a^efctftitton of Ittu'Kg Creilt«te 04 2 17 
fiercell when at home ; but when in ftrange places 
are ^^ery tame* like thofe men who are very cruet 
and rigid at home, but when they go abroad, 
feemtobe very mild and courteous. Formerly 
they ufed to carry Ferrets along with them to 
hunting, and to fend them into the Coney-httr- 
roughs to drive them out. The Poltcat is a kind 
of fVeafel alfo, they are moft commonly very fat 
and ravenous: He will fore-fee a tempell coming, 
and will run into their holes to fhelter themfelves ; 
I cannot give much credit to thofe who fay that 
they can know a tempefta great while before it 
Cometh, which, I think, no man can do ; not 
who pretend fomuch skill in knowing 
the weather j for tempefts and ftorms, and all chan- 
ges of weather depend only on the will of God j 
but I think they may fometimes hit to fore-tell the 
weather by chance : but to fay that it will certainly 
be fuch & fuch weather,! think no one can tell;for 
we have oftentimes feen that God hath difappoin- 
ted them in that which they have fore- told would 
moft certainly come to pafs ; but this the way. 
The Poltcat lyeth hid, and isiecn but very little all 
the winter; fleepeth very much, which maketh 
them grow exceeding fat when they are putfued 
by the dogs very clofe, and are in danger of their 
lives, they will hold their breath, thereby pu fling 
themfelves up , being then better able to bear 
blows. There is a natural antipathy between this 
creature and the Vox ; for the Fox will oftentimes 
be in his holes, which if he cannot get by force, 
he will do it by fraud j he will dung and urine at 
the 
