18 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xm. 



lesse fitting the Pensill of a Paynter, or the pen even of 

 Phnie himselfe, than a subject the rarenes thereof, worthy 

 a contemplative and considerate observation. The signi- 

 fication whereof, had it sometimes happened in ^Egypt, 

 Syria, Greece, Rome, or even now amongst the Heathen 

 people, would and should no doubt not a little travel,* 

 and that not unprofitably, their Wyzards, Calcars,t Oracles, 

 and Altars. But we or many of us, are lately grown such 

 naturall Philosophers, in Argumentes of like Prodigies 

 (if I may so terme them) that we forme ourselves and 

 many others natural, or at the least \^dse negligent fooles 

 in not reverently admyring them. Even the dreames 

 of Pharo interpreted by Joseph became profitable to 

 iEgypt and to all Israel. Neither did Balthasar tremble 

 without cause at the hand-wryting or ever it was expounded 

 by Daniel. Neither yet in vayne shined the Starre in the 

 East, directing the three wise men to our Saviour in Bethlem. 

 Infinite are the Histories authenticall and profane of 

 Ghosts, Beastes, Byrds, Motions, Flames, Visions, and 

 such like other, presaging and foreshowing the wel or ill 

 threatened to some Estates or particular persons or as 

 it were, dumbly preaching reformation in some abuses : 

 which for brevitie omitting, I hasten to a most rare and 

 true report, of a most straunge and wonderful Sight, 

 happening of late dayes even in England, seene and 

 certified by many personages of great authoritie, worship 

 and credite. Of which it thus followeth. In the yeare of 

 our Lord God 1586, within the parish of Crowley nere 

 adjoyning to the pastures of the Lordship of Hatfild in 

 the Countie of Lyncolne, one Richard Wallar, and Richard 

 Preston, of the same parish of Crowley, having set certaine 

 Lime-twigges, intangled and caught in the same seven 

 great Foules, all of one bignes, & of intermixt coloures : 

 the like whereof were never seen or heard of in any Countrie, 

 by any man having hitherto seene them or their pictures : 

 which being lively in their true coloures purtrayed by one 

 Blackborne a Paynter in Yorke, at the procurement of 

 the right Worshipful! Sir Henry Lee Knight, are diversly 

 amongest divers persons dispersed. Three of the same 

 foules were brought and presented to the same Sir Henry 

 Lee, then lying at his brothers house at Hatfild in Yorke- 



* i.e., travail. 



t Calcar — a spur, in what sense our anonymous author here applies 

 it seems obscure, unless perchance he had in his mind the proverb 

 " Vatibus adder e calcar." 



