Keiromantia [sic] or, The art of divining by the lines and signatures engraven in the hand of man, by the hand of nature, theorically, practically. Wherein you have the secret concordance, and harmony betwixt it, and astrology, made evident in 19. genitures. Together with a learned philosophicall discourse of the soule of the world, and the vniversall spirit thereof. A matchlesse piece. / Written originally in Latine by Io: Rothmanne, D. in Phisique, and now faithfully Englished, by Geo: Wharton Esq.

X. Of the Via Martis, the way, or Line of Mars, or the Vitall-sister.

THis Line (so oft as it appeareth) augments and strengthens the things signified by the Cardiaca. But (particularly) it promises good successe in Warre, provided it be cleare, and decently Red.

Two Observations concerning Lines.

1. THe Quantity of all Lines must be wisely observed, [that is, their Length, and Depth:] so likewise their Quality [that is their complexion, and shape, whether they be crooked, or streight.] Next, their Action, which is, to touch or cut other lines: their Pas∣sion, to be touched or cut of others. And lastly their Place and Position.

2. We must know, that the Lines are some∣times prolonged untill certaine yeares of our Age, otherwhiles shortened: now they wax pale, anon they become notable, and as it were Luxuriate with a kinde of Rednesse, and this aswell in the Principall, as Lesse Principall lines.

Againe, (as touching the Lesse principall, and such as are found in the Tubercula of the Planets,) it is most certaine, that some doe one while quite vanish, and that another while, others rise of a different shape, and com∣plexion.

The cause of which, I suppose to be no o∣ther, then the various Progressions of the A∣pheticall Places in the Genitures, that is to say, Fortunate, and Infortunate, to the influence whereof Man himselfe is wonderfully subject. The Signes of his Hand are presented at dif∣ferent times with differing Faces: Such a ver∣tue, Such a love resideth in the Imagination of the Greater World, towards this Lesser.

And therefore the most studious in Chiro∣mancy cannot attaine the knowledge of Par∣ticulars, by one inspection, onely made to a certaine yeare of the persons Age. Things that worthily merit our observation, yet knowne or approved of but by a few.

Of the Planets.

The Planets also administer not a little in judgement, from their respective places: For, if they be Happy and Benevolent, good things are portended, but being Unhappy, and Fro∣ward, the contrary.

Here wee must also note; that those Planets

are tearmed Benevolent, in whose Tubercula, and places, the accustomed Lines are found to be Equall, their Characters faire and pro∣portionable, as a crosse, Starres, three, or foure parallel Lines, Ladders, little Branches, a Qua∣drangle, the character of Jupiter. But the Froward and Unfortunate are those Planets, whose Tubercula and places are deformed with Trouled lines, and Uncoth Figures, as a lame and interrupted Semi-circle, Grid-irons, the character of Saturne. And this is to be ob∣served in all the Lines of the Hand. Now as touching the Planets, let us proceed according to the Method proposed.