr downe-ward, yt sygnyfyith that a body schuld lyue withowte laboure; and yff thise lynys be iuste be the fynger, thei sygnyffye wurchyppys.
And as many sqwyche lynys as appere in a clerkys hand, so many benefysys, or prebendys, or odyr wurchyppys he schuld haue.
And yff yt be a man off relygyon, he schuld be a byschop, an abbott, or a priore, or a-nodyr wurthy ofycere.
And yff yt be a man off the world, he schuld haue wurchyp as hys degre askyth.
And yff thise strekys be kytt or wanyschyd awey
And yff lynys pase fro the myd lyne vp to the hylle off the schewyng fynger, thei
And yff one .j. off tho lynys pase fro the tabyl lyne and go be-twene the schewyng fynger and the longe fynger, yt sygnyfyith that a man schuld dey off a wounde; and yff yt be a woman, sche schuld dey off chyld-byrth, or ellys off rysyng off the modyr
And the same yt betokynnyth, yff the same lyne pase to the hylle off the mydyl fynger.
And yff ony lyne pase ffro the hed off the tabyl lyne and assende ryght vp to the rote off the schewyng fynger, yt sygnyfyith soden deth.
And yff an euyn cros be ffounde in the hylle off the schewyng ffynger, yt sygnyfyith soden chongys to wurchyppys and dygnyteys.
And yff sqwyche a tokyn be founde ther
The hyl off the mydyl fynger, yff yt be withoute lynys and wele colouryd, it betokynnyth sympylnes and godenes off wytt.
And yff ther come a lyne fro the tabyl lyne and pase to the rote off the mydyl fynger, yt ys a tokyn off laboure and traueel and seld reste.
And yff the rote off this fynger be fulle off strekys,
And yff thise lynys turne douneward to the holle off the hand, thei sygnyfye that a man schuld dye in prison,—qwat state sum-euer that he be.
And yff in the same hylle ther be but fewe strekys and grete, thei sygnyfye rest and ese.
And yff lynys smale kyt a-sundyr thise foresayd gret lynys, thei be-tokyn gret laboure or a man may come to reste.
And yff tweyn .ij. lynys be ioynyd to-gedyre thus in the hylle off the mydyl fynger, or ellys in the hylle off the schewyng fynger, thei sygnyfye wurchyp in tyme comyng.
The hylle off the leche fyngyre, yff yt be rounde and rede, yt sygnyfyith that a body ys dysposyd to the dropesy and to be vycyus.
And yff tweyn .ij. lynys procede fro the tabyl lyne to the hyll off this fynger, yt sygnyfyith sotelte off wytt, and that a body ys dysposyd to kunne
And yff a lyne appere be-twene the lytyl fynger and the leche fynger, yt sygnyfyith prosperyte in a woman.
And yf a lyne procede fro the tabyl lyne a-lone to
And yff ther be founde a cros be-twene the leche fynger and the lytyl fyngyre, yt sygnyfyith gret laboure.
The hyll off the lytyl fynger, yff yt be rounde and gret, yt sygnyfyith helth off body and godenes off complexcion.
And yff a lyne procede fro the tabyl lyne to the hylle off this fynger, beyng wele colouryd, in a man, yt ys a tokyn off chastyte and off gret sparyng; in a woman, yt sygnyfyith the contrary.
And yff ther be founde in this hyl lynys off the qwyche sum be gret and sum smale, qwat wey sum-euer that they turne, thei sygnyfye lecchery bothe in man and woman.
And yff thise lynys be ryght, thei sygnyfye that a man laboureyth to gete hym frenchyp and loue off wurthy women. And yff thei be rounde, thei sygnyfye the contrary, or ellys crokyd.
And yff thise lynys be kytt with odyr lynys, the sygnyfycacion ys destroyd.
And yff ther be lynys descendyng in-to the hand vpon the egge off the hand betwene the tabyl lyne and the lytyl fynger, as many lynys as be ther, .i. except, so many wyuys a man off the world schuld haue. And yff yt be a prest, so many dygnyteys or benefysys he schuld haue. And yff
And as many ryght lynys as ther be founde off thise for-and
And yff ther be a lyne in the hylle off the lytyl ffyngyr, as halff a cros or halff a cerkyl, yff yt declyne to the leche fynger, yt betokynnyth that a man schuld be in gret trowbyl and aftyr come to prosperyte. And yff this halff cerkyl turne toward the lytyl ffyngyr to the egge off the hand, yt
In this capytyl determynyth myn autour off
Fyngerys proporcionde aftyr the stature off the persone, thei sygnyffye goode dysposycion natural, excepte the excepcionnys folowyng.
Most conuenyent ys to a sclendyr man to haue sclendyr fyngerys, and to a man myche off stature to haue myche fyngerys; but thise be sygnyfycacionnys off alle maner off fyngyrrys:
That persone the qwyche hath smale fyngerys and ffleschy and rounde ys dysposyd to be enuyus, and also dysposyd to pride and to be hardy and bold.
And afftyr the phylysophyr, smale fyngerys, longe and lene, thei sygnyfye gentylness off condycionnys, kendenes off hert, and abylte to alle syens.
Smale fyngerys, schort and lene and wronge, thei
Smale naylys, longe and rede, betokyn godenes off wytt and sotelnes
Schort naylys, narwgh and smale, betokyn vycyusnes, euyl tecchyd, foltyschenes, and a nygard.
Moreouer, ye schal conceyue that the lynys off euery ioynt be clepyd lynys
There-fore yff the lyne artunele the qwyche ys with-in the ioynte off the thombe mete or ioyne with the lyne artunele the
And yff ony lyne artunele cerkyl the thombe a-boute, yt betokynnyth that a body schuld be drounyd.
And yff ther be sqwyche lynys and mete noght to-gedyr, thei sygnyfye that a body
And yff ther be a lyne in the rote off the schewyng fyngyr, yff yt pass vp to the fynger iustely, yt sygnyfyith wurchypp.
And yff sqwyche a tokyn appere vp-on the bak off this fyngyre, yt
And yff the hylle off the medyl fynger be fulle off smale lynys, thei sygnyfye woundys vp-on a bodyis hede, or on the wombe, or the brest,
And yff the lynys be rede, the hurtys or sekenessys be for to come; and thei be pale, thei be past.
And yff ther be founde tweyne sqwyche ryght lynys | |, they sygnyffye strengh and manhed.
And yff ther be founde sqwyche a tokyn in this foresayd hylle, yt betokynnyth euyl tecchys.
And yff a lytyl cros be founde in the hylle off the lytyl fynger, yt sygnyfyith foltyschenes.
And yff a gret lyne pase fro the hyl off the lytyl fynger vp on to the same fynger, yt sygnyfyith dysposycion to lecchery.
Also a woman hauyng manyer sygnys, that ys to sey lynys or strekys, be-twene the schewyng fynger and the mydyl fynger and the leche fyngyr, than be-twene the leche fyngyr and the lytyl fyngyr, ys more dysposyd to conceyue sonys than dowtyrrys; and eke the transuerse be-tokynnyth the contrary.
Myn autoure put here gret conclusyonnys and resunnys conffermyng hys boke, to veryffye hys wrytyngys, the qwyche I pase, for yt
And ye muste consydyr that this syens requiryth that ye muste beholde bothe the rygth hand and the leffte bothe off man and woman, noght-withstondyng that the
And ye may noght deme off one .j. line alone but off many acordyng. And he that hath manyere sygnys off prosperyte than off aduersyte, ye schal deme hys wurchyppys. And he that hath mo sygnys off aduersyte than prosperyte, ye schal deme hys infortune. Ye must consydyr also that quat hand that ye schal deme, yt must be wasche with hote watyr that ye may see euery lyne. And ye may geve no dome but off a persone that pasyth twelue yere off age. Thus endyth myne autoure doctor Aurelyan in Latyne. And thus I ende in Englysch vndyr the supportacion off my masterys in this syens;—be the skoler Jon
Here endyth the syens off cyromancy. Quod Jon Metham ... Metham.
Ther be in creatures handes lynes and tokenes of wyche sum be accidentall1 and som be naturall.2 Accidentall lynes be they that are causyd of hete or cold or labour; of wyche it chargyth noȝth, for they signyfye noght, as in wurkyng of nature. Naturell lynes ben they that comyn of dysposicion of nature, of wyche myn auctor tretyth in thys boke here folowyng.
And for a grownd ye shall conceyue that ther be in iche hande well dysposyd 4 lynes princypall.
The fyrst lyne is the fyrst parte of the triangle and hyt gooyth abowte the hylle of the thombe.
The 2 lyne is the midle lyne that passyth thurgh the myddes of the hande.
The 3 lyne is the fote of the triangle and the space wyche is the triangle is name the hole of the hande.
The 4 lyne is the table-lyne, for that parte of the hand is clepyd the table the wyche is betwene the mid-lyne and the table-lyne. And by this 4the lyne the dysposicion of the hert is knowyn both of man and woman. And this 4 lyne begynnyth betwene the shewyng fyngger and the longe fyngger, and procedyth owte of the honde forby the lytyll fyngger. And this lyne longeth to the priuyte of man and woman. And the partyes of the honde that ben betwene the table-lyne and the fynggers be clepyd the hyll of the fynggers; and that parte that is betwene the triangle and the shewyng fyngger is clepyd the hylle of the shewyng
A triangle that is of oon length, euen on all partys, welle-colouryd, and yef hit be within full of lynes, wel-coloured, it betokeneth bodyly strength and boold of hert.
And yef the lynes of the triangle be short and the triangle narow, yef the persone be yonge that hath this tokyn, with good gouernance he schuld leue longe and be a trew frynd, and of gode fame and greet.
And yef the space within the triangle be brode and playne, with-owtyn strykys, wel-colouryd, it signifyeth largenes and hardynes.
And yef these tokenes be not founden lyke as they be here specifyed, they betoken the contrarye. As thus: yef the lynes of the triangle be longe and evyl colored, with a grete distaunce, it signifieth short lyfe and feblenesse of compleccion.
And thus of all other signes where that this terme is wrytyn the contrarye, ye shall applye it after the
And yef the ryȝth parte of the triangle, that is to sey, the ryȝth lyne be lenger than the lyft is, it signifieth that they that haue that token shuld dey a fere deth and grete prosperyte til there lyves ende.
And yef it be so that the lyft be lenger then the ryȝth, it signifieth a diswurchypfull ende and a wreched lyfe before a bodyes deth.
And yef this ryȝth lyne be so long that hit passe the brawne, or the hyll of the thombe, yef it contynue and be not lettyd with noon other strikes, and yef it be leke brode and well-colored, it signifieth good dysposicion of the hert and of the spirituall membris in a man.
But the persone that hath this token sheldun or neuer shall bryng eny worke to the ende.
And yef this lyne be small, it signifieth wysedom and a good wytte. And yf hit be brode and evell colored, it signifieth the contrarye.
And yef the ryȝth parte of the triangle be depe and grete and of an yerthly colour, it signifieth rudenes and bustewysnes and that the body leueth leke a best.
And thus oȝth to be noted, that of euery lyne beside the
And yef suche lynes passe vp owte of the same stryke to the myd-lyne, and passe thourth the triangle, or by the triangle, it signifieth a trusty persone and a louyng; but that person in hys fyrst age schuld haue vexacion and troble.
And yef ther be smale lynes cuttyng this forsayd lyne a-sunder, passyng vp to the hyll of the thombe they signifye many sorows; but that person shall well overcome them at the last with labour.
The midlyne, yef it be ryȝth and depe and wel colored, it signifieth hele and goodnes of complexcion and an excellent wytte.
And yef this lyne be semely long and pass not the hylle of the shewyng fynger, it signifieth hardynes and length of live.
And yef the forseyd lyne be short and passe not the hole of the honde, it signifieth lityll reason and ferfulnes, and they that haue this token they be so enuyouse that yef they do
And yef this mydlyne be so long that it come before the lytyll fynger and there ende, it signifieth shortnes of lyfe and that a body shuld be pore before hys ende.
And yef the same lyne turne vpward to the fyngres, it signifieth a moche foole.
And yef this mydlyne be croked and not ryȝth, it signifieth that the person that hath this tokyn is ful of malyce and that they vtter there malyce and evell wylle in the absence of the persones they hate, and before them speke feyre to them and flatere them; and myn auctor repreveth this maner disposicion gretely, seyng moreover that this tokyn is true in all 4 compleccions.
And yef this forseyd lyne be brode and depe, it signifieth a rude wytte and lytell wysedome.
And yef at the
And whan the medde-lyne is ryȝth and long, sufficiently depe all-so, and even and well colored, it signifieth
And yef this token be not as it is here specified, it signifieth the contrarye, that is to say, a feble stomake, heuynes and ferefull.
And this is a generall rule, that yef a lyne be ryȝth, depe and well colored, it signifieth gode dysposicion of that membre to the wych it is corespondent; by open ensample as thus: The lyne that goth abowte the thombe belongeth to the hert; then yef thus lyne be ryȝth, depe and wel colored, it signifieth good disposicion of hert.
And yef it be the contrarie, it signifieth evell dysposicion of hert; thus of all other.
The mydlyne longeth to the brayne.
The table lyne longeth to the priuyte of man and womanne generally.
The fote of the triangle longeth to the lyuer; and the same rule is of thus as of the fyrst lyne, rehersed here before.
Thus ye must consydre, that a triangle is made of 3 lynes and no more; yet it hath 3 corners, as ye may se in this thus fygure the shape of a triangle.
The fyrst corner of the triangle in euery honde is caused of the medlyne; for the lyne that goth abowte the brawnne of the thombe and the mydde-lyne make 2 partes of the
Yef the fyrst corner of the triangle in euery honde passe nott the space that is betwene the shewyng
And yef this corner be juste of both lynes metyng to-gedre sharpe, as it appereth here in this fygure <, it signifieth couetyse and stretenes in kepyng of moneye.
And yef the lynes of the triangle mete to-gedre ayens the myddes of the shewyng fynger, it signifieth a sotell wytte. But som tyme it happeth that thyse lynes mete noȝth togedre in the on parte of the triangle; it signifieth that a body shuld be vycyoux and cruell. And yef he that hath that token be bond, he shuld never be free; and yef he be a lord that hath this token, he shuld dey myschevously.
And som tyme it happeth that thyse 2 lynes be but lytell a-sondre, and then they signifye that a man shuld dey in batayll; and yef it be a woman, of tribulacion and sekenes she shuld dey.
And yef the ryȝth parte of the triangle be well colored, it signifieth a gode stomake.
And yef this corner be rounde, it betokeneth grete rudenes of wytte.
And yef the lynes of the triangle appere noȝth verely, it signifieth vnstabelenes and vntrouth and thevysshnes.
And yef the lyft corner of the triangle be rownde, it signifieth a grete wytte and lenght of lyue.
And yef this token appere in any parte of the triangle
The 4 lyne is the table-lyne; yef this lyne contynue and be depe and brode, it signifieth good dysposicion of tho partes that longe to the begetyng of chylder.
All-so hit signifieth ryghtwesnes and enduryng in good werkes and pesiblenes and vertu.
And yef this table lyne passe the myddes of the shewyng fynggre,—yf it be rede, it signifieth cruelnes
And yef this lyne turne vpryȝth betwene the shewyng fynger and the long fynger, it betokeneth that a man shuld dey of a wounde or of the flix. And yef a woman have this token, it signifieth that she shuld dey of long continuans of flowris.
And the phyliȝophre seyth it is necessarie that women shuld have this sekenes of corrupt blode and other matyer to a-voyde them, the wyche yef they shuld abyde in them shuld cavse gret sekenes in hem.
But here I leve myn auctor as in this matyer, for here he tretyth moche of perells of this sekenes, the wyche after my conceyte is more conueniente to be sette in phesyk than here.
Moreover myn auctor seyth that yef a woman that hath this forseyd tokyn dey not of superfluyte of that sekenes,
And yef this forseyd lyne turne vp ayenst the long fynger and passe no further, it signifieth that fortune shuld help hym that hath this tokyn and eke that person shuld haue a frend vppon whom he shuld tryst, the wyche shuld dysseyue hym whan he hath most nede.
And yef the hed of this lyne ende with-in the lengest finger, it signifieth that the persone that hath this token shuld never be with-owte tribulacion and labour.
And yef the hed of this lyne, that is to say the over-parte, be devyded with a crosse of small lynes, or with lynes that crosse not ryȝthly, yef this crosse or this lynes goon vp betwene the shewyng fynger and the long fynger, it signifieth that a man shuld be sure alwey of hys levyng, and eke woman shuld loue hym moche, and other men should euer labour for him to magnifye hym and to make hym riche.
And yef so be that the table-lyne hath many ryȝth strykys, it is a token of wurchype and hie degre in tyme comyng.
And yef so be that the same be bare with-owt strekes, it
And when this lyne goyth to the hylle of the shewyng fynger and endyth there and at ende ther be many lynes turnyng downward to the thombe, it signifieth yef it be man or woman, that they loue gretely the lustes of the flessh.
And yef that parte the wych is cleped the bussh of the hond
And they acorde not in this tokyn that be auctours of this science where this bussh shuld be.
For some sey it shuld be in the hyll of the honde and some sey it shuld be in the triangle.
But this I sey that the hed of the table-lyne may conueniently be cleped the bussh, as by the tokenes that folowe:
Therefore thus,—yef ther descende lynes fro the table-lyne to the mydlyne they signifie couetyse, flateri, dysseivablenes, and he that hath this spekyth feyre a-fore folkes and behynde them, he detracteth theym.
And yef 1 lyne or 2 or many descendyng fro the tablelyne and entre in-to the space that is with-in the triangle, of what degre euer that person be, it signifieth that he shuld be in suche case that, for the wrechednes and tribulacion that he shuld be in, he shuld desyre often hys own deth to be delyuered.
And yef a lyne descende fro the table-lyne and passe thourth the midlyne and the ryȝth parte of the triangle, it signifieth that a body shuld dey sodenly, or be heddyd, or slayn by mannes hand.
And this fore-seyd lyne entre in-to the midlyne and passe no further, that person shuld be in perell of deth and in grete fere, but he shuld be holpen by a woman and a woman by a man.
And yef this lyne be full of strikes like on-to a sterre *, hit be-tokeneth grete lustynes and delytes of the flessh. All-so tho that haue that token loue to be magnified, presed, worshypped and made moche of.
The fyrst is cleped the suster of the triangle and hath there the begynnyng in the lower parte and ascendyth vp to the fynger of Saturne and this lyne is named the saturnyne.
But ye shell conceyue that dyuers persons haue not these lynes nor many other that I speke of here; therfore they that haue not thyse lynes be nother dysposed to haue grete wurchype nor to haue moche aduersyte.
But this ye shell conceyue also, that though a man by the tokenes of hys honde be desposyd to haue wurchype, hys condycions may be suche and hys gouernance that grace shall fayle hym; therfore yef a body be desposed by the tokenes of hys honde and haue hem neuer as to wurchype, yet in aspeciall for hys owne defawte; oudre that god is displesed with hym, or that he stondyth not in the favour of the world for hys misgouernance.
For som man is desposed to vyces, as to theft, glotony, lechery, or to other vyces, and yet with labour and vertuose occupacion he withstondyth hem; therfore not oonly by desposicion of nature, but allso by grace.
And of thyse susters thus is the significacion: yef the lynes weche be cleped the susters be ryȝth, depe, even, well-coloured, they be-token doble godnes of all the goode tokenes in a mannes honde.
And yef they be discontynuyng, they sygnifye even the contrarye; and most in speciall yef they be evell-colored.
And yef the quadrangle be well-colored and large, it be-tokeneth largenes and hardenes and yef hit be streite, it signifieth the contrarie.
And yef ther be fownde a crosse in the quadrangle of strikes ylyke long, it signifieth helth of body.
And yef oon of the strekes be lenger then a-nother, it signifieth the contrarie.
And yef in the quadrangle be fownd a fygure lyke to this
And yef in the quadrangle ther be fownde a cercle, it signifieth stedfastnes in purpose and in dedis.
And yef ther be in the quadrangle the figure of a triangle alone, it be-tokeneth aduersite.
And yef ther be fownd 2 triangles, they betoken the contrarie, that is to say prosperite.
The hille of the thombe, yef it be rownd and large, it signifieth goodnes of complexcion and disposicion to lechery.
And yef ther be a lyne as longe as the ryȝth parte of the triangle the wyche ascendyth juste vp by this forseyd lyne,—yef it be red, it signifieth a grete lecherows person.
And myn auctor seyth yef hit be well-colored, it signifieth reches.
And yef this lyne noȝth in the fyrst parte apere, it signifieth faylyng of ryches in the fyrst age; yef this lyne fayle in the myddes, in the myddle age; and yef in the laste parte it not apere, it signifieth poverte in the last age.
And for a conclusion, what parte this lyne appereth in, the fyrst, myddell or last, in the lyke age it signifieth ryches.
And yef ther be 4 lynes vppon the wrist, yef any of tho 4 passe juste vp by the thombe it signifieth wurcheps in the fyrst age. And the further any of these lynes be departed in distance fro the thombe the lenger tyme it shuld be or a man shuld come to wurshyppe.
And the more deper that any lyne be, the gretter is the significacion whether it be in goode or evell.
And this is a generall rule that yef any lyne be-longgyng to worshyppe be cutte or devyded with smale lynes, it is a grete token of many lettyngs, or a man may cum to worshype.
And yef thyse lynes may not easyly be seen, it signifieth that the worshypes be past.
And yef at the rote of the thombe ther ryse a lyne and procedeth to the triangle, it be-tokeneth that a man desyreth to see many contreys and to know many dyuers condicions and craftes.
And yef any lyne procede fro the rote of the thombe to the heyst parte of the triangle, it signifieth veyneglorie and desyre of good.
And yef the thombes hylle be full of lynes, it signifieth gret dysposicion of lechery.
And yef many lynes be fownden vppon the thombe comyng fro the bak of the honde,—yef they be depe, they signifye grete
And yef in the hylle of the thombe ther be fownd a token lyke a sterre, it signifieth lechery both in man and woman.
And yef in the same hylle suche a fygure be fownden
And yef with-in the triangle or nyȝth the triangle ther be fownd a figure lyke to this
And yef any lyne wel-colored passe from the table-lyne and ascende vp to the hyll of this forseyd fynger, it signifieth boldnes of hert and that a man by good gouernans shuld come to worshype.
And yef that lyne be cutte at the over-parte a-sonder with oon lyne or many, they signifie a wunde vppon a man or womans hedd; yef they be red, that wounde is to come, and yef they be pale, that the hurt is past.
And yef smale lynes passe from the rote of the sayd fynger downward, it signifieth that a body shuld lyue with-owte labour, and yef these lynes be juste by the fynger they signifie worshypes.
And as many such lynes as apere in a clerkes honde, so many benefices, prebendes, or other worshypps he shuld haue.
And yef he be a man of relygyon, he shuld be a bysshop, an abbot, or a prior, or a-nother worthy officer.
And yef he be a man of the world, he shuld haue worshyppe
And yef this strike be cutte or vanisshed awey, that they may not easili be seyn, it is an euydent token that the worshypps be past, or ells other lettyng.
And yef lynes passe fro the middel lyne vp to the hyl of the shewyng fynger, they signifie shamfastnes and trowth.
And yef on of tho lynes passe fro the table-lyne and go betwene the shewyn fynger, it signifieth that a man shuld dey of a wonde.
And yef it be a woman, she shuld dey on child-byrthe, or of the rysyng of the moder, or els of long continuance of flowris;
And yef any lyne passe fro the hedd of the table-lyne and ascendeth ryȝth vp to the rote of the shewyng fynger, it be-tokeneth soden deth.
And yef an evyn crosse be fownd in the hylle of the shewyng fynger, it signifieth soden chauncis to worchips or dignitees.
And yef such a token be fownde
And yef ther come a lyne fro the table-lyne and passe to the rote of the meddel fynger, it is a token of labour and travell and selden rest.
And yef the rote of this fynger be full of strekes, it signifieth
And yef thyse lynes turne downward to the hole of the honde, they signifie that man shuld dey in prison what state so ever he be.
And yef in the same hyll ther be but few strekes and grete, they signifie rest and ease.
And yef smale lynes cutte a-sonder the sayd grete lynes, they be-token grete labour or a man may cum to reste.
And yef 2 lynes be joyned to-geders thus in the hyll of the myddell fynger, or elles in the hyll of the shewyng fynger, they signifie worshype in tyme comyng.
And yef 2 lynes procede fro the table to the hyll of this fynger, it signifieth sotelte of wytte and that a body is dysposed to cone many scyences.
And these lynes be-token all-so wurchips and dygnytees,
And yef a lyne a-pere be-twene the lytell fynger and leche fynger, it signifieth prosperite in a woman.
And yef a lyne procede fro the table-lyne a-lone to this forsayd fynger, yef it be ryȝth and well-colored and withowt cuttyg of other lynes, yef hit be longe that it passe the
And ther be fownde a crosse be-twene the leche fynger and the lytell fynger, it signifieth grete labour.
And yef a lyne procede fro the table-lyne to the hyll of this fynger, beyng well-colored, in a man it is a gret token of chastyte and of grete sparyng; in a woman it signifieth the contrarie.
And yef ther be fownde in this hylle lynes of wyche sum be gret and som smale, what wey so ever they turne, they signifie lechery both in man and woman.
And yef thyse lynes be ryȝth, they signifie that a man laboreth to gete hym frenship and love of wurthy women.
And yef they be rownde, they signifie the contrarie, or els croked.
And yef thyse lynes be cutte with other lynes the significacion is distrowyd.
And yef thyse lynes be cutte with other lynes, the significacyon is past.
And as many ryght lynes as ther be fownde of thyse forsayd,
And yef ther be a lyne in the hylle of the lytell fynger, as halfe a crosse or halfe a cerkyll, yef it decline to the leche fynger, it betokeneth that a man shuld be in grete troble and after come to prosperite; and yef this halfe cerkyll turne toward the lytell fynger to the egge of the honde, it signifieth the contrarie.
Fingers proporcioned after the stature of the persone, they signifie good disposicion naturell, except the excepcions folowyng.
Most convenient is to a slender man to haue slender fyngers, and to a man of moche stature to have moche fyngers; but thyse be the significacions of all maner of fyngers:
That person that hath smale fyngers, flessly and rownde, is dysposed to be enuyoux, to pride, to be hardy and bold.
And after the phylisophre smale fyngers, longe and lene, they signifie gentylnes of condycion, kyndnes of hert, and habilite to all sciences.
Smale fyngers, short and lene and wronge, they signifie malice, discordans, frowardnes and enuyousnes.
Smale nayles, longe and rede, be-token goodnes of wytte and sotylnes. Short nayles, naroȝth and smale, be-token vyciousnes, euell teached, foltishnes, and a nygart.
Moreover, ye shall conceyue that the lynes of euery joynt be cleped lynes artunell.
Therefore yef the lyne artunell that is with-in the joynt
And yef any lyne artunell cerkyll the thombe a-bowte, it be-tokeneth that a body shuld be drownnyd.
And yef ther be suche lynes and mete noȝth to-gedres, it signifieth that body hath be in pereell of water.
And yef ther be a lyne in the rote of the shewyng fynger, yef it passe vp to the fynger justely, it signifieth wurshype. And yef suche a token apere upon the bakke of this fynger
And yef the hylle of the myddell fynger be ful of smale lynes, they signifie wondes vppon the hedde, or oon the wombe, or the breste, or other sekenes in al thyse.
And yef the lynes be rede, the hurtes or sekenes be for to come; yef they be pale, they be past.
And ther be fownde 2 such lynes ryȝth | |, they signifie strenght and manhode.
And ther be fownde suche a token in this seyd hyll, it betokeneth euell taches.
And yef a lytell crosse be fownde in the hyll of the lytell fynger, it signifieth folysshnes.
And yef a grete lyne passe fro the hyll of the lytell fynger vppon the same fynger, it signifieth dysposicion of lechery.
All-so a woman hauyng mo sygnes, that is to say, lynes or strekes, be-twene the myddell fynger, and the leche
Myn auctor putteth here grete conclusions and reasons confyrmyng hys boke, to verefye hys
As to shew by tokens wether a woman that hath non husband be a mayde or noo; and eke yef a woman haue conceyued a man chyld or a may chyld and dyuers other thyngges, the wyche I omitte.
But ye shell conceyue that ther be in dyuers creatures handes lynes and tokyns of wych myn auctor spekyth not of; but by theyse principall lynes, the wyche be wreten in this tretes, ye may geue a ryȝth dome of the disposicion of man and woman, where-to they be other to haue prosperite or aduersite, to be riche or pore, to be chaste or lecheroux, as the disposicion of the world axeth,—of all thise and many other this boke maketh mencion.
And ye must considre that this science requireth that ye must behold both the right honde and the
And ye may not deme of oon lyne a-lone but of many accordyng.
And he that hath
And he that hath mo signes of aduersite then prosperite, ye shall deme hys infortune.
Ye must considre also that what honde that ye shall deme, it must be wysshe with hote water that ye may se euery lyne.
And ye may geue no dome but of a person that passeth 12 yere of age.
Thus endyth myn auctor, doctor Aurelian, in Laten; and thus I ende in Englysh vndre the supportacion of my mastres in this science. Quod Jon Meteham.
Irede in the boke the qwyche ys clepyd the Pryuyte off Phylosophyrys,
And in the begynnyng off this boke, myn autoure Arystotyl the lesse, the qwyche was the kyngys sone off Cryse,
He tellyth that in the cyte off Arge ther dwellyd a gret phylysophyr, the qwyche had gret insyte in physnomye and palmestrye, hos name was clepyd Phylemon,
So yt be-ffelle vp-onne a tyme, that tweyn scolerrys off maystyr Ypocras, the qwyche were gret wyttyd men, fylle in felyschyp off straungerrys, the qwyche kam fro the cyte ther Phylemon the sotheseyer dwellyd; and in ther comunicacion the
And with this worde the dyscypyllys off Ypocras were gretly meuyd, and wold a slayn hym. And thei sayd to hym vndyr this forme: 'Thow elde
And than this doctor Phylemon yaff hem this ansqwere: 'Ye axyd me howe he was dysposyd be my craft, and aftyr my craft I yaf yow a trwe ansqwere; and that dar I deme vp-on hym-self.'
And quan thei harde this ansqwere, thei sayd no more, but toke here leue, and yede home to her master Ypocras, and teld hym how thei had done, and off the ansqwere off doctor Phylemon. And Ypocras yaue hem this ansqwere: 'That Phylemon, qwat-sum-euer that he be, I knowe be hys ansqwere that he ys ryght a wyse man; and an experte man in that cunnyng; and be-leve yt veryly, he sayd noght on .j. word a-mys off my natural dysposycion: for I am so dysposyd to lecchery, and to be onstabyl, and ontrw; but qwan I come to age off dyscrecion, and perseyuyd my dysposycion, and knw that yt was
As myn autoure dothe begyn,
But thus afftyr hys conclusyonnys, myne autoure dothe begynne, seyng, on this maner:
Iff ther come a persone to yow, be yt man, be yt woman, to speke with yow for ony cause, thus schal ye knowe qwydyr thei loue off hert and drede yow, or yff thei hate owgth yow and dyspyse yow in her conseyt.
Iff ther come a persone to yow, the qwyche ys a straunger, in ony matere, thus haue a consyderacion to hys chere, that he perseyue yow noght. Yff swyche a persone be-hold yowre fase stedfastly, and ye in yowre talkyng loke vp-on hym, yff that persone be a-schamyd off yowre loke, and cast doune hys eyn to the ground, and syghe causeles; yff also ther appere watyr in hys eyn, as thow he wold wepe, that persone, qwat-sum-euer he be, he louyth yow, feryth yow, and dred yow, and louyth yowre prosperite and welfare.
And yff yt be so that he behold yow boldely, and loke sternly in yowre face, and spekyth boystusly, and lokyth fast aboute, and lokyth vp-on yowre arayment with louryng chere, —that persone hatyth yow, and hath enuye at yowre welfare, and hath
Styff herys and blak off coloure, or ellys dunne,
Herys that be sofft and
Herys growyng thyk vp-on the forehed betokyn gret hastynes.
Herys that cromyn vpward, and growyn thynne, thei betokyn ferfulnes and coldenes off complexcion.
Herys that be a born turnyng myche to yelw, thei betokyn hard wyttys
Herys that growe thyk a-boute the templys and erys betokyn a sotel wyttyd man, and leccherus.
Herys the qwyche be off auburne coloure
Herrys herys, and yelw and softer,
The skyn off the hed, yff yt be ful off shrynkys, or ellys
The most comendabyl aftyr myne autoure ys a mene be-twene thise tweyn.
The hed that ys gret, as in qwantyte pasyng the commun syse, yt ekyth gretly to the wyttys, and be-tokynnyth vertu and magnyfycens.
A scort scapyn hed ys with-owte wytt and wysdam be sygnyfycacion.
A long schape hed sygnyfyith impudens on schamfastnes.
A flat hed betokynnyth indysposycion to vertu, and insolent.
A schort hed,
A mene off alle thise betokynnyth wysdam
A longe hed betokynnyth onwysdam and onclennes in lyuyng.
An hed that ys flat on the forme parte sygnyfyith dysposycion to wrath and to dysseyt.
A gret hed, with a gret forhed and a gret face, betokynnyth slowthe, mekenes, and hard to be taught.
An hed schape lyke an hamur or a betyl betokynnyth a redy wyttyd man, and a cyrcumspecte.
A ryght hed that ys pleyn in the croune, off a mene gretenes, betokynnyth wysdam, and manhed, and stronghartydnes.
Aforehed that ys narwgh be-fore betokynnyth bestyalte and
A brod forehed, the qwyche ys rounde and fayre and smothe, betokynnyth plente off wytt.
A forhed that ys noght euyn, the qwyche ys clepyd in this syens a crokyd or a wrong, the qwyche ys greter a-bouyn
Thei that haue holle forehedys
Thei that haue forehedys with-owte ony gret apperyng in maner, as yt were drouyn in-to the hed, be foryetfful and noght dysposyd to ony vertu.
Thei that haue forheddys with hyllys and walys be dysposyd to be dysceyuabyl and hasty.
Thei that haue thynne forehed with-owte many depe lynys or schrynkys be dysposyd to be trosty.
Browys, qwan thei be ryght and longe, thei be-tokyn an euyl-wyllyd man and a noturenyghty,
Browys, qwan thei grouuyn vpward and the chere off the persone ys wepyng, thei sygnyfye
Browys, qwan thei growe douneward to the eyn, thei betokyn an enuyus persone, and a froward.
Browys that
Qwyte browys, namyd crysp, longe off growyng herys, thei betokyn flatyrry, dysseyvabylnes, largenes, and
Blake browys, thei sygnyfye gret dysposycion to lecchery; thei betokyn gret wyttys, hardenes allso off hert, and hardynes.
The eye lyddys sumtyme be fulle and in maner bolnyd off kend, and sumtyme thei be thynne; qwereffore this ys the sentens off myne autoure,—the ouerlyd off the eye, yff yt be bolnyd, yt
The nedyr-lyd, yff yt be thyk and ful, yt sygnyfyith hastynes and sotelnes; yff yt be thinne, yt synyffyith the contrary.
In the begynnyng, ye schal conceyue that in euery hole eye be thre partys: that ys, the qwyte or the balle off the eye; the cerkyl or the roundel off the eye, the qwyche ys sum-tyme graye lyke the ey off a catte, sumtyme lyke the coloure off the fyrmament qwan the aer ys clere, sumtyme blak grey lyke the eyn off doggys, sumtyme odyr colourrys, as this chapetyr schal make mencion; the thyrd parte off the ey ys the syte, the qwyche ys yn the myddys, off one coloure alwey, the qwyche coloure ys blak;—and this ys the fyrst sentens of myne autour:
Eyn the qwyche be clene, as the drop off water schynyng, thei sygnyfye lyberalte and kendnes off hert, yff so be that odyr sygnys in the face acorde in godenes.
Eyn the qwyche be fast meuyng, yff the lyddys meue noght but qwan and qwan, thei betokyn sturdynes and boldnes off spyryte.
Thei that kepe her eyn stabyl, yff the coloure be pale off the eyn and slepi or dedly, yff that persone meue hys brouys in hys
Thei that haue rede eyn, noght offtyn meuyng but stondyng stedfastely, thei sygnyfye dysposycion to lecchery and ontrwth and dysceyuabylnes.
Eyn stondyng alluey with moystur, smale in qwantyte, with a pleyn forhed, with meuyng eyelyddys, thei sygnyffye a gode wyt and a retentyff, and wele dysposyd to lernyng.
Eyn that meue faste and sodenly betokyn trobyl in that persone that hath hem, and that he ys syspicyus, and in tho thyngys the qwyche he purposyth to doo, longe or late to perform hem; and yff that parsonys eye-lyddys meue as faste as the ballys, yt sygnyffyith ferffulnes; and yff yt be
Thei that haue slowe meuyng eyn in maner slepy, tho personys be off harde wyttys, slow in the begynnyng, and in the laste endyng hard.
Qwer-ffore myne autoure enclyneth rather to fayre
Eyn the qwyche meue be no certeyn cours, but
And this ys a generall reule, that euery eyi that ys continually moyste ys more commendabyl and more in vertuus sygnyffycacion,
Spottys lyke perlys in the balle off the eye, that ys to sey in the qwte off the eye, the qwych perlys or spottys be in the circuyte, rede, sangwyne, or yelw, or qwyte, thei sygnyffye enuyusnes, flatery, ontrwth, and dysceyuabylnes, and dysposycion to alle euyl, off alle vycys; fore off alle repreuabyl sygnys thise spottys, lyke to bleynnys, be the werst, qwat coloure sum-euer that thei be.
Now myne autour spekyth off the cerkyl the qwyche dyuydyth the qwyte off the eye in the be-holdyng fro the syte;—the syte, as I seyd in the
Thys cerkyl off sundry colourys in ych eye dothe appere; as
Fyrst this ys the sygnyffycacion
In euery man and womannys ey nest the qwyte, ther ys a cerkyl off sundry colourys, yff ye beholde yt wysely, the qwyche cerkyl hath a streys brede nere in sum eye, but yt ys chongabyl and varying in euery eye. And in this cerkyl, yff yt be wysely beholde, yt stondyth ful off spottys, alle maner off colourys representyng; but in specyal a fatyd blw, and a fatyd blak, that in specyal this cerkyl stondyth by; and be-syde thise ther be in that cerkyl pale spottys, or yewlu, or very red, or lyke to a rede that ys fatyd, or sangwyne, or dunne, or blwe; the qwyche colourys haue dyuerse sygnyffycacionnys, as I schal expres in this chapetur.
And ye schal conseyue that this
And alwey consyder this, that the most effecte, qwedyr yt be in gode or euyl, ys yff thise forseyd colourys be in her owne kend; that ys to sey, a rede, the qwyche ys namyd rede in this syens, to be very rede in hys kend, and so off alle colourys; for yff yt be so that myne autoure rehers, that he the qwyche hath rede lynys in the qwyte off hys eye, yff that rede be in hys kende, the betokynnyng ys the more effectual in euyl. Now affter myn
Blake eyn, the qwyche be in her kend, betokyn
Alytyl cerkyl off
Qwan yt ys so that the eye in qwantyte be noght smalle, that ys to sey in opynnyng, in the grettnes off the balle, ner off the cerkyl, ner off the syght, yff the eye be noght fyx in consydyrracion, yt betokynnyth stabylnes off purpose. Eyn the qwyche meuyn vppward, as thow thei schuld beholde the fyrmament, thei sygnyfye maddenes and dysyrys off the flesch. And yff sqwyche maner eyn be offtyn twynkylyng,
And yff sqwyche maner off eyn, that ys to sey gogyl-eyn,
Schynyng eyn and in maner styrtyng aboute, yff thei be pasyng grete, thei acord to the dysposycion off ryghtffulnes and wodenes. But qwan thei be of amenabyl gretnes, moyste and schynyng, thei sygnyffye gret nobylnes and gret ymagynacionnys off wysdam, dysposycion also to wrathe and to drynkyng off wyne, gret dysyre off wurchyp; also thei sygnyfye manffulnes and hardynes;—and sqwyche maner off eyn, myne mayster Offaryasand in her talkyng to reporte euyl iff owte thei can gete
More-ouer, thei that in maner loke
Eyn the qwyche stare alwey, gret off qwantyte, thei betokyn vanyte and dulnes off wytt and frowardnes and leccherushed. Eyn the qwyche meue stylly, and offte stonde stylle demurely and louely, sumqwat moyst in the beholdyn, tho personys be meke, stodyerrys in vertuusnes and louyng; and sqwyche maner off eyn be pale or rede, with drynes,
Sumtyme yt happyth that the ouyr eye-lyd ys rysyng in the myddys in the maner off a tryangyl, thus
Afftyr the determynacion off the eyn, myn autour wrytyth off the erys, seying vndyr this forme: Gret erys, thei sygnyfye foltyschnes and onclennes off lyuyng. Smale erys, thei sygnyffye schrewdnes and frowardnes.
Thynne lyppys with a gret mowght, yff yt be so that the ouyr lyppe be in maner as a gouernur to the nedyr, extendyng ouer the neder, yt sygnyfyith strenght, manhed, boldenes, and hardynes. A mowght the qwyche ys smal off qwantyte with thynne lyppys sygnyffyith onmyghtynes, ferffulnes, and wylynes. Qwan the lyppys hange doune, as thow a man had no strenght to gouerne hem, thei sygnyfye deth neghyng nere; exsampyl take
Chekys the qwyche be fulle off flesch, replet with fatnes, be-tokyn onbownteusnes and frowardnes and dobylnes and hastynes. And qwan the chekys be very
The nose-thyrlys, qwan yt ys so that thei be scharp befforen, thei sygnyffye gret dysposycion to wrath and hastynes. Qwan yt ys so that the nose-thyrlys be pasyng thyk, thei betokyn onclennes off complexcion. Qwan yt ys so that the nosethyrlys be syder than the grystyl, thyk and ner to-gydyr, and so streyt that thei seme speryd, yff the schap owte-ward be rounde off thise nose-thyrlys, a myghty complexcion and manfulnes off hert. Qwan yt ys so that the nose comyth ryght doune fro the forhed, yt
The chyn qwan yt ys sclendyr and longe, yt sygnyfyith wrath and inward trowbyl. Thei that haue passyng smale chynnys, thei be enuyus and euer froward; he that hath a chyn the qwych ys very rownd betokynnyth a feynt hert and femynyne dysposycion. A chyn the qwyche ys foure-sqware, that ys named a clouyn chyn, betokynnyth manfulnes off hert; yff the chyn be large and longe yt sygnyffyith ymagynacionnys off dysseyt. That chyn ys most commendabyl, the qwyche ys clouyn in the myddys, the qwych bowyth noght to myche vpward nowdyr ys to longe.
A longe nek and a slender sygnyfyith that a body ocupiith hys mend
The throte, qwan yt ys lene and stondyth myche owte, that ys to sey, gretly apperyth, yt sygnyfyth dysposycion to be a gret spekere and fulle of wordys; yff yt be so that the throte be pleyn, that ys to sey, that no bone be apperyng but lytyl, yt sygnyffyith dysposycion to myrth and to gret sparyng;—but sqwyche a persone ys noght dysposyd to be hardy. Qwan yt ys so that the throte joynyth to the schuldyrrys on bothe sydys, that yt ys so fulle of flesch that the brest and the nek be both one, yt sygnyfyith foltyschnes, and that a man ys dysposyd to no kunnyng. And qwan yt ys so that the throte in maner ys dyuydyd fro the schuldyrrys, so that the ouer bone off the brest appere, yt sygnyfyith wysdam, clennes off complexcion and boldenes off hert.
The schuldrys, qwan thei be replet, ful of flesch, thei betokyn strengh of body and vertu; and qwan thei be sclender and pleyn with the bak, thei sygnyfye ferfulnes and febylnes off complexcion. Qwan thei be rounde and makyn a dale, as thei were brestys of women, in the myddys off the bakke, thei sygnyfye dysposycion to leccherry
Handys the qwyche be passyng soft sygnyfye that a body hath an abyl wytt to lerne, and thei sygnyffye leccherusnes. Handys the qwyche be schort of schap and made strongely, thei sygnyfye wysdam and strengh. Handys the qwyche be fatt, and hath schort fyngyrrys, thei sygnyfye ferffulnes and cowardyse. Handys the qwyche be thynne
Fingyrrys qwan thei be ful off flesch and joyne so nyghe to-gydyr, that the lyght may noght enter, yt sygnyffyith onclennes off complexcion; fyngyrrys the qwyche be knottyd and be in maner schouyd
Naylys the qwyche schyne, schewyng lyke a fatyd rede,
Abrest the qwyche ys large on euery syde and round, yff yt be large benethe be the stomak, yt sygnyfyith goode dysposycion. A brest the qwyche
The sydys, qwan thei be sclender and pleyn, thei sygnyfye ferffulnes; and thei that be fyllyd with flesch thei sygnyfye foltyschnes and hard wyttys. That part off the bak the qwyche ys fully ayens the brest, yff yt be streyght and narw, yt sygnyfyth febylnes and onmyghtynes. And yff that parte be fulle off flesch,
A bak the qwyche ys slendyr and be the wast fulle off flesch, yt sygnyfyith sekenes and foltyschnes. A bak the qwyche bowyth round, that yt bowyth in the schuldyrrys to the brest, yt sygnyfyith enuyusnes and malyce; and this tokyn ys most trwe, qwan a man goth myche stoupyng. A bak the qwyche ys myghtyly made, large in waxyng, yt sygnyfyith manlynes and strenght; but many sqwyche men, thei haue feynt hertys. Off home the bakkys be proporciond after the body, the qwyche ys noudyr to round, nowdyr to
The chyne off the bak, qwan yt ys flat benethe and fulle off sofft flesch, yt sygnyffyith femenyne dysposycion; the nedyr part of the chyne bothe
The thyis qwan thei be gret braunnyd and gret bonyd, thei sygnyfye gret strenght and boldenes. Qwan thei be fulfyllyd with soft flesch, thei sygnyfye an femenyne wyt. Thei that haue smale thyis with a soft skyn, thei be leccherus.
The kneyis, qwan thei bowe inward and mete to-gydyr qwan a body stondyth or goth, thei sygnyfye febylnes of complexcion. Qwan yt ys so that that part the qwyche ys nedyrrest off the thye, the qwyche ys be the hamme, be replet with flesch, yt sygnyfyith onwysdam and frowardnes. Qwan the kneys be fulle off flesch, thei sygnyfye a natural fole.
The calff off the leggys, qwan thei be smal, thei sygnyfye outragyusnes and passyng hastynes. Qwan the calff off the legge ys gret and full, thei sygnyffye strenght off body and lustynes off complexcion; and this tokyn ys most trwe qwan the calff and the legge be fulle off blwe veynys, grettely apperyng. Qwan the smale off the legge ys fulle off flesch, yt sygnyfyith onclennes off complexcion.
Feette, qwan thei be flat with a lowe instep and fulle off flesch, thei sygnyfye a foltysch persone; and yff the plante be ful off flesch, with this
Myne autourrys
The iiij meuyng ys natural, off the qwyche this capytyl determynyth. Thei the qwyche kepe longe pasys and make gret steppys, thei
The spyryte off lyfe, qwan yt ys qwiete and stylle, yt sygnyffyith in-ward thowghtys. Qwan the spyryte restyth longe with-in and gotht owte scharply and entryth scharpely, yt sygnyfyith inward sorw; qwan the spyryte ys greuusly soundyth, yt sygnyffyith hastynes and vyolens. The breth qwan yt ys thyk, yt sygnyffyith hardynes. They that with labour drawe her breth and yt abydyth schort qwyle with-inne, thei be off febyl complexcion.
The voys, qwan yt ys contynwally brokyn, as the sounde off a broken panne, the qwyche ys noght hole nowdyr in gretnes, nowdyr in smallenes, yt sygnyffyith foltyschnes and a deuourer off mete and drynk. Thei that begynne in ther speeche with a loude voyse and ende dryly ther speche, thei be dysseyuabyl and chongabyl. They that begynne ther speche with a sad voyse and ende a-loft with a scharp voyse, thei be fulle off wantoune dysyre, and fulle off nwe affeccionnys. They that haue holle voysys and speke lowe and fulle, with-owte brekyng or qwauerryng, yt sygnyffyith a manfful hert and wele norturyd and gret wytt; and yff yt bray or be brokyn, yt sygnyffye the contrary.
The colourys off men and women, most in general, be afftyr the regyonnys in the qwyche thei be browte forth, as wele as affter ther complexcionnys:
I rede in olde storiys this matere folwyng, the qwyche was kepte off, as a kalendere, off experte men, off the dysposycion off the yere folwyng afftyr Crystemes day, qwydyr
Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Sunday, the yere folwyng schuld preue vndyr this forme: the wyntyr folwyng schuld be fulle of wyndys; the somyr schuld be fayre and drye; that yere schuld be a kend wedyrryng for schepe, and also for ben; gret pes schuld be that yere in euery londe; that yere schuld be gret derth off vytaylys: he that ys born that day schuld be fortunat to the world, and lyue longe in prosperyte.
Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Moneday, the wyntyr
Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Tusday, many women schuld dey; that yere the wyntyr schuld be meruulus ful off soden tempestys, the qwyche schuld cause gret peryschyng off men and schyppys; the somyr schuld
Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Wedynnysday, the wyntyr ſoluyng schuld be harde and fulle of wyndys; the somer schuld be fayre and myry; that yere schuld be gret plente
Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Thursday, the wyntyr schuld be meruulus ful off wyndys, grete flodys, and gret tempestys; the somyr schuld be gode and drye, greynys and bestys schuld that yere multiplye; kyngys and lordys that yere schulde dey: he that ys born that day schuld be trwe and wele-wyttyd.
Iff Crystemes day falle on the Fryday, the begynnyng off the wyntyr schuld be herde, as for frost and snowe, and gret watyrrys, and the latter ende schulde be fayre; the somyr schuld be drye; that yere myche folke schuld endure gret peyne in her eyn; tho women the qwyche off longe were baren, that yere thei schuld be dysposyd to chyldbyrth; that yere bestys and frwtys off the erthe schuld multiply: he that ys born that day schuld be in gret labour and ouercome yt, and aftyr lyue in ese.
Iff Crystemes day falle on the Satyrday, the wyntyr folwyng schuld be fulle off tempestys, the bestys schuld dey for colde; that yere elde folke schuld ſaste dey; the somyr schuld be wete: he that ys born that day schuld neuer lyue tyl he were half elde; he that sekenyth that day schuld sone dey.
And thow yt be so that thei falle noght in thus Ynglond, as yt wryte here-be-ffore, yt may be trw in odyr cuntreys; ſor Ynglond ys but a smal yle off the world, in the loweste parte off the west,
As Haly
Diuersis de causis
The fyrste day off the mone ys fortunat to begynne euery god werk vpon; in qwyche wordys ye schal conseyue alle
That persone that ys born the fyrste day off the mone schuld be dysposyd to be wyse and dyscrete and longe lyffyd, dysposyd to haue gret vexacion and gret labour; but he schuld be gret labour owercome yt at the laste; that persone the qwyche takyth ony actual sekenes that day schuld long be vexyd ther-with, but at the laste he schuld with gret hardedes skape yt; qwat that a man dreme that nyght, but
The secunde day off the mone ys prosperus to begynne alle werkys vpon; he that weddyth a wyfe that
The thyrd day of the mone ys noght fortunat to begynne ony werke vp-on, for oudyr the werke schuld myscheue, or be ongratyus, or ellys yt schuld come to a froward ende; a man schuld no iurney take vp-on this day; yff a man take sekenes that day, late or neuer he schuld recouer; he that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to thefft and couetyse, and dey myscheuusly; yt ys parel to blede vp-on that day.
The fourthe day ys gode to begynne euery worldly ocupacion, and
The fyfte day ys noght spedeful to begynne ony werk vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld be lunatyk or ellys
The .vj. day off the mone ys lukky for hem that wul go an-huntyng and haukyng, yff the wedyr be temperat; he that ys born that day schuld be happy, to, goode, bolde, hardy, and wyse; yff a woman were born that day, sche schuld be fortunat to haue goode husbondys; yff a man falle in-to sekenes that day, yt schuld contynw longe tyme, but at the laste, in a coniuncion off the sunne and the mone, he schuld skape yt; and qwat that a man or a woman dreme, yt schuld be-falle with-in that yere; that day ys gode to begynne edyfying of placys, and to begynne alle odyr werkys, and eke to blede.
The .vij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; that persone
The viij ys fortunat to alle verkys; he that ys born that day schuld gretly be dysposyd to lecchery and to getyng off gode for a tyme, and afftyr that persone schuld haue gret travel and be schamyd, or he deyd; yff a man falle in sekenes that day, he schuld with-in foure days recouer and hele,
The .ix. day of the mone ys happy to begynne alle werkys vp-on; he that ys born that day schulde be gracyus and come to worchyp, and be dysposyd to haue gret wytt; qwat that a man dremyth that day, the symylytude schuld be-tyde with-in .xij. days
The .x. day ys gode to begynne alle werkys, to make cunnauntys, to pase with marchaundyse the see, and to wedde a wyffe; he that ys born that day schuld neuer be stedfast, but alwey wandryng fro one cuntre to a-nodyr, neuer that persone schuld haue prosperyte; he that takyth sekenes vp-on that day, with-in .viij. dayis schuld recure or ellys dey; yt ys gode bledyng vp-on that dey; qwat that a man dremyth that nyght schuld turne to vanyte.
The .xj. day ys gode to begynne alle werkys; he that ys borne that day schuld be fortunat to gode and a gret purchasour, kend off hert, sad and stabyl; he that fallyth seke vp-on that day schuld sone recouyr; this day ys happy to by and to selle vp-on, and yt ys fortunat to sett chyldyr to skole, and to wedde a wyfe; qwat that nyght a man dremyth schuld turne to trwth with-in foure days, be summe symylytude; yt ys gode bledyng vp-on this day.
The .xij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on,
The .xiij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys, jn specyal for astronomerys to calcule; a man-chyld that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to be evyl tecchyd and to be angry and vycyus, but he schuld lyue but schort tyme; a woman that ys born that day schuld gretly be dysposyd to lecchery, or ellys sche schuld dey sone aftyr her byrth; qwat that a man dremyth schuld turne to trwth with-in .viij. wekys; yt ys gode bledyng vp-on that day.
The .xiiij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys; he that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to be wyse and ryche and stronge and schort off lyfe; yff a man falle in-to
The .xv. day ys noght spedeful to be-gynne ony werke vp-on, for yt ys ongracyus; and myne autour seyth that a man schuld send hys seruaunt
The .xvj. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on to bye, and to selle, and to wedde a wyfe; he that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to be gracyus and trwe, and of longe lyfe, but he schuld noght be ryche; he that fallyth to sekenes that day schuld be longe seke, but at the laste he schuld recure; qwat that a man dremyth that nyght, the symylytude schuld falle with-in .iij. yere; yt ys gode bledyng that day.
The .xvij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld be off gode condycionnys and meke and neuer but lytyl in trowbyl, but alwey lyfe in prosperyte, longe tyme; this day
The .xviij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld be malycyus, dysposyd to malyce, and froward off condycionys, and dysposyd to pride, but he schuld lyue but schort tyme; he that fallyth seke that day schuld be longe seke and off hard recouer; qwat
The .xix. day ys gode and happy to begynne alle werkys vp-on, in specyal to bye and to selle, and to pase the see; he that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to be wyse and trwe and euer to lyve in prosperyte; thow a man falle in-to sekenes that
The .xx. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld gretly encrece in worldely goodys, and be dysposyd to be sotel off wytt and fortunat; also he that fallyth seke that day schuld dye with-in .viij. owrys, yff he were born that day, or ellys with-in a monthe.
The .xxj. day ys fortunat; he that ys born that day schuld be myghty off complexcion, and off gret wytt, dysposyd to lecchery and to many odyr vycys; he that fallyth seke that day schuld dey off that sekenes; and qwat that a man dremyth that nyght schuld turne to trwth be sum symylytude; yt ys gode to blede that day.
The .xxij. day ys on-gracyus to begynne ony werke vp-on, saue only to bye and to selle; yt ys parel to pase the see on that day; he that ys born that day schuld gretly be dysposyd to lecchery, dysposyd eke to haue gret troubyl; yff a man take sekenes that day, he schuld dye ther-off; and qwat that nyght a man dremyth schuld turne to trwth be sum symylytude; yt ys proffytabyl to blede that day.
The .xxiij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld gretly be dysposyd to vyeys, and moste in specyalle to lecchery, and he schuld dye myscheuusly; yt ys
The xxiiijti day ys gode to begynne euery werke vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld be wyse and come to wurchyp
The .xxv. day ys fortunat to go on huntyng, to bye and to selle; he that ys born that day schuld be couetus and meruulus off condycionnys, and alwey be in nede and pouerte, and neuer stedffast, but alwey wandryng fro one cuntre to a-nodyr; yt ys parel to pase the see this day; this day ys eke in-ffortunat to begynne ony thing vp-on, excepte this thingys expressyd be-ffore; yff man or woman falle seke vp-on this day, they schuld neuer be clene ther-off; qwat that a man dremyth schuld turne to truth with-inne foure dayis; yt ys gode to blede that day.
The .xxvj. day ys for to hunte vp-on for dere in forestys, but yt ys noght fortunat to wedde a wyfe, noudyr to pase the see, ner fortunat to begynne ony werke vp-on; he that ys born that day schuld fynde grace in womennys eysyte; he schuld be dysposyd to be hardy
The .xxvij. day ys fortunat to begynn alle werkys
The .xxviij. day ys fortunat to begynne alle werkys vp-on; qwat chyld that be born that day schuld lyue with gret trauel, euer bysy and euer in trybulacion, but he schuld be
The .xxix. day ys nowder gode ner fortunat to begynne ony werke vp-on; a manchyld that ys born that day schuld be fortunat to gret wurchyp, but he schuld be dysposyd to lecchery, and he schuld be made thru maryage; yff a woman be born that day, sche schuld be demure and beuteus and schamfast, and sche schuld come to gret wurchyp yn maryage; yff a man falle in-to sekenes that day, he schuld sone recure; and qwat that a man dremyth schuld turne to gode; a man may blede that day.
The .xxx. day ys fortunat to set chyldyr to scole, to bye and to selle, to fabryffye howsys, and to begyn alle worldly ocupacionnys; and to pase the see with marchaundyse; he that ys born that day schuld be dysposyd to be wyse, and gretly to
But off this boke off destenyis ye schal conceyue, noght-with-stondyngys, that here ys wrytyn how a man or woman schuld be dysposyd that be born sundry days off the mone, qwydyr to wurchyp or infortune; ye schal noght syngulerely for trwth take yt that yt schuld be so; for euyl rwele may cause that a man schal neuer come to wurchyp, thow he be born to come to wurchyp; and off inffortune vndyr the lyke forme.
But this ye may yeue for trwthe, as for a ryght dome, that yff a man or a woman be born on sqwyche a day off the mone, ye schal