of Plinies Naturall Hifton'e. 



A from that coaft where it thundred rcontraHwifejif it lighten much Si thunder littlejooke for rain 

 plentie : when you (ee it hghten^and the skie otherwife cleare and £iirejit is a token that rain and 

 thunder will follow thereuponjyea and rigorous cold weather bcfides : but the cruelleft and moft 

 bictcr irnprellions of the aire, cnfue upon fuch lightnings as come from all the foure quarters of 

 heaven at once: ifit lighten from theNorthweftonelyjitbetoksnechrainethe day following 5 if 

 from Northjit is a fignc of wind from thence : if from the South^North weft, or full Weftjii hap- 

 pen to lighten in the night & the fame be faire^it fheweth wiiiid and rain from out of thofe coafts: 

 morning thunders forelliew winds but if they be heard at noone^they prefagc ftore-of raine. 



As touching clouds, ifyou fee the racke ride apace in the aire, the weather becingfaire and 

 dricjlooke for wind from that quarter whence thole clouds do comciahd if they fceme to gather 



B thicke in that placCj difpearfed they will bee and fcattered when the Sun approacheth ; but more 

 pariicularlyjif this happen from the Northeaft^they portend raine; if from the South^ ftorme and 

 lempeft : if at the Suns fetting the racke feeme to ride from both fides of him into the open airej 

 they fhew of tempefts toward : if the clouds be exceedinghlack^flying out of the Eaftjihey threa- 

 ten raine againft night 5 but if they come out of the Weft, it willfurely raine the morrow after : 

 if the clouds be difparkled many togither out of the Eaft, and flie like fleeces or flockes of wool!, 



' they fhew raine for three daies after : when clouds flie low, and lecme to fettle upon the tops of 

 the hills, lookelTiorcly for cold weather :contrariwife, if you perceive thofe tops of mountaincs 

 cleare without mift or cloud, the weather will Toon take up and turn to be fairc : when the clouds 

 feeme to be heavily charged and full,and yet looke white withall (which *conftitution of the aire * 



C is called commonly the white weather) thereis an haile-ftotme at hand: moreover, bee the skie 

 never fo clcarCjthe leaft cloud appearing therein, is enough to engender and forefhc w wind and 

 ftorme : mifts if they come downe and iall from the moun tains, or otherwife dcfccnd from hea- 

 ven and fettle upon the valiies,promife a faire and drie feafon. 



Leaving the ftarres and clouds above, let us come to our fires that we make and keepe in our 

 houles here beneath, for they are to be raunged in the next place of our prognoftication. If the 

 fire then burne in the chimney pale,and keepe therewith a buzzing noife,wee find by experience 

 that it forefheweth tcmpeft and ftormie weather : as alfo we may be fure of raine, in cafe wee lee a 

 fungous fubftance or foot gathered about lamps and candle fnuffs : if you fee the flame either 

 of fire or candle mount winding and waving as it were^long ybu lliall not be without wind. The 



D likeis CO befaid of fire and candlelight, if either they lecme to goe out of themlelves^ or to kin- 

 dle and take fire with much adoe. Alfo, when we diicerne in the fire a number of fparkles gathe- 

 red togither and hanging one to another: orifwhenthepotis taken off from the fire, the coles 

 fticke to the bottome and fides: or when the fire being raked in embres, keepeth a fpicting and 

 fparkling from it : alfo.if the afhes lying upon the hearth grow togither : and laft of all, when the 

 live-cole iTiinerh brighter or fcoreheth more than ordinarie : ail thefe be figns of raine. 



Goe we alittle lower to the water, for that element alfo giveth fignes ot the weather : and fiift 

 ofalljifyoufeethe fea with in the haven, atter the floud is gone, in alow and ebb water to bee 

 €alme,and yet heare it keepe a rumbling noilc wiihin,itforetheweth wind iii it doe thus by times 

 and fits one after another,rcfting ftiil and quiet between- whiles,it prefageth cold weather & rain : 



£ .7/<?/»,if in calme and faire weather the fea ftrond or water banks refbund and make a noife , it is a 

 token of a bitter tempeft : fo it fareth alio with the very fea it felfe ; for if it be caln^e, & ye t make a 

 roaring^or if the fome theror be feen to leaner too & fro,or the verie water to boile & buble,you 

 may be bold to foretell of tempefts: the Puffins alfo of thefea, [/.fillies named in LatinPuImo- 

 nesjit they appearelwimming above water,doforefignifie cold wether for many daies togither: 

 oftentimes the fea being otherwife calme,fwelleth,& by hooving higher than ordinariejftieweth 

 thatfhe hath wind good ftore enclofed within her, which foon after will breake out to a tempeft. 



Let us come aland againe, and marke the difpofition of woods and hills: you fhallhcare the 

 mountains and forefts bothjkeep a founding and rumbling noife,atid then do they foretell fome 

 change of wcather:nay you (hall marke the leaves of trees to move, flicker & play themlelves,and 



jF y et no wind at all ftirring 5 but be fure then that you fhail not be long without.Thelike predidiori 

 is to be gathered by the light downe either of poplars or thiftles flying wo atid fro in the aire jal- 

 foof plumes and feathers flotingupon the waicr.Goe downe lowerto the vales andplaines:if a 

 man chaunce to heare a buftling there, he may make account thata tempeft willfoilow» Asfoc 

 she rumbling in the aire^it is an undoubted figne and token thereof, 



Ggg ^ ^Q^^.. 



