with Labour Travel or the Like These begin the 19 th day of July and continue to the 28. day of August As for the other days not mentioned as Bad days proceed in your Affairs and Prosper but on any of the Ominous days to fall Sick is a sign of a Doubtful Recovery if at all and those that take a long Journey begining it on any one of them will be in danger to fall sick or get some great hurt by the way if not die and never return home Who ever Weddeth a Wife on any of these days will find sorrow and crosses in such a Wedlock if not be forced to part in a little time any great work begun will not prosper nor come happily to an end as expected The most remarkable Days in the Year that are accounted Fortunate to begin any weighty matter on SInce the Antients have layed great stress as well upon the Luckey days as the Unluckey it will be Convenient to place them in Order one after another and Note by the way that tho' I shall name but some few as exceeding Luckey days for marriage Bargains going a Journey or begining a Voyage and what ever else is of weight and moment Yet all the rest not marked before to be Unluckey in each month are indifferent Luckey and not to be Neglected when your Occasions require you to Imploy them lest you be either taxed with sloath or superstition in times and seasons Lucky Days c. Twelth-day or Epiphany January 6 The Conversion of St. Paul January 25 The Purification of the Virgin Mary Febru 2 Valentines-day Febru 14 The Annun of the Virgin Mary march 25 St. Mark the Evangelist April 25 St. Philip and Jacob. may 1 St. Barnabas or the Longest day June 11 St. John Baptist June 24 St. Peter the Apostle June 29 St. James's day July 25 St. Bartholomews day August 24 St. Michael's day september 29 St. Luke's day Octob. 18 St. Simon and Judes day Octob. 28 All Saints Novemb. 1 St. Andrew's day Novem. 30 St. Thomas's day Decem. 21 Christmas-day Decem. 25 St. Steven's day Decem. 26 St. John the Evangelist Decem. 27 These are lookt on as Days that bring Blessings with them yet over and above Ordinary Days through the Year more successful than others not Named already for Luckey Days IN January are 3 more particular Happy days beside what I Named though the Rest not marked Ill as I have said are successful enough viz. the 16. 18. 26. In February there are 4 viz. 10. 19. 27. 28. In march there are 2 viz. 14. 28. In April there are 3 viz. 13. 22. 27. In may there are 5 viz. 3. 5. 7. 11. 19. In June there are 4 viz. 10. 17. 20. 27. In July there are 6 viz. 1. 13. 19. 21. 27. 30. In August there are 3 viz. 3. 7. 9. In september there are 5 viz. 4. 8. 11. 15. 19. In October there are 3 viz. 1. 8. 13. In November there are 4. viz. 3. 9. 11. 15. In December there are 3. viz. 9. 13. 17. And on these Days favoured by the more Immediate Influence of the Planets many Wonderful Actions and Things have been done to an Accomplished success as well by the mighty of the World as the Ordinary sort Insomuch that they have been Caelibrated by the Antients and Festivals Appointed on them with songs in praise of what great Atchievements have been done on them and these Festivals Promulged only for the sake of the Good Luck these days produce but let me tell you by the by however that if you undertake any Unlawful Enterprize it will not Prosper on these Days Therefore let your Designs be Good and fear not the success to your Wish according to this Prophetick Verse Good Days Good Deeds do still beget But Bad Deeds the bright Angels Let Dark Influence to Dark Acts give Birth But here the Stars Light Joy and mirth Observations on Remarkable Days to know how the whole Year will succeed in Weather Plenty c. IF the Sun shine Clear and Bright on Christmas-day it promiseth a Peaceable Year from Clamours and Strife and Fore-tells much plenty to Ensue But if the Wind Blow stormy towards the Sun set it betokeneth sickness in the spring and autumn quarters If it be Lowering or Wet on Childermas or Innocents-day it threatens Scarcity and a Mortality among the Weaker sort of Young people but if the day be very Fair it promiseth plenty If new-years-New-Years-day in the Morning open with Duskey Red Clouds it denotes Strifes and Debates among Great Ones and many Robberys to happen that Year If January 25 being St Paul's day be Fair it promises a happy Year but if Cloudy Windy or Rainy otherways hear in this Case what an Antient Judicious Astrologer If St. Paul be Fair and Clear It promisses then a happy Year But if it chance to Snow or Rain Then will be Dear all sorts of Grain Or if the Wind do blow aloft Great stirs will vex the World full oft And if Dark Clouds do muff the Sky Then Fowl and Cattle oft will Dye It is Remarkable on Shrove Tuesday that as the Sun-shines little or much on that day or as other weather happens so shall every day participate more or less of such weather till the end of Lent Mists or Hoar Forsts on the Tenth of March betoken a plentiful Year but not without some Diseases If the Sun shines clear on Palm Sunday or Easter-day or either of them there will be great store of fair Weather plenty of Corn and other Fruits of the Earth If it Rain on ascension-Ascension-day though never so little it fore-tells a Scarcity to Ensue that Year and Sickness particularly among Cattle But if it be fair and pleasant then the contrary and pleasant weather mostly till Michaelmas If it happens to Rain on Whitsunday much Tounder and Lightning will follow Blasts and Mildews c. but if it be Fair great plenty of Corn. If midsummer-Midsummer-day be never so little Rainy the Hazel and Wall-nutt will be Scarce Corn Smutted in many places but Apples Pears and Plumbs will not be hurt If on St. swithen's-Swithen's-day it prove Fair a temperate Winter will follow But if Rainy stormy or Windy then the contrary If St. bartholomew's-Bartholomew's-day be Misty the Morning beginning with a Hoar Frost then Cold weather will soon ensue a sharp Winter attended with many biteing Frosts If michaelmas-Michaelmas-day be Fair the Sun will shine much in the Winter though the Wind at North East will frequently Reign long and be very sharp and niping If in the Fall of the Leaf in October many of them Wither on the Boughs and Hang there it betokens a Frosty Winter with much Snow Other Curious Observations on the seasons of the Year as to the Weather that will happen and such like Matters GReat Observations to predict what will fall out have been made upon Oak Apples in September if Cut they have Spiders in them it betokens Blast and Infection if Flys a dry
Season if Maggots a great encrease of the Fruits of the Earth if spongy and hollow without any thing in them scarcity of the Fruits of the Earth the ensuing Year if early Ripe the Winter will soon advance very sharp if dry a dry Winter if very Moist much Wet drisling Snow Rain and Cold Moist Winds ensue if the inner part between both fair and clear then a plentyful Summer will ensue the Weather Fair and Temperate Another Observation is made on the Beech Tree which note on this manner On all-hallows-All-hallows-day Cut off some of the Bark and after that a Chip or little piece of Wood cut it if it be very dry then the ensuing Winter will be dry but pretty warm and temperate if moist a wet Winter If on St. Andrew's day in the Evening much Dew or Wet remain on the Grass it betokens a wet season to follow if dry then the contrary If the Nutt Trees Flower much it betokens great plenty of Corn that Year yet a sickly season in Autumn and a cold Winter Infallible signs of Weather in all seasons throughout the Year by the Planets Elements Creatures c. SInce many have made Conjectures of weather and frequently failed in their Predictions I have now thought fit for the advantage of the industrious Husband Man and others to lay down unerring Rules and Observations whereby the various sorts of Weather with their suddain Changes may be known at all times not only for one Year but for Ever viz. Rain Wind excessive Heat or Cold snow Hail Frost Thunder and Lightning sudden Whirlwinds and Tempests c. and of these in their order Infalliable signs of Rain and drisling wet Weather taken by Observation of the Planets and other stars Elements Creatures c. MArk the Sun Rising and if it looks broader than usual then many moist Vapours are gathering from the Sea the Air is thickening and the Sun-beams diffused in it makes the Face of that Planet show greater than usual and in a little time you will see the Clouds muster and spread the face of the Heavens and the Air densing into a watery Body and if this happen in Hot Weather viz. summer or autumn violent showers will fall but not of long continuance But if in Winter or Spring setled Rains but more moderate If the Sun Rises with a blewish Circle enclining to white the Air is gross and Rain will soon ensue The Sun setting in a black Cloud and diffusing or spreading its Beams pailish to the North and South Prognosticates a Rainey Night and Morning The Sky of a Dusky-red in the Morning and the Sun Rising pale an Over-casting will soon Ensue and Rain quickly follow upon it attended with whisking Winds and Florreys The often shifting of the Wind is a sign of Rain especially in Winter and Spring Many small Clouds at North-West in the Evening show that Rain is gathering will suddenly fall The Moons Horns blunt at its Rising Three Days after the Change denotes Rainy Weather for that Quarter but the other Quarters seasonable Weather The Stars seeming bigger than usually pale dull and not twinkling show the Air is thickening to Rain which will soon fall Many Stars appearing in the Night seeming a greater Number than usual the Wind at East in Summer fore-shows sudden Rain The signs of Rain by Creatures c. WHen the Heron or Bitron flys low the Air is Gross and thickening into showers When Kine view the Sky stretching up their Heads and snuffing the Air moist Vapours are Engendring and the cause of their doing so is their sensibleness of the Airs sudden alteration from Dry to Wet and sudden Rain will ensue though at that time the Sun may shine out The Chattering of Swallows and their Flying low about Pounds and Lakes denotes Rain The Froggs much Croaking in Ditches and Pools c. in the Evening fore-tell Rain in little time to follow Also the sweating of stone Pillars or Tombs denotes Rain The Ants Removing their Eggs denotes Rain for by a secret Instinct in Nature finding the Air changed into much Moistness they carry them to a place of dryer security The Crows flocking in large Flights holding their Heads upward as they Fly and Crying louder than usual is a sign of Rain as also their stalking by Ponds and Rivers and sprinkling themselves The often Doping and Diving of Water Fowles fore-shows Rain is at hand The Peacocks much Crying denotes Rain Cattle leaving off to Feed and hasting to shelter under Hedges Bushes Trees Out-houses c. show sudden showers of Rain are coming And of this to conclude Rainy weather I shall tell you a pleasant but true story A Gentleman who Travelled much seeing a Sheepherd by the Road side tending his Flocks and other Cattle demanded of him if it would continue that Day as it then was for the Sun shown out The Sheepherd looking on his Cattle told him it would Rain very much in an Hour and extreamly Wet him unless he got shelter The Gentleman smiled at this and would not believe him but as he said so it proved for immediately a little Cloud Rising at South-West came driving on with the Wind and spread it self so that the Sky was covered with prodigious blackness and tho' the Gentleman Rid hard to get to a Town about five Miles from him the Rain e'er he reached it poured down so prodigiously that he was Wet to the Skin and remembering what the Sheepherd said upon his Return finding him in the same place he Requested he would tell him how he came so precisely to know the Change of the Weather the Sheepherd at first Refused it but for Half a Crown after much Importunity consented and when the Gentleman expected he should Express himself in Astrological Terms he only said Sir do you see yonder Py'd Colt pointing to him well said the Gentleman and what of that why says the Sheepherd when he Runs his Head into the Hedge and Turns his Arse to the Weather-gage then it will certainly Rain though the Weather promises at that time otherways to those that are Ignorant of Skill in Prognosticating This may be says the Gentleman but what will it signify to me on my Journy seeing I can't carry such an Almanack as your Colt in my Pocket however the Gentleman was highly pleased and concluded his Mony well laid out But here I have Out-done the Sheepherd in giving so many Prognosticks that be where you will you cannot miss of some of them to Inform you Signs of Wind and sudden Storms arising Prognosticated by the Planets Elements Creatures c. in all seasons of the Year for ever Iâ— the Moon blushes and is Redder than usual Winds are engendering and storms will arise If at Sun-Rising pale spots seem to appear in its Orb and dazle there strong Winds will ensue from the South the Wind soon shifting thither in what ever Quarter before it was Meteors or as some call them Stars shooting swiftly and spreading a
long Train of Light fore-run Winds that will soon ensue Chaff Leaves Feathers Thistle Down or such light things whisking about and turning round foreshow Tempestuous Winds A murmering noise in the Woods when little Wind is stiring foretells a storm is Engendering Cormorants and other Sea Fowl flocking to shore and often Crying denotes great storms to ensue Cattle on a sudden hasting to their stalls housing-places or other shelter do the like The Herns exceeding high flying denotes the Air is moved with Winds in the Upper Region and that sudden storms will ensue The much Whispering and Rusling among Reeds and Flaggs in Meadow-Ditches and Marshes Prognosticates the Wind is gathering in the Air. Small scattered Clouds to the South West that fly high lye as it were in Ridges and seem not to move engender Winds often producing Whirl-Winds A kind of a Murmering of Thunder from the North foretells great Tempests will arise A Reddish Circle about the Moon at the Full denotes much Wind. A Red Lowring Morning is the Forerunner of Wind. If in a Lamp the Oyl purls and sparkles the Wick grows hard that it Burns dimly it foretells a strong Wind engendring and will suddenly Rise If there appear Fiery spots or those of a Reddish Colour in the Sun upon its Setting much Wind will ensue speedily Signs of the Winds shifting or Changing in the several Points of the Compass VVHen the Sun Rises with many pale spots appearing in its Orbe and part of it Vailed in a Cloud the Wind in what Point soever it will soon shift to the South When the Wind has been setled 24 Hours or more in any of the Full Points as North East West and South when it begins to shift it will not settle till it comes to the opposite Point as from the North to the South and so from the Full East to Full West and so of the Angular Points as from North East to South East Let the VVind be in what Quarter it will upon the New Moon it presently shifts When the Generallity of the Clouds Rack or Drive with the wind yet many in little Fleeces or long strakes lying higher and appear not to move the wind is Flagging and will quickly shift Signs of storms Ceasing A Hasty shower of Rain falling when the wind has Raged for some Hours soon Allays it If a storm Rise with the Sun at the Falling of the Sun it will begin to Decline and about Mid-Night Cease If the Water Ruckles much and frequent Bubles arise the storm is of a short continuance If a Halcyon or Kings Fisher a Bird so called Attemps the Seas when the wind Blows hard it is a sign it is Abating and will soon Cease The uneasiness of Swine in their stys and their endeavouring to be Enlarged denotes the Wind in a little time to Cease The Merry Chiriping of Sparrows does the like as also the Moles coming out of their Holes Signs of Excessive Hot Weather LIttle strings like Cobwebs flying in the Air in a Morning show the Heat will be much especially for the season A Glissening on the Grass at the Sun Rise like the Threads of Spinners denotes much Heat in Summer or Autumn The steeming and smoaking of standing Waters when the Sun is about setting foretells a Hot Day to ensue for then the Mineral Fires are forcing their way to add to the Suns Enflaming the Air. Great swarms of Gnats abroad in Marshes and Fenny Places in the Evening foretells Hot weather to ensue Many Frogs coming out of the water on the Banks of Ditches Ponds c. presage Hot weather to ensue The Plover or Lapwing Flying high and then low making almost continual Crys foreshows much Heat to follow Signs of Cold weather or hard winter THE Suns setting in a Mist looking Red and Broader than usual The Clearness of the stars and their much Twinkling Starlings Feldefars and other Birds of a Hot Nature hastening in great Flocks or Flights from the Northern to the southern Climates Cold Dews and Morning Rymes on St. Bartholomew's Day and the three succeeding Days A Hoar Frost on Michaelmas Day in the Morning denotes a hard winter The Swallows going away soonner than usual denotes a Cold season to ensue The Birds laying up Haws slows and other stores in Old Nests or Hollows of Trees foretells a Hard winter Sea-Pys Flocking from Salt water about Fresh Rivers or Lakes signify a sudden alteration of the weather to much Cold. The Owl much Hooting in the Night at Michaelmas Tide denotes a Hard Frosty winter Ignis Fatuus or Will with whisp much and often appearing in Moorish Ground fore-runs a Cold season Prognosticks of Fair weather by the Planets Elements and Creatures c. THE Moon at four Days Old having her Horns sharp and pointed very Bright it predicts fair weather till the Full if not to the Months End The stars shine Clear and Bright seeming to Dart or Shoot out pointed Rays Little Clouds sinking Low as into Valleys at South East and South VVest The Sun Rising in the Morning Fair and Bright and setting at Night Blushing without Spots or Black Clouds near it The Larks Rising very high and continuing singing a long time The Halcyons and other Sea Fowl leaving the shores and Flocking to sea Mists or smoakings on the top of the water The Rainbow appearing after a shower and the Blew and Yellow part of it very Bright and Lightish Colour Fish often Rising and Bubbling at the top of of the water Cattle Feeding without often looking up or about them Scattering white Clouds like Fleeces of Wool to the North VVest Spiders VVebbs on the Grass and Trees foretells much fair weather Bees flying far from their Hives and coming late Home do the like A Bright Clear or Shineing Circle about the Moon at the Full promises fair weather predicts many fair Days to ensue Much Dew on sheeps wool in a Morning is a sign of fair weather Signs of Hail violent and moderate by the Planets Elements c. IF the Sun at Rising cast a Glittering Light as if it Reflected on some Lucid Matter though few or no Clouds at that time appear the Vapours are Condensed in the Cold Region and fore-runing into Clouds that will scatter Violent Hail If in the Morning the Eastern Skys before the Suns Rising look pale and Refracted Beams appear in Thick Clouds great storms of Hail will ensue to the great Damage of Corn Vineyards Fruit Trees c. If the Clouds look Fleecy Dusky White enclining to Yellowish and move but Heavily though the wind is pretty stiff the Vapours Composing them are Engendered and Frozen as Virgil says Ah then but I 'll defends her Grapes Such horrid Hail on House tops Ratling Leaps If the Clouds appear of a whitish blue and Expand much it will be small Hail or Drizling for that happens in VVinter or the Spring when it cannot be carryed high enough to be Condensed with a greater quantity of Cold because the
FEBRUARY Cut Quicksets and supply the Decayed places with New Ones Plant Vines Hops Liquorish and all Shrubs bearing Fruit sow Oynions Pease Beans Salleting for the spring and Pot Herbs Moss Fruit Trees and Prune them take off Superfluous Branches not yet Removed Graft on Young Stocks and Manure Barren Soile with Dung and other Manure to Render it Fertile lay Traps for Vermino In MARCH The Weather being open the Wind not in the Cold Quarters Cover the Roots of Fruit. Trees that before were Open with Dung Set Quicksets and Graft choice Siens Sow Barly Oats Oynions Parsnips Carroots Cucumbers Mellions Set Artichoaks Sage and all kind of Pot Herbs Bleed and Geld Cattle in the Waine of the Moon Sow all manner of Garden Seeds for the Spring and Summer store In APRIL Sow Flax Hemp and Pole your Hops set and sow what Plants and Herbs were before wanting open the Mouths of your Bee Hives clean their stools rub them over with sweet Herbs to Cherish Cheer and Enable them to take the more Pleasure in their Labour upon their first coming out weed Gardens and Corn prepare for Dary-work Bark Trees and Raise Choice Flowers In MAY. In the beginning of this Month sow and set all manner of tender Summer Herbs continue to weed trim up your Hop Gardens cut off Superfluous Branthes weed Corn Distill Cordial Waters make Conserves drive Rivers and drain Plashes In JUNE Shear your Sheep the Moon Encreasing Geld Lambs and Calves the Moon Decreasing sow Lettice and Radishes three or four Days after the Full Moon gather such Herbs as you would keep Dry for the winters Use in the Full of the Moon when the Sun has drawn up the Dew and Moisture from them set Rosemary and July-flowers and stake up weak Plants and Flowers In JULY Gather forward Summer Seeds when the Sun has dryed them cut off needless suckers drive Bees Mow Inoculate Inarch in the Full Moon gather the Seeds of such Flowers as are Ripe Dry them in the Sun then Hang them in the Pods to Harden To Kill Fleas and Bugs strow Powder of Rue Wormwood and Nut-gals under your Bed In AUGUST Take the Opportunity of the fairest weather to Reap in from the before mentioned Directions relating to weather neither Reap nor Mow Corn too early let the Sun be pretty well Risen when you begin and it will prevent much the danger of Musting and Sweating gather Garden seeds within a Day or two of the Moons Full lay Traps for Vermin gather Fruit in Dry Days sow Seeds for Winter Salleting and Pot Herbs In SEPTEMBER Gather Hops the weather being dry and the Dew off from them take Honey make Verjuce Sider Perry and other Liquors of Fruits remove set Slips of Flowers remove Young Trees and Plants marking them that in the Transplantation they may stand to the same quarters of the Wind they first grew do this in the New of the Moon the Wind at South or West cut Quicksets and gather Winter Fruit without Bruising sow Wheat and Rye sow Parsnips Carroots and Turnops for Winter store In OCTOBER Continue to sow Wheat and Rye remove young Trees and Plants in the New of the Moon cut Rose Trees Cyprus Juniper and Box set Kernel Stones and Nuts gather Grapes in the beginning of the Month the weather being dry make an end of gathering Winter Fruit lay Open the Roots of Fruit Trees and Trench your Ground Kill Swine for your winter store In NOVEMBER Fell Timber Moss Fruit Trees Geld Calves Purge your Cattle to prevent Diseases set Crabb stocks to Graft on in the last Quarter of the Moon set Pease and Beans sow Parsnips and Carroot Seeds Trench Garden Ground with Dung make Drains to carry the water off In DECEMBER Continue to Fell Timber set Traps Sprunges c. for Hares Rabbits and Wild Fowl cover your choice Flowers and Plants with Mats or Straw coat or double cover your Bee-hives Bleed Horses if the weather be Open and Drench your other Cattle keep good Fires Hospitallity and Wholsom warm Dyet and thus much in general Observations what is to be done relating to Husbandry throughout the Year which cannot but be of Use to the Honest Country Man c. Signs of Murrein Rot or such like Destroying Diseases in Cattle how to Prevent or Remedy them CAttle are one main Support of the Nation affording so many Commodities to Man so that without their doing Well and Multiplying we should be but in a Bad Condition therefore it ought to be the Care of those who are most Concerned with them and to whose particular Advantage they more Immediately Redound to look Carefully to them and secure their Health as much as may be and because Murreins among Larger Cattle and Rots among the Smaller are the most Fatal of Diseases and sweep them away by Herds and Flocks I shall from long Experience show the nearest way to fore-see the approaching Danger which coming for want of such Precaution or Fore-sight has Ruined many and having fore-shewed it tell how it may be Helped if in spight of Care it takes Effect which sometimes it will do Signs of Murrein that do befal Cattle IF the Moon change 3 days before St. Bartholomew's Day it will be a sickly Year amongst Cattle but this is not the Rule I intend to Direct you by for the observance of the particular above-mentioned but after that Day is over and no Rain fallen in the Night go as soon as it is day into the Fields of Pasture where your Cattle are to be kept and lying down with your Eye against the Suns rising as even as you can with the surface of the Earth and if you perceive a glistning like Spider threads or a white jelly froth or foam on the Grass then Infectious Vapours are beginning to Rise out of the Earth and to fall down in poisonous Dews threatning Infection to the larger sort of Cattle especially therefore for a while feed them on highe and dryer grounds but if no such thing at this time can be discerned by reason the weather may be hot and draw up that Jelly or whiteness of corrupted Dew look immediately at the time ordered on Michaelmas day in the morning and if you observe it then it will have the like effects though somewhat weaker and the Air less Corrupted To prevent therefore this Murrein Long-sought or as some call it Gurget If you are constrained to Pasture your Beasts bleed them as soon as ever the Leaf begins to fall peg their Ears and Dew-laps with Helebore or Bears-foot a Plant so called drench them with Savin and Rue boyled in strong Ale and give-them a scowring and this will prepare them to resist the pestilential Air and mainly contribute to the preserving them If you find however that any of your Beasts after the afore-named Caution be swelled under the Jaws ogainst the Throat-boul then draw forth its Tongue and open a Vein that lyeth under it an Inch and a half