Pantagruel's Prognostication: Certain, true, and infallible; for the Year everlasting. Newly composed for the benefit and instruction of hair-brained and idle fellows; by Mr. ALCOFRIBAS, Sewer in chief to PANTAGRUEL. Set forth long since by that famous wellwisher to the mathematics, and Doctor in physic, FRANCIS RABELAIS. Done in the way, and by the Tables, of that ginger of the First Magnitude, in the British hemisphere, ANGLICUS. And now of late translated out of French by DEMOCRITUS PSEUDOMANTIS. LONDON▪ THE DEDICATION TO Mr William Lilly. Learned Sir, I Here present thee with an ancient famous Wit of France, which yet is not much exalted above the Meridian of thine. But in comparison of whom, all those Dotards of old; Zoroastres of the Bactrians, and Orpheus of the Thracians, and Pythagoras of the Samians, and Numa of the Romans, and Democritus of the Abderites, and Agrippa of the Germans, and Merline of the Welsh, and Nostradamus of the French, and Roger Bacon, Bungey, Lamb, and I know not how many more of the English; were but heavy and dull Impostors, He is such a pleasant ginger. And thou resemblest him in this, that although thou art not altogether so good a Droll, yet every man when he reads thee, has a kind of tentation to laughter. And yet thou for thy part seemest so grave and serious that thou wilt easily pardon the Translator of this, having thyself so usefully rendered his jest into good earnest: and I know not perfectly whether he were thy original, or but an imperfect Type, or faint representation of thee, a greater Prophet to come. Thou hast all along his Style, Figures, and Policy, and all but the profession of Drollery. Thou knowest as well how to wrap thy deceits in a cloud of generalities, that they may not lie open to discovery or reprehension. Do but look upon thy Ephemerides, and thou canst tell us very gravely that some body or other shall die next month, and as plainly forseest the fall of some great man in August, as we mortals the dropping of a Pomwater in Autumn. In fine, thy Prophecies are as sure as Death: for Those, as This, are in themselves certain, but the Time, Place, Manner, and Persons, and such petty circumstances, altogether uncertain. Thou canst, like him, prophesy of things past or present: but it will be thy wisdom to be more sparing in future Contingencies which depend on the will of Man; and though Heaven look upon us with a thousand Eyes, yet it is thought not to be able to peep into men's private closets, and less into the Cabinet of their Hearts; or to discover the little Thefts of a silver Spoon or Tankard, but such as thou imploiest thy Nimble Mercuries to steal. 'Tis true, There may be an unhappy guess at these events, but 'tis a Casting winter or summer, cross or Pile, on which side to be mistaken; a mere handy, Even or Odd, which is the right. 'Tis to venture thy discretion at Passage, or, Most in three throws, in hope thou mayest have the good luck to speak truth. Our noble scholar Lord verul.. tells thee a measured verity, when he gives the reason these bold predictions find so much Credit among us. It is because we observe when they hit, and not when they miss; and their Faults like those of physicians are hid under ground, when their Cures live above it. The Candles vowed to the shrine of the Saint that preserved the Passengers from a storm, are to be seen in their chapels, but they who were wracked in the sea had no such Monuments. Nor is the same truth more unhandsomely expressed by the wisest Historian our Nation hath brought forth, Sir Walter Raleigh. That Prognostications of this kind are as seed scattered in the vast Field of Time; 'tis extreme ill hap, if none of them take. Sure I am, Thine are thick sown, how thin soever they come up. If it were not so, what need our Princes allow such excessive Pensions to maintain honourable spies, and receive advices from abroad, when thou an universal Agent, who liest lieger for the spheres, and art confederate with Heaven, canst more cheaply preserve intelligence above: when every Beam of the Sun is a letter, and each Mote in it a Character for thee to uncypher and read over all the dispatches of Fate. And hence I believe arises the angry contest between thee, and the Ignorant saucy Divines, who pretend to understand a Heaven above Thine. They take a bare word, which some hold to be but a weak security, and believe upon Parole: but thou wilt have God's hand and deed sealed, and delivered to thy Faith in a legible and shining Text. There are that take thee to be not only a discoverer, but a cause of those Effects thou fortellest. As the young Nostradamus set the City of Pouslin on fire which he Prophesied should be burnt. And Cardan that bespoke the time of his own death, would die a voluntier at that time to keep his word. Yet some Malicious persons suspect thee to deal not so much in Galileus his Tubes, as thy magical looking glass (thy Speculum Trinitatis upon Earth) wherein to take the height of a match between two stars when they shall meet in Cottu, and enter into the sign of Scorpio. Others take thee to be a right Courtier of Heaven that ever keepest in with the Lord Ascendant. If Saturn be deposed, quit him for a leaden melancholy Planet, and turn thee to Jupiter in his stead. Truly it is not unbecoming, that he who studies the measure of Time, should serve it. As for the Country; it contends for thee as the seven Cities for thy fellow Poet Homer. Essex pretends to thee by reason the Sun, thy Prince, rises from thence. And Surrey, because though it be barren and dry (as thy language) yet it is Mistress of a clear air, such as that of Assyria where thy Brethren the Chaldeans first practised. And in Middlesex, though most of the Native Gentlemen have somewhat of the incivility and rudeness of clowns, and the eminent clowns somewhat of the riches and pride of the Gentlemen; yet both are content and humble themselves, and purchase thee at the dear expense of a Teston. Only they complain thou art too negligent of the serious affairs of thy lovers, and would read thee oftener than they carry their Bible to Church, If thou wouldst quit this busy trade of Policy, which they think not so proper, & deal a little more in their beloved Husbandry. They look upon every page of the Month to find, Cloudy Dark, somewhat Cold, Thunder-like, Inclining to rain, or, what like an Oracle never fails, Variable wether. They expect to hear from thee under what sign it is safest to cut their Cocks or their Pigs, when to plough or sow, when to plant or graft Trees or inoculate their Vines, with the likeliest hope of fruit. They itch to be instructed when are the Quarterly or Monthly terms; what is the wide difference betwixt St. Lucy's might, and St. Barnabyes', and the effects of a showry St. Swethins, or a shiny Candlemas. When a dear year is a coming, for Sordido to hoard up his Corn. And the Epicure longs to know from thee when Oysters are fullest and fattest; and the very minute and second, when venison or Lobsters go out of season. If thou didst but entertain them with these useful discourses they swear to do nothing without thee. Not to eat or drink without thy licence. Not to go to stool unless Mercury be Retrograde. Nor to a Conventicle but by star light. Nor to Court without enquiry, if Jupiter be stirring. The goodwif would not sow her Leeks or onions but under an Egyptian constellation: Nor keep a milch Cow without thy Heavenly Bull. Nor expect her butter to come, unless by thy charming. Their Petitions seem to me very reasonable: to which they add, It would do well if thou leave not out the Effigies of the Man that is stabbed through all the twelve signs, but place it in the room of thy Picture, and such wholesome advices in rhyme, as, Flee baths and Venery, Drink wine but sparingly, and the like, These were achievements fit for thy Learned adventures. These things they understand, and (I am afraid) thyself does No more. But they are persuaded, that to cast the Nativity-water of a Nation, and prescribe the Phlebotomy of War, or purging of a parliament, City, or Army is but to be a Celestial Quack, a fortune-teller at large, and a State-Mountebanck. To conclude, I should forget the Nature of an almanac, did I not a little fringe it over with verses: And therefore I presume herewithal to send you an ancient prophecy made in Henry the 8 his time, by a Poet laureate John Skelton; who, though he were as merry a Madcap as the Doctor, and his verses appear like that play at Crambo; and that he run a poor rhyme out of breath till it pant and expire, or hurry it on with such a strong gale, till it touch upon the Coast of Nonsense; yet perhaps between his fits of talking idly, he hath some lucid intervals of shrewd and poignant expressions. Read him here as a Prediction of our Rabelais in Type, but in Truth of thee, to whom all the world subscribes, as I do myself, Thine Idolater, as thou art the Stars, Democritus Pseudomantis. Skelton upon Rabelais. O William Lilly, Thou Conqueror Billy, So subtle and wily, That art not so silly As the foal of a Filly, To take a cold jelly On the ground that we see lie. For a grave fixed Star, That shines from afar, And moves regular; Yet asquint doth appear, And to steal a look fear, If William be near. He knows when they join In Quartile or Trine, Or in the sixth Line. And in every Mine On Will they do shine. He's their Chaplain in fine, And household Divine. Sans prair's, Fumes, or Unctions, Or magic injunctions, That cause our compunctions, For the best of his functions Is to pimp for Conjunctions. He knows every season H'as a politic reason, Why the Beans or the Peason Be cheap or be geason. He knows to diseise one Prince, fatter to grease one, For the Stars speak no treason. The Planets all seven, Houses one and eleven, To him rent-free are given. Plots on earth he makes even, And puts 'em upon heaven. For better a great deal Sage Thales might tell The Stars in the Well, When musing he fell, Than the pit deep as Hell, By the Stars to reveal. To him the Swedes fain To be bound for his pain; And to bind him again They send a gold-chain. Then woe be to Spain, If Will say, No rain. So I do not entrench man, To lend thee this Frenchman: He once loved a Wenchman Well as any oth'Benchman. Then come, do not flinch man, And bate not an inch man. For though a physician, He was no magician, But a Mathematician That made inquisition Of nature's condition. In a doubtful position. And thou art much such a one. Him well you may trust, He's a Troth-teller just; And ne'er for his lust Found Venus combust. Nor to leap at a crust Th'Ascendant untrust. Nor swore he by odds digger, Ere thought to grow bigger By casting a Figure, Or lying in leaguer Saw the Stars dance a jig here. But this a fair bliss is, A cunning man guesses, As sage as Ulysses, What the Serpent hisses, Or whom Virgo kisses, Or when the Moon pisses. You cast the skie's water, And find where they falter; Or else you but palter. But Jack of Horologers Ape of Amphibologers, And friend of Philologers, And Bat of Tautologers, Buffone of Bomolochers, And cream of Chronologers, Whom all Etymologers Call the Flower of Astrologers. Per me Johannem Skeltonum, Poetam Laureatum. To the courteous READER, Heal●h and Peace in JESUS CHRIST. TAking into Consideration the infinite abuses, that are occasioned by a number of Louvain Prognostications, made over a glass of wine; I have here now Calculated the most certain and true One that ever was seen, as Experience will demonstrate to you. For without doubt, considering that which the royal Prophet says (in the fifth Psalm) Thou shalt destroy all them that speak lies; 'Tis no small sin to lie knowingly, and abuse the poor world that is curious and inquisitive after news, as the French nation have been in all ages, as Caesar writes in his Commentaries, and John de Gravot in his gallic Mythology, and which we likewise see every day in France, where the first discourse that is held to people, newly arrived, is, what news? Do you know nothing that is New? what is the talk? what do they discourse of abroad? And so earnest and attentive they are, that they oftentimes are angry which those that come from other Countries, and strange places, without bringing their budget full of news, calling them Fools and Idiots. So that, As they are ready to inquire news, they do likewise easily believe what is told them. Were it not a good deed to entertain some persons (worthy of belief) and place them at the Entrance of the Country, only to examine the news that is brought, whether it be true or no? Yes, Certainly. And thus did my Good Master Pantagruel throughout the Countries of Utopia and Dipsodia. And so successful it hath been to him, and his territories have so prospered, that they have more Wine than they know how to drink; and they are fain to throw it away, if good Drinkers and Merry boys come not from other places to help them. Being desirous then to satisfy the Curiosity of all good fellows, I have rounded all the heavens, Calculated the squares of the Moon, picked out and discovered all that the Astrophils, Hypernephelists, Anemophylaces, Uranopetes, and Obrophores ever thought of, and conferred with Empedocles concerning it, who remembers himself to you. And all the Tu Autems I have here digested into a few Chapters; assuring you that I speak nothing of it but what I think, and think nothing of it but what is. And nothing else of it is true, but what you'll now read. That which shall be said over and above, shall in Grosse pass the strainer pesle mesle: And peradventure it shall come to pass, and peradventure never. Of one thing I give you notice, that if you do not believe all, you'll do me a very great shroud turn; for which, either here or else where you shall be most grievously punished; and the Bulls piss shall not be spared upon your shoulders. And suck in the air as long as you will, like Oysters: for certainly, There shall be some of you well warmed, if the Rakefire doth not fall asleep. Well, wipe your noses, little ones; and, you old dotards, mount your Spectacles, and weigh these words in the balance of the Sanctuary. Of the Golden Number, Non Dicitur. I find none this year, for all the Calculation I have made: let's go forward (verte Folium). Pantagruel's Prognostication; Certain, true, and infallible; for the year Everlasting. CHAP. I. Of the Government and sovereignty of this Year. WHat ever those foolish Astrologers of Louvain, Norremberg, 〈◊〉, and Lions tell you; believe, That there will be no other governor of the universal world this year but God the Creator, who by his Divine word governs and orders every thing, by whom all things are maintained in their nature, propriety, and Condition, and without whose Government and power all things would in a Moment be reduced to nothing, as out of nothing they were by him made and brought to what they now are: for from him cometh, in him is, and by him is perfected, all beings, and all good, all life, and Motions, as saith the Evangelical Trumpet, My Lord Saint Paul, Rom. the 11. The governor then of this year and all others according to our true opinion will be the most powerful God, and Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, nor other Planet, no not the angels, Saints, nor Men, nor devils, shall have any power, energy, or influence whatsoever, if God of his good pleasure doth not bestow it upon them. As A●●cen says, The second causes have not influence in any action, unless they receive it from the first cause. Doth not the good little man speak truth? CHAP. II. Of the Eclipses this year. THere shall be so many Eclipses of the Sun and Moon this year, that I am afraid (not without reason) that our purses will suffer Emptiness, and our senses Perturbation; Saturn shall be Retrograde, Venus Direct, Mercury Inconstant; and a number of other Planets shall not go as you would have them. For this reason therefore, Crabs shall go sideways, and Rope-makers backwards, the Joyn-stools shall get up upon the forms, The Spits upon the Andirons, And caps upon hats: Many men's bollocks will hang down for want of a pouch: Fleas for the most part will be black: The Bacon in Lent shall run away from the Pease, The Belly shall go foremost, the briech shall sit down first: The bean shall not be found in the Cake on twelfth Night: The Ace will not be seen at flush: The Dice shall not please although they be flattered, And the Chance one wishes for, shall seldom come: in many places the beasts shall speak: Shrovetide shall get his process: One part of the World shall disguise themselves to cozen the other, and run about the Streets like fools and mad Men. Never was there such disorder seen in Nature, and above twentyseaven Verbs shall be made irregular, if Priscian keep them not short. If God doth not help us, we shall have a great deal of business, but against the hair: If he be for us, nothing can do us hurt, as says the Divine ginger that was ravished into Heaven. Rom. 8. 31. Si Deus pro Nobis, quis contra Nos? Nemo, Domine: for He is too good and too powerful: Let us here bless his Holy Name for it. CHAP. III. Of Diseases this year. THis year, the Blind shall see but very little, the deaf shall hear but ill, the Dumb shall not speak much, the Rich shall be a little better than the poor, and those that are well better than those that are sick. Many Sheep, beeus, hogs, Geese, Hens, and Ducks shall die. And there shall not be so cruel a Mortality among the Monkeys and Dromedaries. Old Age shall be this year incurable by reason of the years past. Those that have a Pleurisy shall be troubled with great pain in their sides, They that are troubled with a looseness shall go often to the Close-stool. The catarrhs this year shall fall from the brain into the lower parts. Sore eyes shall be very hurtful to the sight. Ears shall be short, and more rare in Gascony then usual; and a very horrible malign, troublesome, and scurvy disease shall reign this year, almost universally, which shall make the World very much wonder, and many shall not know which way to turn themselves. And oftentimes they shall raveningly compose, and syllogize upon the philosopher's Stone, and of Midas his ears. I tremble for fear when I think on't, for 'twill (I say) be Epidemical, (and Averoes calls it VII. Colligent) want of Money: And by reason of the Comet last year and the Retrogradation of Saturn, a great-Rogue shall die in the Hospital all pocky and scabby, at whose Death there shall be a horrible sedition between the Cats and the Rats, between the Hounds and the Hares, between the Hauks and the Partridges, between the Monks and the Eggs. CHAP. IV. Of Fruits, and the Riches that we receive from the Earth. I Find by Albumazars' computation, in the book of the great Conjunction, and elsewhere, that this year shall be very fertile, and there shall be plenty of all things with those that have wherewithal; but the Hops of Picardy will be somewhat afraid of the Cold. Oats shall do Horses a great deal of good: there shall not be much more bacon than there are hogs, by Reason of prices Ascendant; it shall be a great year of snails. Mercury doth a little threaten the Parsely, but it shall be notwithstanding at reasonable rates. Marigolds and Honey-suckles shall grow more then usually, and there will be abundance of Choakey pears. Corn, Grapes, all sorts of fruits, Pease, Beanes, and all manner of roots was never seen in such abundance, if poor people's prayers are heard. CHAP. V. Of the conditions of some People. 'tis the greatest folly in the world to think there are stars for Kings, Popes, and great Persons, more than for poor and ordinary people: As if new stars had been created since the Deluge; or of Romulus, or Pharamon at the new creation of Kings. 'Tis that which Triboulet nor Catlette will not say, who were nevertheless Persons of High knowledge and great Renown and perhaps in Noah's Ark, this Triboulet was of the Race of the Kings of Castille; and Caillete of the blood of Priam. But this error proceeds only from the want of the true Catholic faith. Granting it then for certain that the stars care as little for Kings as for Beggars, for Rich folks as for Poor, I leave it to other foolish Prognosticators to speak of Kings and wealthy persons and speak of those of a low condition. And first of those that are under Saturn: as, people unprovided of Money, Jealous, Dotards, Evil-thinkers, suspicious persons, molecatchers, Usurers, Farmers, cobblers, Tanners, Tylers, Bellfounders, Compounders of Debts, butchers, Melancholy people, shall not have this year all that they would have; they shall study much how to get the holy cross, they shall not throw their Bacon to the dogs, and they shall often Scratch where it doth not Itch. Those that are under Jupiter, as Hypocrites, dissemblers, Buskin-makers, Pardon-sellers, Attorneys, Writing-masters, Scriveners, Bull-makers, Dispatchers of the Pope's Bulls, Lawyers, Capuchins, Monks, Hermits, Bigots, Santons, hairy-handed wry-necked fellows, blotters of paper, Braggadoshoes, wearers of long hair, Clarks of the Prison, Maker of friar's hoods, Bed-sellers, Blurrers of Parchment, notaries, Counterfeits, Conveyancers, shall behave themselves according to the money they have. And so many Church men shall die, that 'twill be hard to find Parsons to confer benefices upon; insomuch that many shall enjoy two, three, four, and more. Hypocritical zeal will make a great tempest with its ancient accustomed Noise, since the World is grown so very bad, and is now but little foolish, as says Avenzagel. Under Mars, as hangmen, murderers, freebooters, Rogues, Bailiffs, Recorders, watchmen, Dead-payers, tooth-drawer's, cutpurses, Butchers, coiners, Physicians, Nigars, Renegadoes, Atheists, and Blasphemers, sellers of Matches, Boutefeux, Chimney-sweepers, Churls, Colliers, alchemists, Tinkers, Cooks, pedlars, Almsgatherers, Lantern-makers, boors, shall play many notable tricks this year: but some of them shall be very subject to be bastonadoed. One of the forenamed shall this year be made Bishop of the Country, giving his benediction with his feet to the Passengers. Under Sol, as Drinkers, Fiery-faces, Gorbellyes, Brewers, haymakers, Porters, Mowers, Thatchers, Packers, shepherds, cowkeepers, Hog-keepers, Bird-keepers, Gardeners, Grangers Hedgers, Beggars, Cap-clensers, Stocking menders, Lazy Rogues, smell feasts all generally wearing their shirts tied upon their backs, shall be healthful, & merry; and when they are invited to a Wedding shall not have the Gout in their teeth. Under Venus, as Whorers, bawds, Wenchers, buggers, Gallants, Frenchified fellows, cankered boys, roarers, Pimps, beggarly Sluts, chambermaids of Inns. Nomina Mulierum desinentia in sses ut laundresses, Tavernesses, Hostesses, Starchers, Washers, Brokers, shall be in esteem this year. But the Sun entering into Cancer and other signs, they must have a care of the Pox, gonorrhoea, C— botches, &—. The Nuns shall hardly conceive without virile Operation, very few Maids shall have Milk in their breasts. Under Mercury, as Cheaters, Cozeners, Deceivers, Mountebanks, thieves, Millers, Street-walkers, picklocks, Filchers, Keepers, rhymers, Charletans, jugglers, Pedants, Anagrammatists, a Paper-maker, Card-sellers, Pirates. They would seem oftentimes to be more Merry than they are, sometime they'll put their hand in their Pocket; when there is nothing in it; and shall be very subject to become bankrupts, if they find not more money in their purses, than they have occasion of. Under the Moon as almanac Letters, Huntsmen, falconers, Posts, Salters, lunatics, Fools, Shallow-brains, Obstinates, Fantastical people, Carriers, Hors-coursers, lackeys, Brokers, Tennisplayers, Glaziers, Light horsemen, Ferry-men, Seamen, grooms, shall not this year have many Stops. Nevertheless there shall not many swag-bellied Swissers go to Saint Hiaccho, as there did in the year 524. Many Pilgrims shall come down the mountains of Savoy and Auvergne; but Sagittarius threatens them with chilblains at their heels. CHAP. VI. Of the condition of some Countries. THe noble kingdom of France shall triumph and prosper this year in all manner of Pleasure and delights, insomuch that strange Nations will willingly resort thither: little delights and pass-times will be acted there, in which every one will take pleasure. There was never more wines seen nor more delicate: great quantity of radishes in Lymosin, store of Chesnutts in Perigard and Dauphine, Many Olives in Languedoc, great store of sand in Olone: Much fish in the sea, Many stars in the sky, Much salt in Porridge: Plants, Corn, Pease, Fruit, Herbs, Roots, in fields. No plague, No war, No trouble. Good store of Poverty, Great store of Care, Much melancholy. And those old double Ducats, risen Nobles, Angelot's, royals, and Sheep with the long wool, will come in fashion again, with plenty of Seraphs and Crowns of the sun. Nevertheless about the middle of the Summer, the coming of some black fleas, and corn mites, is to be feared,— adeò nihil est ex omni parte beatum; but they must be moderated by evening collations, A take over night a medicine for the fleas. Italy, Romagna, Naples, Sicily, shall remain where they were the last year. They shall dream soundly about the end of Lent, and sometimes shall talk idly, when 'tis towards Noon. Germany, Switzerland, Saxony, Strasbourg etc, shall thrive if they don't break. The Pardon sellers ought to dread them. And this year many anniverssaries shall not be founded. Spain, Castille, Portugal, Arragon, shall be very subject to sudden alterations: and the young as the old, shall be very much afraid to die; and therefore shall keep themselves warm, and often tell their Dollars if they have any. England, Scotland, the Easterlings, shall be but bad Pantagruelists. Wine would be as wholesome for them as Beer, provided 'twere good & delicate. At all tables their hopes shall be in an after Game. Saint Traignant of Scotland shall do divers and sundry miracls; but he shall see never the better, for all the Candles that are offered to him. If Aries lose not his horns, the Moscovites, Indians, Persians and troglodytes shall be often troubled with the bloody flux, because they will not be gulled by the Romanists. By reason of the dance of ascendant Sagittarins, Bohemians, Jews, Egyptians, will not this year be reduced into that condition they expect. Venus threatens them cruelly with the King's evil in the throat: but they shall yield to the will of the King of butterflies. Escargots, Sarabogites, Canquemares, Cannibals, shall be much troubled with horseflies, and not much inclined to lechery, unless Guaicum be in Request. Austria, Hungary, Turkey, by my faith, my good fellows, I know not how 'twill be with them; and very little do I care, considering the brave entry of the sun into Capricorn; And if you know any more, say nothing of it, but stay till the lame Post comes. CHAP. VII. Of the four Seasons of the Year: and first of the Spring. IN all this year, there shall be but one Moon, Neither shall it be a new one. You blades, that do not believe in God are very sorry for it. You that persecute his holy and divine word together with those that maintain and stand for it; But go hang yourselves, never shall there be other Moon, than that which God created at the beginning of the World; and which by the power of his aforesaid sacred word was placed in the great firmament to light and guide mankind by night. But hold, I will not from hence infer that she doth not show greater or lesser light to the people upon earth, according as she is near or far off the sun: for why, for as much as &c. Besides, don't pray to God to keep her from the wolves, for they shall not so much as touch with her this year I assure you. Oh! to our purpose. You shall see this season more flowers by half than in all the other three, and he shall not be thought a fool that in this season makes his provision of money rather than of cobwebs all the year after. The Griffons and Chestnuts of the mountains of Savoy, Dauphine, Hyperborcans, that have perpetual Snows shall be disappointed this season; and there shall be none, according to the opinion of Avicen, who says, that 'tis then Spring when the Snow falls from the mountains. Believe this, Porter. In my time, they thought it winter when the sun entered into the first degree of Aries. If they reckon otherwise now, I am satisfied, and will hold my tongue. CHAP. VIII. Of Summer. IN Summer, I know not what winds will be abroad, but I know that 'twill be hot weather, and the southerly wind will reign. Nevertheless if it should happen otherwise, we must not blaspheme God, for he is wiser than we are, and knows better what is necessary for us than we ourselves. Yea, I'll assure you, upon my honour, what ever Haly and his Disciples have said of it, You'll do well to be Merry and drink in Fresco, although some have said that there is nothing more contrary to thirst. And I likewise believe it, Contraria contrariis curantur. CHAP. ix.. Of autumn. IN autumn, will be the vintage, or before, or after; 'tis all one to me so we have drink enough. Paper will now be in season, for some that think only to fart will bravely beshit themselves; Them and those that have vowed to fast, till the stars appear in the sky, may now by my Grant and dispensation feed abundantly; and in troth, they have stayed long enough. For I tell you they have been fast enough there, this 16 thousand and I know not how many more days ago. Hope not henceforward to catch Larks when the sky falls, for upon my honour it shall not fall in your days. Hypocrites, zealots, Pardon-sellers, Begging friars, and such kind of Counterfeit Companions, shall come out of their holes; every one have a care of himself that will: beware likewise of Arrests when you eat Fish, and from poison God keep you. CHAP. X. Of Winter. ACcording to my little understanding, those will have no great wit that in winter sell their furs to buy wood; for the Ancients did not so, as Avenzovart witnesses. Be not melancholy if it rain, you'll have the less dust upon the roads. Keep yourselves warm, beware of Catarrhs and Colds; Drink of the best, whilst the worst mends, and henceforward shit no more in Bed. O ho, Poultry do you go so high to roost? End of the Pantagrueline Prognostication. FINIS.