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THe line whiche beginneth at the roote of the line of life, and pas∣seth through•• the Palme of the hande, towarde the hyll of the Moone, or pommel of the hande: is pro∣perli called the meane natural line. The whiche if it be straite, and vndeuided
with ani smal ouerthwart lines, it shew∣eth good health, a sound brayn, a quicke & liuely wit, and also a good memorye. If it be long, stretched oute to the hill of the mone, it doth declare a stout stomack and long life, which if it be shorte, that it passe not the holownes of the hand: it be¦tokeneth a feareful, couetous, vnwise, & vnfaithful man, and if the saide line do not stretch out to the hill of the Moone, but end euer against the space, which is betwene the middle finger, and the ring finger: it betokeneth a mā of il maners, and that shal not liue long. Then if the same line run out beyond the hill of the Mone, and turne in again in forme of a halfe compasse: the farther it stretcheth, the longer life it betokeneth, but in age pouerty. But if the same line at the vp∣per end do rise toward the fingers, it sig¦nifieth an vnshamefaste and malicious man, the which if it rise verye muche to∣ward the fingers, it doth declare him to be verye folyshe, and vnwise. Contrari∣wise, if it tourne down warde almoste to the palme of the hand, it is a token of a
couetous and vncleane man. On the o∣ther part, if it turne vpwarde, touch the table line: it signifieth some great ••osse, and aduerse or euell fortune: and if the same line be writhen, vnequal, and of di∣uers coulours: it is a token of an il dis∣posed mind, and oftentimes of theft. The line being straite, equal, and bright co∣loured: betokeneth a good consciēce, and iustice. But when the meane naturall line is brode and grosse, with a certaine rednesse intermedled: it signifieth a rude disposicion and lacke of wit. And if it be nether to straight, nor to large, and wel coloured: it betokeneth a mery, chereful, and a fortunate man, but if it be subtile, and slender, swarte, or pale: it declareth weaknes of the braine, and vapores ri∣sing from the stomacke into the heade. And if the line appere grosse, & very depe & hath a certaine smal line nere to it, red coloured: it sheweth an angry and fury∣ous man. Again if it haue certain knot∣ty spaces in this maner o, so many knots as there be, it doth declare so many mur∣ders, ether al ready cōmitted, or hereafter
to be done. The which knottes if they be not fully closed or shutte, they are a tokē of a great quareller, whiche shal beate & wounde, but not kill outright. If there be in the same line certain grosse pricks, or pointes: it sheweth an vnmanerly, fo∣lish, and vnpleasant manne, the whiche pointes if they be verye redde: it betoke∣neth a very cruel and fierce man. If the same line be croked, makyng halfe a cir∣cle, with a certaine obscure or darke co∣loure: it signifieth daunger by foure fo∣ted beast, or els to be slain of wild beast. And oftentimes, nye the same line there be two smal lines ioyned together (as in the figure of the hande folowynge you shal see) which signifie wounds, but not with weapon. More ouer, if there be a crosse in the same line, ouer againste the middle finger: it betokeneth that the man shal dye within a yere. If any man haue this line forked toward the wrest, with smal diuisions: he semeth to set al his minde on mischiefe, and neither to feare God nor man.
Linae media naturalis
This figure of the hande here descri∣bed with the meane natural line, begin∣ning at the rote of the line of life, & pas∣sing directly through the middest of the hand, withoute any incisions: signifieth the good state of the body, and health of the braine. And when it maketh a sharp corner, with the line of life: it declareth a quickenesse of memorye, and vpright∣nes of minde. But if it be (as is rehersed in the cannon before) vnequal, not stret∣ching past the pit or caue of the hand: it betokeneth a fearfull, coue∣tous, and a forgetfull persone.
L. mēsal
L. naturalis
If the meane naturall line aboue fi∣gured, make as it were a halfe Circle, with a certain obscure colour: it threate∣neth hurte by beastes, and oftentymes death. But if at the ende of this line on eche side do appeare two small lines: it signifieth woundes by Weapons. If there appere ouer against the middle fin∣ger a little Crosse deuided with small lines, it doth demonstrate the weakenes of the bodye, and breuitie of life: and so muche the rather if the square or quadrangle be lackyng in the hand.
If the hande before portured, haue in the meane naturall line certaine pale knottes: howe manye knottes there be, so many murders it doth declare alredy committed: if they be red, they do pro∣nounce the persone to be hereafter bothe a murderer and thiefe. If there be croked incisions in the said natural line: I iudge him to be a verye vnhappye and vnfor∣tunate manne. And by the crosse there, I suppose him to be ful of strife and debate, and desirous of discord.
When this meane natural line stret∣cheth to the table line, and is croked in the ende in forme prescribed: it decla∣reth a noughty euil tonged man, a shea∣der of bloud, and shall often be in daun∣ger for the same, & at the lengthe perad∣uenture suffer condigne punishment. If the same line haue priuy incisiōs: it doth denounce a proude, bablyng, and angrye man. But if there be a crosse in the vp∣per corner, right against the risyng or hil of the thombe: it sheweth an honest mā, and apt and disposed to all kinde of goodnesse, and so likewise on the contrary.