Works of John Metham : (Amoryus and Cleopes, &c.) / edited by Hardin Craig

PALMISTRY. GARRETT MS.

[leaf 1 a.]

Thales Mylesyes, ["Thales Mylesyes": probably Thales of Miletus, to whom many and various works were attributed in the Middle Ages. Among the wide variety of authorities for Palmistry whom I have seen referred to, he does not elsewhere appear; see Introduction. ] the qwyche was the fyrst phylysophyre in the cyte of Atene, be the ansqwere off god Appollo, fyrst dyd wryte the syens off cyromancy in the langage of Parce, and mastyr Arystotyl tranlatyd yt owte of Parce into Grwe; and owte of Grw, doctor Aurelyan, the qwyche was born in Itayle, tranlatyd this syens in-to Latyne; and owte of Latyne, Jon Metham, sympyl scoler of philosophye, tranlatyd yt in-to Englysch, the xxvti wyntyr off hys age, prayng alle the rederrys of pacyens for the rwde endytyng: for as myne autore pleynly endytyth in Latyne, so ys my purpose pleynly to endyte in Englysch. And in hys begynnyngmyne autoure makyth this dystyncion, seyng on this wyse:

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 [leaf 1 b.] myddys off the hand.

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 hys hylle; Mars, the lytyl fyngyr with hys hylle, and the tabyl lyne.

Atryangyl that ys off one length, evyn on alle partys wele colouryd, and yff yt be with-inne fulle off lynys, the qwyche lynys be wele colouryd, yt betokynnyth bodyly strengh and bold off herte.

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.

[leaf 2 a.]

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

complexcion; and thus off alle odyr syngnys qwere that this terme ys wrytyn the contrarei, ye schal applye yt afftyr the reson goyng be-fore. And yff the ryght parte off the tryangyl, that ys to sey the ryght lyne, be lenger than the lefte ys, yt sygnyfyith that thei the qwyche haue that tokyn schuld dye a fayre deth and gret prosperyte tyl ther lyffys endyng.

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 membrys in a man; but the persone that hath this tokyn seldum or neuer brynge ony werke to the ende. And yff this lyne be smalle, yt sygnyfyith wysdam and a gode wytt, and yff yt be brode and euyl colouryd, yt sygnyfyith the contrary.

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 [leaf 2 b.] inordynatly, be gret and rede, yt sygnyfyith gret dysposycion to lecchery. And yff ther be foundyn in the same lyne this tokyn, O,—that man or woman schuld lese ther one eye; and iff tweyne swyche appere, that persone schuld lese bothe ther eyn.

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

foure princypalle lynys: Yff the colour be red, the sygnyfycacion ys for to come; and yff yt be pale and lytyl may be seyn, or elles strekyn thorwgh with on lyne or with many lynys, owdyr the sygnyfycacion ys pasyd, or yt stondyth to none effecte.

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.

[leaf 3 a.]

The myd lyne yff yt be ryght and depe and wel colouryd, yt sygnyfyith helth and godnes off complexcion and an excellent wytt.

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 begynnyng off the myd lyne ther be a streke wele colouryd procedyng ffro thens to the hyl of the schewyng ffynger yt sygnyfyith ryches in the fyrste age; [leaf 3 b.] and yff yt procede from thens to the myd fynger, yt sygnyfyith ryches in the mydyl age; and yf yt procede to the lest fyngyr, yt betokynnyth ryches in the laste age.

And qwan the myd lyne ys ryght and longe, suffycyently depe alleso and euyn and wele colouryd, yt sygnyfyth a mygthi stomake, myrth and hardynes. And yff this tokyn be noght as yt ys here specyfyid, yt sygnyfyith the contrary,—that ys to sey, a febyl stomake, heuynes and ferfulle.

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 in generally.

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 [leaf 4 a.] make tweyne partys off the tryangyl and makyn also the fyrste cornere.

Iff the fyrste cornere off the tryangyl pase noght the space the qwyche ys betwene the shewyng fyngyr and the longe

fyngyr, yt sygnyfyith euyl dysposycion off a mannys consyens, gretly dysposyd to extorcionnys and vycys.

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 [leaf 4 b.] a gret wytt and lenght off lyffe.

And yff this tokyn appere in ony parte off the triangyl

[figure]

, yt sygnyfyith that a man schuld be hange be the nek; and yff a woman hath this tokyn sche schuld die myscheuusly in fyre or watyr.

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

herte; and yff yt be pale, yt betokynnyth envyusnes and detraccion.

And yff this lyne turne vpryght be-twene the schewyng fyngyr and the longe fyngyr, yt betokynnyth that a man schuld dye off a wounde, or ellys off the flyx. And yff a woman haue this tokyn, yt sygnyfyith that sche schuld dye off longe contynwauns …Erasure of 2 words in the MS., the first of which is "of."; and the phylosophyrseyth that yt ys necessary that women schuld haue this sekenes, off corupt blode and odyr matere to avoyde hem, the qwyche, yff thei abydyn, schuld cause gret sekenes in hem.

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 [leaf 5 a.] be set in physyk than here. More-ouer myne autour seyth that yff a woman that hath this forsayd tokyn dey noght off superfluyte off the sekenes, sche schuld dey of the retencion, or ellys off chyldberth.

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

sygnyfyith that he or sche that haue this tokyn be infortunat to wurchypps.

And qwan this lyne goth to the hyl off the schewyng fynger [leaf 5 b.] and endyth ther, and at the ende ther be many lynys turnyng douneward to the thombe, yt sygnyfyith, yff yt be man or woman, that thei loue gretly the lustys off the flesch.

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 schuld be in the tryangyl: but this I say, that the hed off the tabyl lyne may conuenyently be clepyd the busch, as be the tokynnys that folwe; therffore thus,—yff ther dyssende lynys fro the tabyl lyne to the myd lyne, thei sygnyfye couetyse, flatyrry, and dysseyuabylnes; and that he that hath this spekyth fayre before folke, and behynde hem he or sche detractyth hem.

And yff one .i. or too .ii. or many descendyng ffro the tabyl lyne and entyr in-to the space that ys withine the triangyl, off qwat degre sumeuer that persone be, yt sygnyffyith that he schuld be in sqwyche case that, for the wrecchydnes and trybulacion he schuld be yn, he schuld dysyre offtyn hys owne detht to be delyuerryd.

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 the myd lyne and pase no fferthere, that persone schuld be in perel off deth and in gret fere; but he schuld be holpyn be a woman.

And yff this lyne be ffule off strekys lyke to a [leaf 6 a.] sterre *, yt betokynnyth gret lustynes and delytys off the flesch; and eke yt sygnyfyith that thei the qwyche haue this tokyn loue to be magnyffyid and praysyd and to be worchyppyd and to be made myche off.

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.

The fyrste ys clepyd the systyr off the triangyl, and yt hath ther the begynnyng in the lower parte and ascendyth vp to the fyngyr off Saturne; and this lyne ys namyd the saturnyne.

But ye schal conceyue that dyuerse personys haue noght thise lynys, nowdyr many odyr that I speke off here; therfore thei that haue noght thise lynys be nowdyr dysposyd to haue gret wurchyp, noudyr to haue myche aduersyte.

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 ys inspocyal hys oune deffaute; oudyr that God ys dysplesyd with hym, or that he stondyth noght in the fauyr off the world for hys mysgouernauns: for sum man ys dysposyd to vycys, as to theff, glotenye, or lecchery, or to odyr vycys; [leaf 6 b.] and yyt with laboure and vertuus ocupacion, he withstondyth hem; therefore noght only be dysposicion off nature, but also be grace.

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 [MS. sign for ra, here and below.] off strekys alyke longe, it sygnyfyith helth off body. And yff one off the strekys be lenger than anodyr, yt sygnyfyith the contrary.

And yff in the qwadrangyl be ffoundyn a fygure lyke to this

[figure]

, yt sygnyfyith trwthe and schamfastnes. And that the persone the qwyche hath this tokyn ys ryteful and wele lyuyng afftyr here powere. And yff the persone the qwyche hath this tokyn fylle in-to pouerte, he schuld recouer and come to prosperyte.

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. tryangyllys, thei betokyn the [leaf 7 a.] contrary, that ys to say prosperyte.

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 thombe, yff yt be rounde and large, yt sygnyffyith godenes off complexcion and dysposycion to lecchery.

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 [MS. sign for ra.] parte thise lyne apperyth, in the fyrste, mydyl, or laste, in the lyke agys, yt sygnyffyith ryches.

And yff ther be foure lynys vpon the wryste, yff ony off tho foure pase iuste vp be the thombe, yt sygnyfyith wurchyppys in the fyrste age. And the ferther that ony off thise lynys be departyd in dystauns fro the thombe, the lenger tyme [leaf 7 b.] yt schuld be or a man schuld come to wurchyp.

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 iff the …Erasure in MS. be fulle of lynys, yt sygnyffyith …Erasure in MS. [The Garrett MS. here and at p. 106, l. 34, has been erased. ]

And yff many lynys be foundyn vpon the thombe, comyng fro the bak off the hand,—yff thei be depe, thei sygnyfye gret frenchyp with straunge folke.

And yff in the hylle off the thombe ther ys [MS. ys with er written above, so that the y of ys serves for the thorn of ther.] ffounde a tokyn lyke a sterre, yt sygnyfyith lecchery bothe in man and woman.

And yff in the same hylle sqwyche a fygure be ffounde

[figure]

, it sygnyffyith ryches and wurchyp after a mannys degre be or a womannys.

And yff within the triangyl, or ny the tryangyl, ther be [leaf 8 a.] founde a fygure lyke to this

[figure]

[The figure in MS. is like y, or thorn.] , yt sygnyfyith sekenes to

come within schort tyme and wurchyp; and princypally yff this tokyn be rede.

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 [leaf 8 b.] that thei may noght esyly be seyn, yt ys an evydente tokyn that the worchyppys be past, or ellys off lettyng.

And yff lynys pase fro the myd lyne vp to the hylle off the schewyng fynger, thei sygnyfye schamfastnes and trwthe.

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 …Erasure in MS. of almost a line [The Garrett MS. here and at p. 104, ll. 22, 23, has been erased. ]

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

[figure]

, yt sygnyfyith trybulacion and a febyl brayn.

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, [leaf 9 a.] thei sygnyfye [MS. bottom f. 8 b thei sygnyfye.] gret laboure.

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 many syens. And thise lynys betokyn also wurchyppys and dygnyteys. And yff thise

lynys be kytt, they sygnyfye lettyng and hyndrauns or a body come to wurchyppys or dygnyteys. And yff thise lynys ascende noght ryght vp, thei sygnyfye promocion in ocupacion.

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 [leaf 9 b.] this foresayd fynger and yt be ryght and wele colouryd and withowte kyttyng off odyr lynys, yff yt be longe that yt pase the ioynt, yt sygnyfyith prosperyte.

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.Pur bon courexpand_less

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 [leaf 10 a.] thise lynys be kytt with odyr lynys, the sygnyfycacion ys paste.

And as many ryght lynys as ther be founde off thise for-and

so many maydynnys a man schuld haue to wyfys; and yff thei be crokyd, so many wydowys.

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 sygnyfyiththe contrary.

In this capytyl determynyth myn autour off proporcionyngoff fyngyrrys, seyng on this wyse:

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 [leaf 10 b.] sygnyffye malyce, dyscordauns, frowardnes, and enuyusnes loyal et grace deneur d (with curl)expand_less.

Smale naylys, longe and rede, betokyn godenes off wytt and sotelnes de bon socialte.expand_less.

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 artunel tant au ƚi.expand_less.5

There-fore yff the lyne artunele the qwyche ys with-in the ioynte off the thombe mete or ioyne with the lyne artunele the

ys with-owte the thombe, yt sygnyffyith that a man schuld be hange be the nek. damesel bon et bele.expand_less

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 hath ben in parel off watyr.

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

[figure]

sygnyfyith vse off lecchery.

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, [leaf 11 a.] or owdyr sekenes in alle thiys.

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 removethe 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 ys scole matyr set vndyr the forme off arguyng, leggyng to forteffye hys materrys thise philysophyrys: Talitem, Platonem, ["Platonem, Arystotelem, and Albertum." The quotation of these three names in the Accusative Case by Metham, perhaps without his recognizing them, seems to indicate that he is actually following a Latin MS. He betrays a degree of weakness with regard to his sources in his omission of 'scole matyr', l. 31, also observable in the treatise on Physiognomy. See following note. On the subject of the authorities for Palmistry, see Introduction. ] Arystotilem, and Albertum; and more-ouer, he schewyth be werkyng off nature alle hys conclusyonnys and sundry tokynnys the qwyche make no remembrauns

off: As to schewe be tokynnys qwydyr a womman that hath none husbonde be a mayde or [leaf 11 b.] noght; and eke yff a woman hath conceyuyd a man chyld or a may chylde and off dyuerse odyr thingys, the qwyche I omytt. ["the qwyche I omyt." Metham here indicates extensive omissions, and it is clear, from an examination of the current Latin treatises of his time and a comparison of them with Metham's work, that he has in general omitted the more difficult and complicated parts of his original; see Introduction.] But ye schal conceyue that ther be in dyuerse creaturys handys lynys and tokynnys off the qwyche myne autour spekyth noght off; but be thise pryncypal lynys the qwyche be wrytyn in this tretyse, ye may geue a ryght dome off the dysposycion off man and woman, qwereto thei be dysposyd owdyr to haue prosperyte or aduersyte, to be ryche or pore, to be chaste or to be leccherus, as the dysposycion off the worlde askyth,—off alle thus and many odyre this boke makyth mencion.

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 pryncypaltokynnys off a man be in hys ryght hand, and off a woman in her lefte hand.

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 Metham.1

Here endyth the syens off cyromancy. Quod Jon Metham ... Metham.

[(Here follow on the two sides of folio 12 two drawings in red ink of hands, then four blank leaves in MS.) ]