<County: Somerset>
<Code: L5171c>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ashmole 189>
<Text: Treatises on complexions and physiognomy, The Thirty Days of the Moon>
<Tranche 1>
<fol. 216v><line 3>The iiije tymes of the yeer~
The firste of theym ys called ver that ys spryngyng~ tyme .
The secunde ys called <exp>somer</exp> Estas that somer .
The thridde ys called Autumpnus . that ys Harvyst .
The iiije ys called Yemps . that ys wynter .
Ver ys hote and moyst . Estas ys hote and drye . Autumpnus
ys colde and drye . Yemps ys colde and moyst ..
Coleryk folk beth well yn ver wynter and hervyst
and evyll yn somer .
Sangwyn~ folk beth yvell yn ver and well yn somer~
harvyst and wynter ..
Flewmatyk folk beth yvell awynter and well yn ver~
somer and harvyst ..
Malyncolye folk beth yvell yn harvyst and well yn ver~
somer and wynter ..
<indented> The iiije Wyndys .
Est wynde ys hote and moyst evyll for the sangwyn~ man~ ..
South wynde ys hote and drye evyll for the coleryk man~ ..
West wynde ys colde and moyst evyll for the flewmatyk~ man ..
North wynde ys colde and drye evyll for the Malyncolye man ..
Coleryk folk beth yvell whyle the wynde and the sonne beth
south but while they be . est . west . and north . they be well ..
Sangwyn folk beth evyll while the wynde and the sonne beth
est . but while they beth south west and north they be well .
Flewmatyk folk beth evyll while the wynde and the sonne beth
<fol. 217r>west but while they beth est south and north . they be well ..
Malyncolye folk beth evyll whyle the wynde and the sonne beth
north but while they beth south est and west they be well ..
Now ys to knowe that yn the day and nyght be xxiiijti howrys
the+whiche xxiiijti howrys be departyd ynto iiije partyes the+which
iiije partyes ys regnyng~ yn a+man~-ys body to serve the iiije com
plexiouns afore-saide and euery of hem haue vje howrys as thus ..
Blode regnyth theise vj howrys fro iije at the clokke after myd
nyght vnto ixe at the clokke byfore none for as blode ys hote and
moyst so ys that party of the day hote and moyst ..
Colour~ regnyth theise vje howrys fro ixe at the clokke byfore none
vnto iije at the clokke after none . for colour~ ys hote and drye and
so ys that party of the day hote and drye ..
Malyncolye regnyth theise vje howrys fro iije at the clokke after
none vnto ixe at the clokke byfore mydnyght . for malyncolye ys colde
and drye and so ys that party of the day colde and drye ..
Flewme regnyth theise vie howrys fro ixe at the clokke byfore
mydnyght vnto iije at the clokke after mydnyght . for flewme ys
colde and moyst and so ys that party of the nyght colde and moyst ..
To knowe by phisnomye the
condiciouns of dyuers people
Here folwyth certeyn~ rewles to knowe by phisonomye whe that
ye loke yn a+man~ or womman~ of what condiciou~ they be and of what
natur~ by experiens ..
Alexander the grete conquerour~ yn al his werrys was yrewled
by Arystotyll the wysest Philosophour~ that euer was of that sciens
The whiche Arystotyll when he ne myght no lenger walke for age
he wrote many bokes vnto kynge Alexander where-by he sholde
<fol. 217v>gouerne hym amonge his enemyes of the whiche he wrote one of
phisonomye that Alexander myght knowe by syght the condicion~
of men when he sawe them of the whiche phisonomye here fol
with sum rewlys And Arystotyll saith yn the tyme of ypocras
ther was a philosophour~ that hight Philomon~ that was the cheif
Maister and the hiest doctour~ of this sciens yn ony place . The
disciple of ypocras payntyd the forme and the shappe of ypocras
yn parchemyn~ and bare hit to Philomon~ and seyde thus to hym
beholde this figure well and deme and shewe to vs the qualyte
of the complexiou~ of hit . And when he hadde wel byholde hit
he saide thus This man ys lycherous desaytus avarus and
lovyng~ lycherye . And for he saide so they wolde haue slayn hym
And they saide to hym thus O thow fole this ys the figure of
the worthiest and grettyst Philosophour~ of al this worlde . then
Philomon~ plesyd them and amendyd his sayng~ and saide þus
this ys the figur~ of the wyse ypocras . wher-for tempte ye
me thus with the figur~ of my Maister to asaye my scyens
Now haue j shewyd yow the qualite therof what j felyd by
my scyens . forth they went tyl they came to ypocras . then
they tolde hym what they hadde don~ and how philomon~ saide
to ham . Then saide ypocras trewly Philomon~ saide soth for
he myssed nothyng~ of the trowthe . netheles sithen j beheld and knew
the trowthe of my natur~ to theise thynges afore-saide longyng~ . j
disposed and ordend my saule to Almyghty god . and my body fro this
foule lustys .&c. Therfor saide Aristotyll thus to kynge Alexander
This ys the praysyng~ and the wysedome of the werkes of ypocras
For fysyke ys not ell but Abstynens and constreynyng~ of fowle
coveytous lustys Therfor Arystotyll ordend certayn~ rewlys of
<fol. 219r>Philomon~-ys scyens . the+whiche be profytable and compendiously she
with shortly a man-ys levyng~ . For colour that ys lyke leed and
fane colour that ys lyke yolow as falwe levys ys tokenyng~ of
lytell defyyng~ and no thyng~ trewe of worde and ys bowyng~
and <exp>buy</exp> buxum to vyces and lycherye . Jf ye se any persone
haunt to loke on yow and when ye loke on hym if he be sum
del agast ther-of and blenche namely yf ye be wroth if he
syketh and teerys shewith yn his yen~ that man or womman
loveth and dredeth yow . And yf ye se the contrary that he me
vyth his yen~ to and fro when ye talke with hym that body
despyseth yow and ys not trewe of his worde ne of his loue .
Be-war~ and right war~ of euery persone of yvell shappe or
yhurte yn eny lyme of his body whan he ys born~ ryght as
ye wolde be ware of your deedly enemye . What man that ys
evyn~ of statur~ and playn~ of makyng~ the+whiche ys yn the
mene that ys to saie not to longe ne to short and fayr~ rody
lerys with gray yen~ rounde vysage and blak heer with
holwenesse of body haue that man with yow for he ys trewe
and fewe of wordys but when nede ys and he wyll make pees .
Many herys softe and neisshe ys a sygne of buxumnesse and cold
nesse of brayn~ shamfast and dredfull . Many herys cromplyng~
and hard bytokeneth hasty hardy lyght wylful and lycherous .
Many herys vpon the brest and on~ the bely bytokeneth envyous
fyghtyng~ lovyng~ wronges and lyyng~ . Many herys vpon the
shuldres bytokeneth gret foly . A mene vysage not to gret ne to
smal with mene mouth and heed bytokeneth gentylnesse and ho
neste . A gret vysage bytokeneth vnpur~ and vnclene and covetous .
Grete yen~ with gret hongyng~ browes with mony herys bytokeneþ
wrechful gylous theffes wykked and vnfeithfull . Who so hath yen~
<fol. 219v>lyke an Asse . bytokeneth a fole and no thyng~ stedefast . Whos yen~ me<binding>
vyth swyftly he ys vnfeythful gylous and theffes . Whos yen~ bet<binding>
reed he ys hardy wylly Angry and myghty . That man ys worst
of al And most reprovable and most to be drad that hath spottes or
strackys yn his yen~ whyte or rede . Who that hath browys
growyng~ to the templys he ys an envyous man . A sharpe
nose and a smal bytokeneth wrethfull angry ˆ [and] avarus . A
longe nose and straught to the mouth bytokeneth gentylnesse
trouthe and lovyng~ . A short nose lyke an Ape bytokeneth a+
shrewe and a+lyer~ . A nose with wyde nostrell bytokeneth
lycherous and dronklewe . A face that ys lene ryveled and
wrynkled bytokeneth an evyl speker theffes and a pledour~ .
A mediokre face that ys to saie wel propoursned face with browes
and templys sumdel turnyng~ to fatnesse . bytokeneth stedefast
trewe wyse and lovyng~ . A fatte face with gret swellyng~
templys . bytokeneth lytell wyse selde plesyd and slowe .
A wyde mouth bytokeneth a fyghter and an evyll spekere
Grete lyppys and fatte . bytokeneth foly and lycherye . A man
that hath a forke <exp>b</exp> yn the forheed bytwyn~ the browes
bytokeneth a theif . A guttour vnder the nose straught to the
ouer lyppe bytokeneth a lychour~ and hasty . Gret erys and
longe bytokenyth a fole. Lytell erys and reed . bytokeneth
a theif~ and a+lychour~ . Erys yn the mene bytokeneth vertu .
He that spekyth hastly with a smal voyse and sharpe . betoke
neth vntrewe and lyyng~ And yf the voyse be grete . betokene<binding>
Angry wrecheful ouer trowyng~ and yvell of kynde . Ho that ha<binding>
a swete voyse ys envyous and suspecyous . A fair voyse bytok<binding>
neth foly vnwysdom~ gret wylle and often-sydes lycherye .
<Tranche 2>
<fol. 213v><line 4>The xxxti daies of the mone .
Lordynges lasse and more ; lystneth alle to my lore .
And j shal yow telle byfore ; what tyme so a childe be bore
Of that childe what shal hym byfalle ; to his endyng~ and happys Alle .
And what bytokeneth your dremyng~ ; that ye metyn yn your slepyng~ .
Good or yvell or vanyte ; Al+to-gyder hyre shal ye .
And also what tyme ys good ; A+man or womman to+be lete blood .
Al thyng~ that ys to don~ than ; As saith the Jew to the christen man .
To teche yow j haue ythought ; What tyme ys good and what ys nought .
For by the mone with-oute lesyng~ ; Ys the rewle of all erthely thyng~ .
Ther-of berith holy wrytte wytnesse ; And owr~ fore-faderys as J gesse
Adam Eue and Abraham ; Jsaac and Jacob that come of tham .
Beryth wytnesse of this story ; For yt ys made ful trewly
And takyth en<exp>i</exp>sample by tham ; That oure fore-faderys prevyd han .
How we shal hyre high and low ; Our~ destnynges and our~ happis know .
Ther-for lordys J pray yow ; Lystneth to this begynnyng~ now .
The firste day of the mone Adam ; To this world our~ fore-fader cam
That day ys good with-outyn synne ; Al gode werkys to begynne .
The childe that ys born~ that day ; He shal be noble and wyse yn fay .
And longe lyue with-oute fayle ; But ofte he shal be yn gret trauayle .
Sadde of face and of hew fade ; That same day was Adam ymade .
To gret woo and to gret Evell ; To gret stryf~ and to gret perell .
So shal that same childe yn fay ; That ys born~ vpon~ that day .
Who so that day take seknesse ; He shal lye longe as J gesse .
And with gret payne scape he shal ; And therof al-way thonke god of all .
And what thow dremyst yn thy slepe ; God of his mercy therof take kepe .
For yt shal turne to Joye and blys ; wherof gof geve vs grace not to mysse .
And that day ys Verry good ; All+tyme theryn~ to be letyn~ blood .
<fol. 218r>To letyn~ blode yn no vayne ; Who so wyll be with-outyn payne .
The secunde day profytable ys ; Al thyng~ to do and make y-wys .
that day oure lorde gan Eue to make ; Of Adam-ys rybbe she was ytake .
Who so wyll wedde olde or yeyng~ ; That day ys nought to make weddyng~ .
Who so weddyn~ thenne a wyfe ; Thay shal haue a shrewyd lyfe .
And oftyn~ bothe care and woo ; So hadde Adam and Eue also .
Who so do eny thefte that day ; He shal be take ther-with yn fay .
What childe that day be born~ ; Many vertuys lyen~ hym beforn~ .
A blessed body yt shal be ; Wyse and good and of herte fre .
Be yt mayde be yt knave ; Joy ynow hit shal haue .
And loue of man and of womman ; More of this telle J ne can .
And who so that day take seknesse ; He shal be sone hele as J gesse .
What so ye dreme that nyght ; Jt shal turne yow to Joye plyght .
And who so wyl that day blede ; Jt wyl helpe hym yf he haue nede .
The iije day Caym~ was born~ ; What thyng~ thow dost þt day ys lorn~ .
But thow serue our lorde heuyn~ kynge ; Therfor J rede yow olde and yeng~ .
That ye that day no thyng~ begynne ; For ye shal yt lese thurgh synne .
Caym~ for his synne ful evyn~ ; For his Apon~ þt day lost þe blysse of hevyn~ .
Who so that day taketh seknesse ; hit shal holde hym yn gret distresse .
That day ys not good oute to ryde ; Ne no hors to be-stryde .
Who so that day stelyth eny thyng~ ; Jt wyl turne hym to yvel chefyng~ .
What childe that day j-bore be ; Fals and covetous be shal he .
And loth to gyve the poore bred ; He shal dye yn wycked ded .
That thow dremyst turneth the to nou3t ; to lete blode be not yn thy thought .
For that day ys ful mervelous ; And right harde and perlous .
The iiije day was born Abel ; That day thow myght boldly and well .
Al that thow wolt boldely begynne ; Out-take dedes that longeth to synne .
That day ys good myllys to byg~ ; And after hedys of watrys to dyg~ .
To opyn~ them and lete ham renne ; Bothe by felde and by fenne .
Who so ys born~ that day saun3 fayle ; He shal haue a+part of travayle
He shal be a+gret lychour~ ; And suffre many a sharpe shour~ .
<fol. 218v>But he shal wel ouerscapyn all ; And gret lechecraft shal to hym fall .
A gret leche he shal be yn fay ; And who so that day do eny folay .
Or eny thefte the for to fle ; Sone deye or vanyssh shal he .
What thyng~ thow dremyst yn thy slepyng~ ; yt shal helpe the no thyng~ .
That day ys good for euery man ywys ; to passe the se with Marchaundys
That day for to lete the blood ; Js neither yvell ne good .
The ve day Abel made his offryng~ ; For his synnys to heuene kyng~ .
And Caym~ made his sacryfice ; That day falsly yn euery wyse .
That day ys not good to take ; Sacrifyce ther-on to make .
What childe that day yborn~ be ; He shal haue a+harde destyne
He shal be euermore sorful and mad ; And his lyfe with the devell lad .
Jn gret travell and yn synne ; And vnnethe fro hym wynne .
That day who so do eny trespasse ; He shal be take with the cas .
Who so that day seknesse haue ; Medecyn~ ne leche shal hym not saue .
Who that day to the se doth fare ; He were beter not to come thare
Thow that dremyst shal be certayn~ ; Tel thy dreme to no man yn vayn~ .
Jf thow wylt that day blede ; Abowte vndryn~ thow shalt best spede .
And loke that day thow do nought ; But thynges that nedys most be wrought .
The vje day Nabor and Effrem ; Were lorn~ that noble men~ .
That day ys good and gracious to game ; For to hunte and bryddes to tame .
The childe that day born~ ys ; He shal be hardy bolde and wys .
Longe lyved gracious and good ; Blythe Joly and mery of mood .
And yf yt a mayde childe be ; worthy husboundys haue shal she .
Who so that day eny trespas do ; He shal ascape fair~ ther fro .
Who so that day seknesse fal yn ; Jt wyl be hard fro hit to wynne
Thow that dremyst soth wyl yt be ; Jn short tyme thow shalt se .
But loke thow tel yt to no man ; Neither yn ernest ne y gam .
And that day ys not good ; To lete no veyne blod .
And yf thow haue eny chaffar~ ; to the se let yt fare
Good to byen and to sylle ; And placys to byelde trewly to telle
The vije day was Abbl slayn ; That day ys good soth to sayn~
<fol. 212r>Bestys to put yn pastur~ ; And to gyldyn~ borys that shal endure
What childe that day ybore be ; Good lyfe and longe haue shal he .
A lettryd clerk~ and wyse with-al ; Aventur~ of fyr~ shal hym byfal .
Who so that day stelyth ought ; be war~ hym he scapyth nought .
Who so that day eny man sle ; The same deth haue shal he .
And who that takyth seknesse that day ; jt shal sone passe away .
What thow dremyst yt shal be-tyde ; Though yt awhile abyde .
Jf yt betokyn~ ony wo ; Gode prayers may yt vndo .
That day ys good yf thow wylt blede ; to bye and sylle thow shalt wel [spede]
Good yt ys the se to pas ; Thankyd be god of his gode grace .
Jn that vyage ys wynnyg~ ; Who that aventuryth ony thyng~ .
The viije day was born~ Matusale ; Þt had whete and hony gret plente .
That day ys good yf thow knowe ; to hyve beys and sedys to sowe
The se to passe treuly to telle ; A wyfe to wedde to bye and sylle .
Jf thow haue be weddyd byfore ; And haue this day a childe ybore .
Be yt man or womman y-wys ; Thurgh lychery hit shal don~ amys .
And with the devell be <exp><1-2 chars></exp> temptyd and lad ; And of synne be sore adrad .
Jf thow that day ought a-mys do ; Therof thy name wyde shal go .
Yf thow that day seeknesse fonge ; Yt wyl go sone or laste longe .
That day a+house yf thow bylde ; fro fyre yt scapyth to selde .
Who so that day to scole be set ; for hym his kynne shal fare the bet .
Jf thow that day stele ought ; Awar the well thow scapyst nought .
Good or yvell wherof thy dreme be ; Wt-ynne iiije dayes þu schalt yt se .
Pray to god yt turne to gode ; That day ys good to lete blode .