CENTURY IX. 65 



selves here to that divination and discovery chiefly, 

 which is caused hy an early or subtile perception. 

 The aptness or propension of air or water to 

 corrupt or putrefy, (no doubt) is to be found be 

 fore it break forth into manifest effects of diseases, 

 blastings, or the like. We will therefore set down 

 some prognostics of pestilential and unwholesome 

 years. 



801. The wind blowing much from the south with 

 out rain, and worms in the oak-apple, have been 

 spoken of before. Also the plenty of frogs, grass 

 hoppers, flies, and the like creatures bred of putre 

 faction, doth portend pestilential years. 



802. Great and early heats in the spring (and 

 namely in May) without winds, portend the same; 

 and generally so do years with little wind or thunder. 



803. Great droughts in summer lasting till towards 

 the end of August, and some gentle showers upon 

 them, and then some dry weather again, do portend 

 a pestilent summer the year following : for about the 

 end of August all the sweetness of the earth, which 

 goeth into plants or trees, is exhaled (and much mpre 

 if the August be dry) ; so that nothing then can 

 breathe forth of the earth but a gross vapour, which 

 is apt to corrupt the air : and that vapour, by the first 

 showers, if they be gentle, is released, and cometh forth 

 abundantly. Therefore they that come abroad soon 

 after those showers, are commonly taken with sickness : 

 and in Africk, nobody will stir out of doors after the 

 first showers. But if the showers come vehemently, 

 then they rather wash and fill the earth, than give it 



