Modest Observations ON The Present Extraordinary FROST: CONTAINING 

I. A Brief Description thereof, and its Natural Celestial Causes inquired into.  
II. An Account of the most Eminent Frosts that have happened for many Hundred years past, and what followed thereupon.  
III. Philosophical Presages of what may be feared now to ensue, viz. Scarcity of Corn and Victuals, General Sicknesses, and Pestilences in the next, or within some very few Succeeding years; with Cautionary Preventions.  
IV. The Cries of the Poor; and an easy Way Proposed how there may be Twenty Thousand Pounds a Week, at least, raised for their Relief, about LONDON, and all Wanting People Plentifully Provided for, During this and the like hard Seasons, yet no Man be a Penny the worse in his Estate.    
By T. T.  
Entered According to Order.  
London, Printed by George Larkin, at the lower End of Broadstreet, next to London-Wall, 1684.   

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FROST etc.  
THe present Wonderful Frost, which is the General Theme of Discourse, and under the sad Effects whereof so m●ny Thousands of Poor Cre●tures Shiver and Pine, and Languish; began about the midst of December 1683. at first by mean and ordinary Degrees, but towards Christmas become v●ry Sharp; The first Week of january the River of Thames was so Frozen, that People began to Walk over; On Monday january the 7th, on the Change of the Moon in Aqu●ry, there were Expectations, and some Likelihood, of a Thaw; but presently after it Fr●ze more violently, and on the 10th and 11th in the morning, a Co●ch Plied between the T●●ple and the Old Barge house; yet towards Night the 11th (the Moon having been in Opposition to jupiter) it Thawed a little; and the 12 and 13th was fine Gentle Wether, yet not much Thawing; the Wind continuing still at North-East; On the 13th it Froze gain briskly, till the 17th, when a great Snow fell; the 18th high, most sharp, and piercing Winds, and on the 23d the Air was more severely Piercing than ever, and more Snow fell; And being the first day of the Term, Coaches Plied at the Templ●-Staires, and carried the Lawyers to Westminster on the Ic●; and thence forward the same Continued, and whole Streets of Shedds every where ●uilt on the T●ames, T●ousands Passing Buying, Selling, Drinking and Revelling, (I wish I could not say on the Lords D●y too,) and most sorts of Tr●des-Shops on the Ice, (and amongst the rest a Printing-house there E●●cted) Bulls Bai●ed, and Tho●sands of Spectator's; all which still continues at the Writing hereof, being january the 29th 168●/4.  
Nay, b●low the Bridge, hundreds daily pass; The River H●mber (as I am 〈◊〉 informed) where 'tis several Miles broad, is Frozen over, and V●st Flakes of Ice are seen Flo●ting in the Downs, of Divers Miles in Length, and proportionable Breadth.  
As for Celestial Causes of this unusual Coldness, though undoubtedly they were not wanting (For God generally Governs Inferiors by Superiors) yet I find not that any of our Common Pretenders had the least Apprehension, or gave any Hints thereof. Not that I wholly Explode Astrology; I believe there is something in it, and that it may not be unfit for a Wise and Modest Man to Study: but our Annual Prognosticators are generally Men of little Learning, and less Philosophy, and (what is worse) many times very irregular in their Lives; The God of Purity, who Communicates his Secrets to those that fear him, Illuminates not Debauche●s, Sordid Flatterers, and Timeservers, (whose whole end is to make a Noise, and Cheat People of their money,) with the knowledge of Supernal Mysteries; Nor can it be expected, That those who neither know things past, by History; nor take Notice of things Present, by any steady Judicious Observation, should yet foresee things to come.  
Whether from any of the Late Triple Conjunctions of the two Superior Planets, Saturn and jupiter, or from some of the late unusually frequent Comets, particulary the last in August 1682. which in 20 days with a Rapid motion, making its appearance in Leo, hurried through all the Signs Virgo, and Libra, and disappeared in Scorpio, A Sagacious Artist might not have given some Items of this Strange Wether, I will not Determine: But if Comets be only (according to Aristotle's Notion, which I question) hot and dry Exhalations drawn up from the Earth, it would not be difficult to Judge that Severe Colds should ensue here below: For Extremes in Nature, if they are not Causes, are at least Forerunners of their Contraries▪ Nor have there wanted Grand Configurations of the Superior Bodies; During the time of this violent Frost, As a Trine of the Sun and jupiter, an Opposition of Saturn and Mars. But leaving the Disquisition of these to the Curious, having not Room to Enlarge here, upon them; I hasten to satisfy the Common Reader with an Historical Review of former Occurrences of this kind; which may check that Vulgar Cry of Ignorance, That Never, O Never was known the Like.  
Livy in his fifth Book tells us of a Winter so hard, That the River Tiber was frozen over, a matter very strange in such a Climate as Italy. In the year 1234 the Adriatic Sea was so frozen, that the Venetians went over the Ice thereof with Carts. Zonara's assures us, that in the Reign of that Emperor Constantine (who for a Nasty Reason in his Christening, was called Copronymus) about the year 750. the Pontic Sea, was so Congealed, That people for many miles traveled it on foot: And Horses and Carts ●oaden, passed over the Fretum, or Narrow part of it; But withal he adds, that the Summer following was so excessive hot and dry, that great Rivers and most Fountains were wholly dried up, and People and cattle perished for want of water. In the year 821. the ●greatest Rivers of Europe, as the Rhine, the Danubius, the Elb, and the Sein, were so incrusted with Ice, that for the space of above 30 days, Carriages freely passed along on them, as on the Land.  
But to look nearer home— In the year of our Lord 1365. and 49th year of K. Edward the 3d, A Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Month of April; but though so tedious, the Cold was nothing so intense or violent as now. In the 15th year of the Reign of K. Henry the Eighth, after great Rains and Winds, there followed so sore a Frost, that many died for cold, and some lost Fingers, some Toes, and many their Nails: [I follow the very words of Sir R. Baker, fol. 297.] The same Author tells us, That in the seventh year of Q. Elizabeth, on the 21. of December, began a Frost so extreme, that on New-Years-Day-Even people passed over the Thames on foot, some played at Foot Ball, some shot at Pricks, as if it had been firm ground; yet this great Frost, the third of january at night, began to Thaw; and by the fifth day, there was no Ice to be seen, but great Inundations followed.  
In the year 1609. [which 'tis not impossible, but some Living might remember, being but 74 years ago] a Frost began in December, which continued till April following, with such violence, that the Thames was so frozen that Carts loaden, were frequently driven over it, most Fowls and Birds were destroyed. In the year 1637. was another Frost, which rendered the Thames passable; so in the year 1664 immediately followed by the Great Sickness; And the like towards the latter end o● the year 1676.  
Some of the Consequences of these extreme Frosts, I have mentioned, more I might, all are not Convenient; those that consult Chranology, may easily satisfy themselves; a man may soon err in assigning Effects to such or such particular Causes, or adapting Events to Significators; Modesty is the first Lesson in Wisdoms School. Therefore as we have been studious in matter of Fact, past; but sparing as to Sequels; so we shall retain the same becoming tenderness as to Future's; wherein we shall steer our Course rather by the Guidance of Nature in her usual Operations here below, than by curious Researches into remoter influential Causes above; though not neglecting them neither, For the Universe is Entire, Harmonical, and Sympathetical, and he that does not competently understand the right Tone of the whole, and the true Key of ●very part, will make but bad Music wherever he lays his Clumsy Fingers.  
First then I say, This Extremity of Cold presages many Calamities and Evils to attend Mankind, and the rest of their Fellow-Creatures; for as the Innocent Inhabitants of the Air, or expanded Suburbs of Heaven, viz. Birds and Fowls, are endangered by the Elements denying their usual Benefits and Provisions (wherein another fourth part of the Creation, viz. Fishes, are somewhat Concerned) so deg●●●d man, taking advantage of this Cruel Wether, does for profit, or pleasure, or vanity, destroy many thousands of them: Now this great destruction of them, is but a Fore runner of Mortality amongst Creatures of gre●t●r value, and even of men themselves. Would you know the reason? I told you but now, Universal Nature is Sympathetical.  
2●l●. This immoderate Cold locks up the Pores of men's Bodies, and drives the natural Heat more Central, which occasions great Appetite and Dr●●g●t, whence follows much and excessive Eating and Drinking of gross, fa●t-succulent Foods, and strong Drinks; in all that have wherewithal to procure them, which the voracious desires do at present seem abl● to bear and digest, yet really Nature is not able to do it, and so by degrees there are seeds sown and Foundations laid for Diseases. On the o●her hand, amongst the Poor, Necessity of feeding on unfit and unusual Viands, for their support at present, or defect of due Nourishment, must to them do as much mischief; For want is as great (though I think not so Common) an Enemy to Nature as Superfluity; The way ●o prevent these mischiefs is, for the Rich to observe Sobriety and Temperance, and for the Poor to use Discretion in thei● Diet, for a pint of M●lk with a quarte● of a pint of Water, thickened with on● Spoonful of Flower, and heated just ●o Boiling, and then putting into it a few Crumbs of Bread, (all which will not co●●●bove a Penny) sh●ll give ●ny person as nourishing a Meal as the best Sirloin of Beef or Capon. I mention not this to prevent Benevolences towards the Poor, which all that are able are bound to Afford, but only to Advise ●hem how to supply themselves when they meet not with other Accommodations, but find Rich M●n● Charity more Frozen than the Thames.  
3dly. This Excessive Frost Condenses the Air, and renders it Sulphurous and Unhealthy, especially in such Ci●ies as London, where S●a coals are generally used for Firing, and most People (especially Women) creep close to those fulsome Fires▪ without using themselves to proper Exercises, whereby their Blood stagnates, and becomes th●ck and foul, whence are Generated the scurvy, stoppages of the Bre●st, Coughs and shortness of Breath; the ill effects whereof will more manifest themselves next Spring and S●mmer.  
4thly. This Disharmony and Inequality of the Elements, portends a dry hot Summer to ensue, for all Extremes (as before observed) produce their Contraries, which will not only Increase Distempers, but I f●ar some Epidemical Disease, and it is also a Forerunner of Dearth and Scarcity, and the latter, is the more to be apprehended, because we have had several plentiful and Fruitful Years, and very few of us (scarce any) have Improved them to that End, for which they were given us by the Lord, and his hand maid, N●●u●e; Bu● most that abound in Plenty, have Gratified their Lusts and P●ssions, and such as have not had wherewith to comm●t the same Intemp●rances in Act, have done it in their W●lls and desires; And shall no● our God visit us for these and other crying Abominations, daily exhaled from our 〈◊〉 streets and Dwellings? I will not take upon m● to aver a Picque o● Scarcity shall be the next Year, jehovah the Alwise, is the Limiter of Times and Seasons for Extraordinary Judgements: But I may say, that pro●a●ly, according to the prospect of Natural Causes, such Calamities seem not far off, and 'twill concern every Man living to prepare for it; 

Qui sapit Ille animum Fortunae praeparat omni  
— Praevisumque potest, 〈◊〉 

〈…〉  
juvare 〈◊〉     

A Wis● Man fits his mind fo●●very C●●nce,  
And whilst he doth in 〈…〉 Advance,  
Each promised Good, Increaseth by his Skill,  
And kindly L●ss●ns every threatened iii.    
But to proceed. Great and no l●ss Just are the Cries of the Poor in such a sh●rp and pinching Season as ●his; For f●w of them h●ve the Opportunity, or at least the Prudence ●nd Foresight, to lay up any thing to support them in a necessitous Times. How many ●housands of ver● many Trades about this populous City▪ and elsewhere, cannot now possibly follow their Callings, or ge● any thing whereby to sustain themselves and Per●shing Families with Br●●d? And can you▪ whom God has but entrusted with plentiful Estates, gorge yourselves with overcharged Tables even to a surfeit, and Rio● wi●h excessive Bottles of Wine, whilst your Brethren thus languish and Dye for want of Necessaries? Can you but think that God at such a Juncture calls upon you for his Quitrent out of those vast Revenues which you hold me●rly by the Tenure of his free and undeserved Gift?  
Great and truly R●y●l has our gracious Sovereign's Bounty and Charity, showed itself on 〈◊〉 occasion, as well by bestowing a Considerable Sum Himself as Commanding the Officers of every Parish to Importune the Charity of 〈…〉 Inhabitants  
Pursuant to ●hi● Gr●at and Generous Example, Methinks all you that are Loyal Subjects, and would be thought good Christians, should be forward to Contribute to the Common Necessities; And what if you should resolve for one Day in a week, (at least during such an hard time) to restrain yourselves from large Eating and s●t Meals, and wholly on that day forbear Bibbing of Wine and strong Liquors (I dare promise you, it shall be never the worse for your Health, but the better, as also for your Business) and Employ what you so Save, in Charitable Uses to the Relief of the Poor? Such a thing has been done on a worse occasion within our Memory, and therefore is not Impracticable. By this only means within London's Bills of Mortality might easily be raised Twenty Thousands pounds a week for the Poor; And no Man a Farthing the worse, but even in his Estate the better (and much more in his Health, which is more Valuable than the greatest Estate in Christendom) for without dispute there are within that Circuit more than an Hundred thousand Families whose Dinners each Day Cost them (one with another) more than three Shillings each, I mean extravagantly, in Flesh, Fowls or Fish, when a little Bread and Cheese, Milk or the like, might as well, (nay I am sure would better) for once at least in a Week, supply Nature; Now one hundred thousand three Shillings is Fifteen-thousand pound; and then 'tis not to be doubted (since in this Age Generally more is spent in Drink, than Victuals) but tha● there are above one Hundred thousand Persons that daily lavish away above twelve pence a Day in Wine, Brandy, Ale, or some strong Liquors, which they forbearing but for one day in a week, and bestowing as aforesaid, thereby may be raised ●ive thousand pound more, and so in the whole twenty thousand pounds a week, which justly distributed, would bravely supply Four-score thousand Families, at Five shillings a week a piece, or afford an hundred and threescore thousand Poor People half a Crown a piece every week. And will you suffer such a Number of Souls to perish, for want, rather than abridge your wanton Palates and Insatiate Paunches of unnecessary, nay pernicious Danities, one only Day in a Week? Look up thou Sottish Epicure that Deniest it, and call thyself Christian hence forwards if thou Darest.   

ADVERTISEMENT.  
☞ There is lately published, A Treatise very Useful, Entitled— The way to Health, long Life, and Happiness etc. To be Sold by Andrew Sowle at the Crooked Billet in Holloway-Lane near Shoreditch.