Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson

Of the Science of Physnomye. Capitulum Lviijm.

pHysnomye is a science to deme the condycions or vertues and maneres of Pepill, aftyr the toknesse or syngnesse that apperyth in facione or makynge of body, and namely of visage and of the voyce and of the coloure. One lyght manere and general of Phisnomye is to deme vertues and maneris of man aftyr the conpleccion̄. Compleccions bene iiije for a man is sangyne, or flevmatike, or colerike, or malyncoly. And ryth vp thes foure [folio 63b] complexcions of foure Humours [folio 67L] of the body, whyche answaryth to the foure Elementes, And to the foure tymes of the yeere. The bloode Is hotte and moysti to the lyckenesse of the heiere; ffleme is colde and moysti aftyr the kynde of the watyr; Colre hoote and drye aftyr kynde of fyre; Malancoly colde and dry aftyr kynde of erthe. The sangyne by kynde sholde lowe Ioye laghynge, and company of women, and

moche Slepe and syngynge: he shal be hardy y-nowe, of good will and wythout malice: he shalbe flesshy, his complexcion̄ shalbe lyght to hurte and to empeyre for his tendyrnesse, he shall haue a goode stomake, good dygescion̄, and good delyueraunce: and yf he be wovndid he shalbe sone be holde, he shall be fre and lyberall, of fayre semblaunt and dylyuer ynowe of body. The fleumatyke by kynde he sholde be slowe, sadde, ful stille, and Slowe of answere: febill of body, lyghtly falle in palsey; he shalbe grete and fatte, he shalle haue a febill stomake, febil dygestion̄, and good delyueraunce. And as touchynge maneres he shal be piteuouse, chaste, and lytill desyre company of women. The colerike by kynde he sholde be lene of body, his body is hote and drye, and he shalbe Sumwhat rogh; and lyght wrethe and lyght to Peyse; of sharpe witte, wyse and of good memorie, a grette entremyttere, fulle-large and foolehardy, delyuer of body, hasty of worde and of answere; he louyth hasty wengeaunce; Desyrous of company of women moore than hym nedyth. he sholde haue a stomake good y-nowe, namely in colde tyme. The Malencoly man sholde be lene of body and dry, he sholde haue [folio 67bL] good appetyde of mette, and comonely he Is a glotoun̄ and good̛ delyueraunce hathe of his belly. And as touchynge maneris, he sholde ben̄e pensyfe and Slowe, and of stille wille, still and dredfull, and a smalle entremyttere. More latre Is he wourthe than a colerike man, but he holdyth longyr wreth; he is of̘ sotille ymagynacion as of hand-werkys, And well arne wonyd the malencolik men to be Suttill werkmen. The sangyn̄ men shulde bene ruddy of coloure. The flevmatike whyte and Pale, The colerike sholde haue yalowe coloure Sumwhate medelit with rede, The malencolike sholde be Sumwhate blake and pale.

Of whyte coloure.

wHite coloure Svmwhate medelite wyth rede in a man, tokenyth that he is hote of kynde, and of sangyne compleccion̄ but rede coloure tokenyth complexcion̄ wel temperit, yf Suche coloure be in al the body noght roghe. This sayth aristotle here sortely, but here-aftyr he will hit say mor opynly.

Of Physnomye aftyr the here.

nesshe heere tokenyth a dredfulle, and harde here tokenyth hardy and stronge, and that apperyth in dyuers bestys. For an hare and a sheppe bene ful gastefull, and haue full nesshe here. And the lyone and a boore bene full stronge, and haue stronge here. Also in fowles, by kynde tho whyche haue harde federes bene stronge and corageous, as a cooke, And tho that haue nesshe pennes bene dredfull, as turtures ben̄e and curlyours. So Is of dyuers Pepille aftyr the Place whyche thay dwellyth In. For thay that dwellyth towarde the northe, bene stronge and coragious, and haue harde here. And tho [folio 68L] whyche dwellyth towarde the Sowthe, bene gastefull and haue nesshe here, as thay of Ethiopy. Plente of here aboute [abouute in MS.] the wombe tokenyth a Iangloure and full of wordys, and thay bene lykenyd to birdys whyche haue Plente of federis in the wombe.

Of complexcioun of Flessh, ut sequitur.

[folio 64] [At top of page, Capitulum Quinquagessimum octauum.]

hArde flesshe throgh al the Body tokenyth a man of Lytill Vndyrstondynge, Suche ben̄e the grete karlis massies, whyche bene of harde vndyrstondynge, but thay bene good to workes. Flesshe in tempure neshe, noght slake, tokenyth good vndyrstondynge; but if hit be ful nesshe and slake as women bene, tokenyth a chaungeabill man and variaunt: but yf suche flesshe be founde in a stronge man of body, hauynge stronge extremyteeȝ, ne tokenyth not that wych y aforsayde.

Of complexcione aftyr the mevynge.

slowe mewynge tokenyth a dulle and slowe vndyrstondynge, and quyke mevynge and delyuere, tokenyth good vndyrstondynge and hasty witte.

Of the complexcione o voyce als hit folwyth her nexste.

agrete voyce and wel y-harde, like a trompe, tokenyth an hardy man and bolde: a smale voyce and febille like a womanes voyce tokenyth a feynte man. And therfor the stronge beestis and hardy haue stronge voyces and hey, As lyones, bullis, and houndes; and kokkes whyche bene strongyr than othyr and more corageous, syngyth heyghere and more strongyr. Of the hare we seene the contrary.

Of the coloureof the visage hit Is here to witte.

whan a man hath a visage y-like and of coloure as lye of fyre, he Is wrathfull, and by kynde [folio 68bL] he sholde be lyght to wrethe. The forsayde tokeness of figures and mevynges and likenesse of vissage byth moste certayn̄ amonges al othyr tokenesse. And hit Is to witte to deme a man aftyr oone tokyn̄ hit Is grete foly, but thou shalt rewarde al the tokenys, and yf many or al accordyth than mayste thou than moore Surely deme; and whate Parte the moste of syungnes and tokenys ham holdyth, holte the to that Parte.

The tokenesse of stronge Corage.

alevyn tokenys bene whych tokenyth Streynth and corageous. The fryste is harde heere; the seconde Is evyn̄ stature of body; the iije grete stature of bonys and rybbes, and of handys and of fette; the iiije Is a large belly and to hym retreted̛; The v grete braons and massy; the vje a Synnevey neke and grete, and noght myche fatte; the vije Is a grete breste and brode, vprerid̛ and Sumwhate fatte; the viije large haunges of good proporcion; the ixe eghyn̄ grey or broune, y-lyke a camail here, that bene noght ouermoche opyn̄ ne cloos; The xe broune coloure in al the body; The xje a sharpe straght farred, noght gretly lene ne al full, nethyr al frouncet.

The tokenesse of a dredful or a feynte man benex; fryste, als follwyth:

NEsshe heere; the ije a man stowpynge. and noght vpryght; the iije whan the entraillis of the wombe gone vp abowe the nawle; the iiije Is yolow coloure in the face meddelite with palnesse; the v Is febill lokynge of the egℏ and closynge; The vje lytill extremytes; The vije Is longe hondes and smale; [folio 69L] The viije smale reynes and febille; The ixe a man lyghtely agastnet; The xe is ouerlyghtely mevynge of coloure and semblante, and haue semblant to be Pensyfe, and full of thoghtes.

The tokenesse of good complexcioun.

tHe fryste tokyn̄ of good complexcion̄ Is temperid flesshe betwen̄e nesshe and harde, and namely be-twen lene and fatte. The ije tokyn̄ Is that a man be leene in the neke and in

al the braones of the body. The iije Is that the visage be opyn̄ and wel departid̛. The iiije Is [folio 64b] [At top of page:‐Capitulum Quinquagessimum Octauum. Lviijm.] that the Vysage Be opyn̄ and well depertyd̛. The fourthe Is that the rybbis Bene wel departid or Seueret and wel taillet. The ve Is that a man haue quyke coloure. The vje Is that he haue a softe and a tendyr skynne. The vije Is that the bake ne be not flesshe. The viije Is that the heere ne be not ouer harde, ouer-charce, ne ouer blake. The ixe Is that he haue blake eighyn̄ othyr broune, Sumwhate moiste.

The tokenys of ille complexcioun.

the fryste Is a man ouerchargid wyth flesshe aboute the neke and the leggis fro the kneys evile y-seueret. The ije a grete farret rounde as the draght of a cumpas. and fleshy. The iije yelow eighyn̄. The iiije grete chekes and fleshy: the ve fleshy reyns: the vje longe legges: the vije a fatte neke, and the visage fleshy and straght.

The tokenys to know shamels men.

fRyst opyn̄ eighyn̄ and glysinynge, and the eighliddes full of blode and grete and shorte; Hey vprerid shuldris; the body Sumwhate Stowpynge.

The tokenys of honest men̄.

the honeste and the shamefast man Is circumspecte and̛ wyse in al his dedys, ruddy of colure as sanguyne, the visage is rounde, the breste Sumwhate vprerid̛, tarynge of speche, the voyceful [folio 69bL] and stronge, the eighyn̄ stydfaste and Sumwhate broune, and not glysinynge ne ouer-oppyn̄ ne ouerclose, and that his eighen ne cloose not to often-tymes. Tho thynges bene tokenyd by the eighen, othyr that a man Is dredful or vicyous.

The tokenys of the Corageous.

the tokenys of the coragious ben̄e a grete forhede and flesshy and full, and he lokyth not ouer sharpe as doth woode men, ne ouer dedly as dothe the cowarde; Fayre of visage and wel disposid̛ laat of mevynge, and Slow to take nedys but yf thay bene grete.

The tokenys of the cowarde.

a Lytill vysage and leene, and frouncet, lytill eighyn̄ dede lokynge, lytille of stature and lowe, and of febill mevynge; thes bene the tokenys of cowardy.

Of the tokenys of thralle.

oNsemely eighen and frouncet, the hede bowynge towarde the right syde, knelynge to euery man for noght, the mewynges of his haundys bene vnsemely, dishordeynyt, and his goynge also bene tokenys of the thralle.

The bittyr man.

The tokenys of the bittyr man; he hath the hede bowynge and Stowpynge as a man pensyfe and fulle of thoght, he is blake of coloure, a lene visage and frounset, noght rogh, and blake here smothe.

The angry man.

The angry man Is wonyt to be of straght body and corageous, that Is to witte, full of hotte Spyrit, and therfor he Is fulhardy, Sumwhate ruddy of coloure, Grete shuldres and large, grete extremyteȝ [entremyteȝ, MS.] and stronge, and noght moche rogh the breste, a semely chyne and accordynge to the visage, and liggyne here. Who-so ne hym wrethyth whan he sholde, and theras he sholde, and agaynys tham ther as he sholde, he nys noght a man of [folio 70L] ryght witte: thus fynde y writtyn̄, but me-thynkyth that suche wrathe sholde cvm charite, wronges to restrayne.

The benure man.

The condycions of the benure man Is shewid Pryncipaly by his lokynge, and comynly he Is flesshy and hath moiste flesℏ, and he Is of meene stature and wel mesurid, and he hath Sumwhate lowe here and and Sumwhate scarse.

Of the smale herte.

The tokenys of a lowe herte bene lytill visage, lytill eighen, and lytill othyr lymes of the body; and lene y-flesshide.

The chyderis.

The chyderis bene wonyd to haue the oer-lippe grete and lollynge ouer the emyste [folio 65] Lyppe, of coloure Sumdell rede Hare Visage.

The tokenesse of the Pyteous and merciabil man.

pyteous and merciabill man tokenyth whitte coloure, and cleene, the eighen redy to wepe, gladly they lowyn pyteous stories and newe, and ham Puttyth in mynde, and whan thay hyryn Pyteous stories lyghtely thay wepyth, And namely aftyr wyne. they bene Parcewynge wythout malice, thy lowyn̄ women, and ofte they gettyth doghteris. In prouerbis hit Is sayde, that the Piteous man hath iije vertues, that Is to witte, wysdome, drede and honeste, and the tyraunt or the cruell man, the contrary.

The Lechurere.

The lechure ofte-tymes Is whyte of coloure, the heere rogh, grete, and blake; rogh temples, fatte heyghen, and rollynge Swyftly in syght like a wode man; of suche lokynge bene bestis in ruthe.

The slepere.

The slepere oft-tymes haue grete hedis, grette nekkis, and thay arne Sum-whate fatte of body and fleshy, and rogh al aboute the wombe.

The myndefulleman.

Of good mynde bene thay comynly, that haue the lymmes mor large and moore corssife and moore flesshe fro the Ioyntures [folio 70bL] vpwarde, than fro the yontures downwarde; they haue rounde hedis wel amesurid to the body.

Condicions of women.

tHe moste opyn̄ dyuersite in bestis Is that oone Is male and that othyr female, and aftyr thay dyuersyteis we vndyrstondyth that the maners and vertues of euery othyr chaungid. For amonge al bestis that bene nuryshid or dauntid by witte of man, the femalis bene moste mekyste and lyghtiste to teche and leste worthy. And noght for that they bene moste febill of body and leste of Pouer ham to defende, and the same Is hit wilde bestis. But women beene more meuabill and

dyuers, namely fro male than men bene. For like as thay bene more febill of̘ body and of complexcion̄, so in the same maner they bene endowid lasse of reyson̄. And therfore lyghtly they [we in MS.] wixen̄ wrothe, and askyth hastely wengeance; And full yll they mowen wythstonde temptacion̄, and namely temptacion̄ Of fleshly delyte.

The tokenys of the feete.

Who-so hath the fete well shappyn̄, grete toes and synnowy, sholde bene stronge and hardy, for he hath the condicion̄ of the male. he that hath lytill fete and streyte, shorte toes and noght synewy, and more delycious to se than stronge fette, thay bene febill and feynte, and like to women. And he that hath crokid toes, comynly is shameles, and like in manere to byrdis, that wythout shame taken har Prayes.

The tokenys of the Ancles.

Thay men whych haue synowy ancles and opyn sholde ben corageous, and the haue the condycion of the male, and tho whych haue fleshly ancles and not opyn̄, bene nesse of corage an lyke to women.

[folio 71L]

Thokenys of the legge.

Tho men whyche haue wel-makyd and synowy and stronge legges, shold be corageous, and haue the condycion̄ of male; and tho men whyche haue smale legges and synnowy bene luchrus; and tho men wyche haue ouer lytill kneis they bene stronge of corage like as women bene, and that apperyth by thare facion̄.

Tokenys of the theghes.

[folio 65b] [At top of page:‐"Capitulum Quinquagessimum octauum. Lviijm."] Tho men Whych haue bonny theghes and Synnowy, bene stronge aftyr the Propirte of male, And tho men whyche haue fleshly theghes and not bony, they bene nesshe aftyr the Propyrte of women.

Tokenys of the breste.

Tho men whyche haue bony brestis and sharpe, thay sholde bene stronge; And tho men whych haue flesshly and fatte brestis bene nesshe men. And tho that haue the flesshe of the bretis lytill and dry bene ille-ymanerite and bene lykenyd to apys.

Of the bely.

Tho men whyche haue belyes menly fatte and not grete, bene stronge and of good complexcion̄, and haue the Propirteis of male, And thay whych haue leen belies and hungri, beene nesse.

Of the chynne.

Tho men whyche haue grete chynnes bene stronge and hardy, and haue propyrteis of male, And tho that haue the chynne smale and febille bene nesshe and lyke to women.

Of the Ribbys.

Tho men whych haue goode ribbys bene stronge and hardy aftyr the Propirte of the male, And tho whych haue febill Ribbis bene aftyr the Propyrte of women; tho that haue ribbis bocchynge owtwardes like as they weryn̄ y-swolle, bene yanglours, and folis in wordys, and bene like frusshes and toodes.

Of the shuldres.

Tho men whych haue shuldres heygh vp-rerid, the synnowes and braones apperynge, they bene stronge and hardy aftyr [folio 71bL] the propyrties of the male; And tho that haue the contrary bene aftyr the Propyrteys of women. And thay that haue the shuldres hangynge downe-ward and welle taillet, bene fre and lyberall; And they whyche haue the contrary, bene harde and hungry.

Of the Neke.

Tho men whych haue the neke wel dystyncted by his yontes, and wel delyuerit, they bene of good̛ witte and good vndyrstondynge, for that tokenyth good vndyrstondynge and delyuernesse of witte, and that thay Parcewyth lyghtely the mevynges of witte. And thay that hath the neke of contrary makynge and dysposycion̄, bene of Slow witte. A grete Neke noght fatte tokenyth streynthe and hardynes aftyr the Propyrte of̘ man, And a smale neke the contrarie. A grete fleshy shorte neke tokenyth wrothynesse like as a bull Is; A longe neke and not ouer grete tokenyth corageous like a lyon̄; An ouer shorte neke tokenyth a gyloure and a deceyuoure like the wolfe.

Of the Lippes.

Who-so hath mene lippes betwixe thyknesse and thynne, and the homyste lippe comyth dovne and closyth to the Emyste lippe, he Is corageous and hardy, y-lykenyd to the lyon̄, and that a man may see in grete houndes and stronge. And tho that haue thyne lippes and harde aboute the teth, and the tethe vp-rerid̛ outward̛ apperynge, byth chorƚƚ and fowle, y-lykenyd to swyne; tho that haue grete lippes and that oone hangynge and descendynge ouer that othyr, they bene folis y-lykenyd to assis; tho that haue the ouer-lippe vp-rerid̛, and the gomes gretly vprerid̛ bene endeynous and euyl-sayeris, lykenyd to baynge houndys.

Of the noose.

Tho that haue grete Noosys [folio 72L] lyghtely bene talentid to couetise, and bene desposyd to concupiscence, and bene lykenyd to oxen̄. And thay that haue the butte of the noose grete and rounde, bene rude of witte and lykenyd̛ to Swyne. And thay that haue the butte of the Noose sharpe, bene strongly angry and lykenyd to houndys. And thay that haue rounde noosis and not sharpe, bene hardy and bolde and bene lykenyd to lyonys. A stovpynge noose [folio 66] and brode Betwene the Brewis, tokenyth a coragious man y-lykenyd to the egyƚƚ. Tho that haue the noose crokyd and the forhede roune, pershaunt vpward, bene lechurous and angri and likenyd to Apys. Opyn noose-thurƚƚ tokenyth angry; For whan a man angryth, his noose-thurlys oppenyth.

The vysage.

Tho that haue grete visachys and fleschy bene dysposyd̛ to concupyscence of fleschy lustes. A leen̄ visage tokenyth study and besynes. A fate visage dredfulnesse; And a lytill visage, a lytill herte. A grete vysage and broode tokenyth slewthe in manere, as Oxeen̄ and Assis. A streyte lytill visage of Pouer semblant, tokenyth an harde herte and hungri. An opyn vysage and fayre semblaunt, tokenyth a lyberal herte; a lytill smale forhede, tokenyth lytill witte, il to teche, and iƚƚ condycions. The forhede al rounde, harde witte; a longe forhede ouer mesure, a slow witte: a quarre forhede of meen̄ gretnys tokenyth feyrnysse and corage; A playne straght forhede tokenyth a losengere; the forhede sumwhate trowblit in semblant, tokenyth fiernysse and hardynesse.

Of the eyyn̄e.

Tho that haue reede ey-liddys lowyth comynly wel wyn̄, and bene gret drynkeres; heuy ey-liddys tokenyth good slepere; [folio 72bL] lytill eyyn̄ tokenyth a lytill herte and a slowe; gret eyen̄ tokenyth a bowsty witte; Mene eyen, nethyr grete ne smale, tokenyth good complexion̄ wyth-out vice. Depe eyen̄, malyce; Ouer-oppyn̄ eyen̄, lyke as they were y-thryste owte, comynly tokenyth a foole: Somwhate depe eyen̄ tokyneth hardynesse, but eyen nethyr to depe ne to fer out but menly bene beste.

Of the eeris.

Lytill eeris tokenyth good vndyrstondynge; grete eeris dul vndyrstondynge; And mesurabill eeris bene beste.

Of the colure.

Tho men that bene ouer blake bene dredfull, and lykenyd to the Egipcians and ethyopiens; And tho whyche bene ouer whyte bene dredfull, like to women: Tho that bene of men coloure betwene blake and white, Is a tokyn that thay bene stronge and hardy: Tho that bene yelow of colure, bene coragious i-lyke to the lyons. Tho that bene rede men, bene Parceuynge and trechurus, and full of queyntise, i-likenyd to Foxis. Tho that bene Pale and trowbely y-colurid̛, bene dredfull, for thay berryn the coloure of drede in thare farretes. Tho that bene rede colure, bene hasty and egre, for whan a man Is I-chafet by rynnynge or othyr mevynge, he wexet reede. Tho that haue a brandynge colure like the lye of fyre, lightly wexen̄ woode; and tho that haue Suche colure abowte the brestis bene euer wrothy; and that apperyth, for whan a man Is hugely wrothe, he felyth the breste al brandynge. And tho men whych haue the neke abowte and the temples, grete ruddy weynes, bene wrothy and hugely angry; and that apperyth, for a man that Is wrothe hath the same Passione. Tho that haue the face sumwhate ruddy bene schamefaste, and tokyn̄ of honeste shewith in har visage; [folio 73L] tho that have the chekys al reede as thay were dronken, Is a tokyn̄ that thay lowyth ryght wel good wyne.

Of the colure of the eyen̄.

tHo that haue fulli blake eyen tokenyth that thay bene feynte, for blake coloure aprochyth neygh to derknesse, and in derknesse a man lyghtly is a-drede more than in lyght.

And tho that haue eyen not wel blake, but declynynge to yelow, bene of good corage. Spleket eyen and whyte eyen tokenyth dredfulnesse, for whyte colure tokenyth drede. Tho that haue eyen̄ of [folio 66b] the colure of a camel Heere, bene coragious, y-likenet to the Lyon̄e and the egle. And tho that haue eyen y-colorid like rede wyne, ben dysposyd to woodnesse, y-likenyd to bestes whych may not be daunted. And tho that haue eyen like ly of fyre brandynge and sprakelynge, bene angry shameles, y-lykenid to houndes. tho that haue eyen discolourid and trowbelid tokenyth drede, for he that Is a-drede wexit pale, and thay that haue eyen schynynge bene lecheours y-lykenyd to rookys and cokkes.

Of the sygnyficacioun of dyuers lymmes.

tho that haue rogh leggis bene lechureris, and thay that haue the breste and the wombe mochedell rogh, bene full vnstabill and varyant: tho that haue the neke be-hynde rogh bene liberal, i-likenyd to lyonys. Tho that [haue] sharpe chynnes bene of good̛ corage, i-likenet to houndes; tho that haue the browes negh to-gyddyr bene heuy and Sorrofull of chere, for thay berryth the sygyn̄ therof. Who-so hath the browes stikkynge vp anent the noose into the templis in euery syde, bene foolis and likenet to Swyne: tho that haue the lokkes vp-stondynge bene dredefull; that apperyth, for tho wyche bene a-dred haue hare lokkis stickynge vp: tho that [folio 73bL] haue hare lockys or heere as cryspe tokenyth dredfulnesse, but lokkis cryspe towarde the ende tokenyth good corage: tho that haue the forhedes vprerid afoore, bene lyberall and likenyd to lyones: tho that haue a longe heede, and the eeris to-growynge to the forhede negh to the noose, bene slowe or witte. And the heede rounde, as we haue aforsayd, Is more tokyn of witte.

Thokenys of goynge.

tHo that have the braons of the shuldres ryght strayghtly whan thay mewyth ham, tokenyth that thay bene stronge and hardy and lykenyd to horsyn. And tho that haue lytill fette and febill legges, bene febill and feynte alyke women. And tho that haue eyen̄ moche mevynge, bene sharpe and raueners y-like to the gosehauke. And tho that oft-tymes closyth hare eyen̄ bene dredfull. Tho that in lokynge or in rewardynge ficchyth hare syght and hit holdyth stabill, they bene studyous

and of good vndyrstondynge. And that apperyth, for whan a man studieth deply, he holdyth his syght stabely.

Of the voyce.

tho that haue a grete voice and orible and not ful hey, done gladly wronges, and bene likenyd to assis. Tho that haue the voice atte the begynnynge of the worde grete and lowe, and aftyr that endyth hit al smale and hey, as kynde of oxen bene wrothy. And tho that haue the voyce hei, smale and swete and plesaunt, bene neshe, and haue lytill of manhode, and i-likenyd to women. And a grete hey and stronge voice tokenyth a stronge and an hardy man, likenyd to a lyon, and to a stronge hounde. A nesh brekynge and Plesaunte voice tokenyth a bennure and wel y-manerit man. A smale hey stronge voice tokenyth a man lyghtely to be wrethyd.

Of the body tokenys.

ttho that haue a lytill body, bene sharpe of body and of witte, for-why, har hertes bene ney the [folio 74L] extremyteeȝ. And ther-for in schorte tyme they hame mewyth and the vertue of herte spredith throgh-out al the body, and comyth to the brayne ther as the vndyrstondynge is fulfillid. Tho that bene full grete of body, bene slow and taryenge of body [folio 67] and vndyrstondynge, for-why, hare Hartis Bene fere fro the extremyteeȝ of Hare bodyes and the brayne. Tho that haue dry flessh and hote and bene lytill of body, bene variant an vnstabill, and afor that, that thay may not fulfillen that thynge whyche thay hauen̄ begonne, thay Puttyth ham in othyr thynges. And tho that bene moche and haue moisti flesh and lytill hette, bene slow and of slow vndyrstondynge. Tho that bene grete of body and haue dry flessℏ and coloure accordynge to the hette, bene of hey vndyrstondynge and ful myghty to fulfille that they thynkyn̄, for thegh thay bene moche thay haue the body and the complexcion̄ wel mesurid. But amonge al otheres tho bene of beste complexcion̄ that byth not ouer grete ne ouer smale. And thay whyche bene ill mesurid̛ of body, bene dysposyd to trechury and othyr ill tecchis. And thay wyche bene wel mesurit of body ben Iuste and ryghtfull men. By that whyche we haue afor-sayde, hit apperyth that al Phisnomye to iiije thynges takyth hede, that oone Is the Propirteȝ of male and female; The ije Is the Disposicion̄

aforsaydyn̄ of the body of man; The iije Is the liknesse of man and the facionm; or makynge, and the maner of othyr bestys; The iiije Is the semblant or liknesse of the Passion by whych a man Is knowen by tokyn̄. An thegh they haue many tokenys or syngnes by wych a man may deme the Physnomye, Neuer-the-latyr, sum bene more certayne than otheris and more apperyth, And thay tokenesse whych bene in the hede moste Pryncipal, the tokenys whyche bene about the eyen and the hede and the vysage, holdyn̄ the fryste and the souerayne degre of Iugement; And the tokenys wyche bene aboute the breste and schuldris, holdyth the Seconde [secdne, MS.] degre; the iije degree holdyth the tokenys wych bene aboute the leggis and the fette; The tokenys whych bene aboute the wombe holdyn̄ the fourthe degre and bene leste certayne: and the maner of tokenys accorden, the more certayne is the Iugement.