Verus Pater, OR A bundle of Truths. Containing a Prognostication, necessary at all times, showing Physical precepts, and rules of good husbandry, with some other Astronomical rules fit to be observed.  
And dedicated to the ancient memory of old Erra-Pater, and his honest meaning.  
Printed at London for T. L. dwelling on snow-hill. 1●●●   
Verus Pater, Heath of Body.  

Part. 1. The Natural Composition of man's Body.  
EVery man's natural body is compounded and made of seven natural things, that is to say, of Elements, of Temperaments, of Humours, of Members, of Powers, of Operations, and Spirits.  

Exposition of Elements.  
AN Element being a first beginning, is a thing pure and simple, of which all things are made, & into which all things are resolved, and not discernible by the outward senses, being the least part of the thing made thereof; and of Elements there are only four, as Fire, Aire, Water, Earth.  
Fire, is next the Moon, and of operation hot and dry, but most exceedeth in heat; and the virtue is to move matter to generation, to separate things of diverse kinds, and to join things of like kinds together: it doth ripen, digest, mix, and open.  
Aire, is next the fire, it is hot and moist, but especially moist: The virtue is to make things receive shape naturally or accidentally; it cooleth the burning of the heart, and maketh all mixed bodies penetrable and light.  
Water, is next the Air, it is cold and moist, but most cold: The virtue is to join together things of diverse kinds, to cool the violence of the fire, and to gather together things which are dispersed.  
Earth, is next unto the Water; it is dry and cold, but most dry: The virtue is to harden bodies, and make them retain shape.   

Exposition of Temperaments.  
TEmperaments (which are the mixture of the Elements beforesaid) are nine, that is to say, eight unequal, & the ninth equal: Of the eight unequal, four are simple, and four are compound. The four simple ace, Hot, Cold, Moist, Dry; the first two being active, the latter passive. The four compound are, Hot and Moist, Hot and Dry, Cold and Moist, Cold and Dry. Now the ninth equal Temperament is either general or special; if general, than it is when there is an equal proportion of the four Elements, and no more of one then of another: If special, then when the Elements are proportioned as every kind doth require, be it man, beast, or plant. To these you may add the second qualities, which are divided into two branches, either touchable or not touchable: if touchable, they are softness, hardness, smoothness, roughness, toughness, bricklenes, lightness, heaviness, thinness, thickness, smallness, and grossness. If they be not touchable, than they appertain to the senses, as noises to hearing, colours to seeing, odours to smelling, etc. which truly marked, will discover any sickness.   

Exposition of Humours.  
THe humours in man are four, first Blood, which is of the nature of the Air, and sweet in taste. Secondly, Fleame, which is of the nature of water, and wallowish in taste. Thirdly, Choler, which is of the nature of fire and bitter in taste. And lastly, Melancholy which is of the nature of the earth, and sour in taste. Now though these are generally over all the body, yet they have their particular places, as blood about the heart, phlegm in the brain, choler in the Liver, and melancholy in the spleen; Blood nourisheth, phlegm moveth, choler emptieth, and melancholy filleth.   

Exposition of Members.  
MEmbers are of two kinds, either Semblable, or Instrumental; if Semblable, then being divided into parts, each part is alike in substance to the whole, & have but one name with the whole, as Flesh, Bone, Senewe etc. If Instrumental, then being made of parts semblable and divided, the parts are not alike, nor have one name with the whole; as Head, Hand, Foot, etc. And of these instrumental members four are most principal, as the Brain, the Heart, the Liver, and the Genitals: the first three preserving the particular body, the last, the whole kind; also from the Brain springeth the sinews, from the heart the arteries, from the Liver the veins, and from the genitals, the vessels of seed.   

Exposition of Powers.  
THe powers ruling in man are three; The first Animal, & proceedeth from the brain, giving by the sinews, feeling and moving to the whole body; The second Vital, and proceedeth from the heart, giving by the arteries, life and spirit to the whole body. The third Natural, and proceedeth from the Liver, giving by the veins nutriment to the whole body: and from this power natural issueth four other powers, as the power Attractive which draweth sustenance to nourish; the power Retentive, which keepeth it received; the power Digestive which digesteth it; and the power Expulsive whereby it avoids excrements.   

Exposition of Operations.  
OPerations are the actions proceeding from the powers, as from the power Animal proceeds the operation to discern, to move, and to feel: from the power Vital proceeds the operation to restrain and to loosen the heart: and from the power Natural proceeds the operation to engender, to increase, to nourish, to desire, to drain, to change, to digest, to retain, and to expel. Now these operations are either voluntary, or not voluntary: The voluntary are those which a man may further or hinder at pleasure, as going, standing or lying down; and those not voluntary, are they which depend not on the will of man, but are done of their own accord, & naturally, 〈◊〉 the moving of the heart, passage of the blood, beating of the pulse, & such like.   

Exposition of Spirits.  
A Spirit which is the fine, pure, clear, and airy substance of man, is divided into two kinds, the Spirit Animal, which giveth feeling and moving unto man, and hath his palace in the brain, being continually watered and nourished with the call thereof; and the Spirit Vital, which is the cause of all the natural heat in the body, and hath his palate in the heart, being nourished and preserved partly by breathing, and partly by blood. And these seven thus treated of, being preserved in their true force and virtue, man is ever sound and perfect; but corrupted or troubled, the body falls into most mortal sickness.   

What impaireth man's health.  
THe things which impair man's health, are accounted not natural, and they are fire, as Air, Meat and Drink, Moving and Rest, Sleep and watching, emptiness and fullness, and the Affects of the mind: any of which disorderly applied, bring sickness; but orderly used, they do preserve the body. To these may be added other three, as Causes, the Sickness, and Accidents. The causes are evil affects going before, and promoving sickness; and they are of two kinds, as internal, which breed within the body, and external, as those without, as heat, cold, or wounds.  
Sickness is an evil Affect against nature, and is of three kinds, the first in parts alike, the second in parts instrumental, and the third in both. The first is simple, as when one quality aboundeth; or compound, as when diverse do exceed.  
The second is an evil constitution, known by the shape, number, quantity, or site of the member diseased.  
The third a division of the unity, as a fracture in the bone, a wound or ulcer in the flesh, a rupture in the veins, a convulsion in the sinews, & an excoriation in the skin.  
Again, some sickness is called long some short and sharp; the first is tedious but hopeful, the latter dangerous.  
There is Sickness by itself, and sickness by consent; the first troubling the member in which it is, the other going from one member to an other, as from the stomach to the head, or from the head to the eye, etc.  
To every Sickness belongeth four times, the beginning of the sickness, the increasing, the state, and the declination.  
Lastly, for the signs of sickness they are known four several ways; as first by inseparable accidents, as shape, number, quantity, and site of the part diseased: Secondly, by alteration of quality; thirdly, by the hindrance or trouble of any action; and lastly, by the urine and excrements.   

Use of Physic helps.  
FIrst, it is to be understood that the cure of all diseases consists in Bleeding, Purging, Bathing, and Giving Fire; and in any of these consider whether it be to keep the body in health, or for the present cure of any part diseased.  
If to keep the body in health, then consider the state of the body, as whether it be in youth, at man's estate, in age, or else old age, than the complexion, as hot, and dry, cold, and moist; then the constitution, as grossness, or leanness; and lastly, the time of the year, as the spring which is the best, the Summer evil, Harvest indifferent, and Winter naught.   

Of Bleeding.  
TOuching bleeding, it is meet the body be ordered & prepared thereunto, as by a preparative given by the counsel of the Physician, to prepare the humours; which if time will not allow, then give a Glister over night, and open the vein in the morning, and fasting, an hour or two after the rising of the Sun, avoiding by all means possible, the hours of Saturn and Mars. As for the quantity, the melancholy man may lose most blood, the Sanguine less than the Melancholy; the Choleric less than the Sanguine, and the Phlegmatic lest of all. After bleeding drink a hearty draught of claret wine with a toast, and use meats of light digestion for three days after, and in that space abstain from riding, running, and leaping, vaulting, wrestling, fencing, tennis, bowling, bathing, and venery.  
If you will bleed according to age, then let blood from the age of 14. to 26. years, in the first 7. days of the age of the moon: from 26. to 38. in the second 7. days of the age of the moon: from 38. to 52. in the third 7. days of the age of the Moon: from 52. to 64. in the fourth 7. days of the age of the Moon.  
If to bleed after complexions, let the choleric blood, when the Moon is in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces; the Phlegmatic when the Moon is Aries, Leo, Sagittarius; the melancholy when the Moon is in Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius; the Sanguine in Taurus, Capricornus, or any sign before named.  
The second preparation for health, which is purging, is used three several ways, as by electuary, by potion or pill, which generally may be done when the Moon is in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, but particularly to purge by complexion, let the melancholy purge when the Moon is in Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius; the choleric or Phlegmatic, when the Moon is in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces: & for the preparing of the body let it be, 3. 5. or 7. days before, kept warm, close, from air, and stir up and down in the chamber, till the medicine have done working.  
To these may be added other evacuations, as sneezing or gargarisms, which would be ta'en when the Moon is in Cancer, Leo, or Scorpio; vomits, which would be ta'en when the Moon is in Cancer, or Aries; and glisters which would be administered when the Moon is in Aries, Taurus, or Capricornus, and the planet not retrograde.  
The third preparation for health is bathing, which if it be for cleanliness, let the Moon be in Libra, or Pisces; if for grossness of body, let the Moon be in Aries, Leo, or Sagitarius; if for dryness of body, let the Moon be in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces. After bathing go to a bed with warm and dry sheets, and let the body be well chafed with dry clothes. To this bathing may be added sweeting, with the like observations in every circumstance.  
The cure of bodies diseased must carry all these considerations, the age of the party diseased, his strength and complexion: then in the disease consider the beginning, the increase, and the declination: whether it be universal over the whole body, or particular in a member; then the nature of the disease, the quality of the medicine, the manual operation & the inward administration.  
Lastly, in case of every desperate cure, outwardly Fire is to be given, and the giving of fire is called Cauterizing, which is to be done two several ways, the first actual, the latter potential: the actual cauterizing is done by instrument or hot iron, made according to the member offended, either sharp to slive, or round to open: this stoppeth corruption of members, and stauncheth blood, provided the sinews, cords and ligaments be not touched; and the best instruments for the same are of gold, or silver, the next copper, and the worst iron.  
The Potential cauterizing is by medicine, as medicines corosive, putrefactive, or caustic: for corrosives they are either simple or compound: simple corrosives are Roch-allume burnt or unburnt, Lyme, red Coral, powder of Mercury, etc. Compound are Vnguentum Apostolorum, Vnguentum Aegiptiacum, Vnguentum Ceraceum, etc.  
Medicines putrefactive are Arsenic, Refalgar, Crysocollo, Aconitum, etc.  
Medicines caustic are strong Lie, Vitriol, Aqua fortis, etc. and of these, Corosives are weaker than Putrefactives, & Putrefactives weaker than Caustics: Corosiues work in the soft flesh, Putrefactives in hard flesh, and Caustics break the skin.   

The number of bones in a man's body.  
IN the head be nine bones, in the nose two, in the upper chap eleven; in the neither chaps two, behind the chaps one; the teeth are thirty, in the chine are thirty, in the breast seven, in ribs twenty four, in the neck two, in the shoulders two, from the shoulder to the elbow in each arm one, from the elbow to the wrist in each arm two; in each hand eight, above the palm four, in the fingers of each hand are fifteen; in the huckles two, in the thighs two, in each knee one, from the knee to the stobbe in each leg two, in each ankle one, in each heel one, in each sole four: in the toes four & twenty: so that the whole number, excepting gristles and appendices to the greater bones are two hundred forty four.   

The number of all the principal veins in a man's body, which may be opened on special occasions.  
IN the midst of a man's forehead is one vein, behind his ears two; in the temples two, under the tongue two, in the neck two, in the arm four, one leading to the head, another to the heart, the other to the Liver, and the last to the milt: between the fingers one, in the sides of women: bathe oft in cold water the hands, face and mouth, and sometimes the whole body, and by use of sugar-candy, break and avoid all phlegm morning and evening.  
In Autumn or Harvest, be clad as in the Spring, and let blood or purge as you have occasion; eat all wholesome and strong meats, and drink strong wines with moderation, abstain from fruit, bathe not at all, and sleep not after dinner; keep the head warm, the stomach reasonably filled, and the body from violent labour.  
In Winter keep the body as warm as may be, eat strong meats and lusty, drink strong wines and full, use now and then spices, sleep moderately, and labour sound.    

Verus Pater. Wealth of Fortune, Or Rules of good Husbandry.  

Particular seasons to do Rural business in.  
THe particular observations for any husbandly business, is to know the state of the Moon, and in what signs she is under, for so the work prospereth or decayeth. Therefore every careful man or woman, must sow their seeds or grain, in moist ground when the Moon is decreasing, and in dry ground when she is increasing, and under Aries, Cancer, Scorpio, Libra, Sagittarius, Capricornus, or Pisces.  
Plant and graft trees when the moon is under Taurus, Leo, or Libra, either in March or April, October or November, the weather open, and the Sun shining.  
Dress your Vines in the same months, when the Moon is at the full, & under Taurus, Leo, or Scorpio, but not earlier or later, for fear of bleeding, which is most dangerous.  
Geld your cattle from the last quarter to the change, and either in the spring or Fall; for the Summer breeds the maggots, & the Winter causeth swelling and impostumations; and let the moon be under Aries, Sagittarius or Capricornus,  
Sheare sheep from june till the end of july, and the moon increasing.  
Mowe hay in june and july: reap Corn in july and August, immediately after the full moon.  
Fell Timber for building, in April & May, when the Moon is in the last quarter; and fuel in any time of the Spring or Fall, and the Moon increasing.  
Plash hedges, or cut the undergrowth of any young wood in the spring or fall, the moon increasing, and under Aries or Libra.  
Put your Stallion to your Mares in the months of April or May, and the Moon increasing, and wean your foals in the full only.   

The particular duties of every Month.  
IN january let out the Plough, either to fallow light earth's, or to plow stiff bean earth's; cut down timber that it may not chink or r●●e; Stub up rough pastures, and lay smooth your meadows? dig your gardens to prepare the mould; and trench in your meanuce: upon your hives and trim them, bore the roots of fruit trees from the earth, break up your lay ground, and have a careful eye to the sheep fold, for Ewes of the Fallows are now yeaning and in danger.  
In February sow your beans and mixed great pulse, cleanse your trees of moss and your hedges of Caterpillars, prune your fruit trees, lay quicksets, plant Roses, or what else beareth pricks, graft trees, slip branches, and set them, and plash and prune quicksets.  
In March sow fitches', and small pulse, oats, and in name, barley: in the beginding plant and graft fruit trees, renew those roots that were bared in january: with fresh earth; at the latter end begin to sow barley, and if the season serve, carry out your manure. Now begin your kitchen Garden, sow your earliest seeds, and remove the slips of those flowers that were planted in September and October.  
In April make an end of your Barley seed, sow Hemp and flax, make your Garden perfect, and sow all sorts of potherbs, slip herbs and set them, set up your Vines, and plash and trim all your curious fruit trees: it is now good to graft all outlandish fruit, and to plant & sow their strange flowers.  
In May sow Barley upon hot sand ground: plant Cucumbers, Gourds & Melons, slip your Gillyflowers, and set them in a bed thick and close together: now Summer-stire all such land as you fallowed in january, and fallow such land as was not then to be ploughed; now apply your meanuring, and as the season will serve, bring home fuel, Timber and Lynsell, and be sure to make good your fences.  
In june shear your sheep, mow your low meadows, plant, graft, or set any herb, flower, or fruit that is tender: make an end of Summer stirring, and turn all your manure into the mould; now fouled your sheep, and be sure to make them beat off the dew with their feet, before they begin to feed in the morning.  
In july cut down your high meadows, re-plant herbs you would not have seed, begin to foil your Summer stirring, and stir your latter fallowing; gather flowers and preserve them: look upon your Rye, and if the ears begin to hang downward; shear it, and by all means cleanse your Barley from thistles, weeds, and other annoyance.  
In August make an end of foiling your land, gather your plums and summer fruit, shear your Rye & wheat, and gather in your Oats; also at the end begin to mow down your Barley: now geld your Lambs, and make sale or cut down the wood you may spare for that winter.  
In September reap your Beans and pease, slip all sorts of garden flowers and replant them. At the later end begin to sow Wheat and Rye, and winter rig that fallow land which is for Barley: Now break up all Innam land for Barley the next year, and manure it: now fouled your sheep where you mean to sow Wheat and Rye, and cast up and cleanse all your drains, to keep your lands dry all winter.  
In October make an end of your Wheat and Rye seed, and an end of Winter rigging: Scour ponds and diches, and carry the soil to your Corn field that is fallowed: set pears, plums, & Apples; graft, plant, plash or set any tree or quick goweth; remove all sorts of trees, especially all such as bear kernels, and gather roots and seeds at pleasure.  
In the beginning of November you may sow Wheat or Rye in warm places, and do any work to be done in October, whether in the field, the Orchard or the garden, especially if the soil be warm & of an hot temper. Now is the best time to provide plough timber, to rough hue it & fashion it, & then lay it up to season, of which the Yew tree is the best, the Elm next, and the Ash last. In this month take your cattle into the house; malt for the whole year following, and be sure to make your Lenten provisions.  
In December thrash out such Corn as you may exchange for other household provision; feed Brawns, Poultry, and whatsoever quick food is meet to be eaten in Christmas; make your greatest slaughter of swine, and vent away the profits of your summer Dairy: now keep open your drains, and avoid Inundations, and apply well either for profit or recreation the Art of foulling in all natures; for both land and water are now most abundant, and the birds soon deceived.   

General preservations of Corn whilst it is upon the ground.  
THe evils which annoy Corn whilst it is in the earth, or growing upon the earth, are twelve in number, to wit, six natural, and six supernatural.  
The six natural offenders and slayers of Corn, are Moales, Mice, Field-Rats, Pismires, Snails, and Worms.  
The six supernatural offenders of Corn are, Lightning, Thunder, Frost, Mist or Fogs, Hail or Tempests, and lastly Blast or Planet stroke.  
To cure these in general, observe to sow your grain as early after the change of the Moon as is possible, for as the Moon groweth, so corn waxeth and becomes full, big and sound; and as the Moon waineth so corn decreaseth, and groweth, small, dry, and little yielding.  
But for the particular remedies, you shall understand that to prevent Moales (which do dig up the ground and eat the roots of the corn) when the time of the year is passed for the ordinary taking of them (which is spring and fall) you shall with the smoke of Gunpowder or Assafoedi●a perfume their haunts, and it is a present remedy.  
If your corn be annoyed with field mice or those shrews which have swine heads, take Arsenic, honey, and lime, and make it into paste, and scatter it here and there, about, and in the lands.  
For field Rats (because their holes and haunts are to be perceived) take Poppey seeds bruised, and Crysocollo mixed with crushed wheat, and therewith bait their holes, or the driest parts about the land, and it destroyeth them.  
If Pismires offend you, take the roots of Gentian, & boil them to a decocttion, and therewith sprinkle the places where you see them begin to build or resort, and they will be destroyed.  
Where snails are offensive, whether they be black or grey, take the corrupt dregges of the strongest Train oil, and mix it with the ashes of holly bark burnt, & sprinkle it about or upon your corn, and no snail will come near it; and yet the grain will be the better, and the soil the fatter.  
As for worms, if they trouble your corn, the first and chiefest prevention, is to Summer-stirre your land in the greatest drought or driest season you can find in the summer; & though the ground be never so hard, rather adventure your plough breaking, than the abstaining from that order; for it both kills worms, weeds, and thistles. Or if not this, then take the in need of further help, then take Arsenic and Mercury sublimate, and sew it close and fast in a leather bag, and hang it in or else near your garner, and no corruption will at any time approach it.  
Oil lees sprinkled on corn will do the same, so will the powder of chalk, dried Wormwood, the earth of Olinthus, or Cerinthus, or the dried leaves of Yew or Cypress; lastly vinegar, and Lacerpitium, mixed and sprinkled in a moderate manner, infinitely preserveth all manner of pulse whatsoever.  
As for vessels to keep grain in long and without putrefaction, your salt fish barrels inwardly well daubed with plaster, is the best, or pitched barrels sprinkled with vinegar; so are Oil barrels dried and daubed as aforesaid, or for want of plaster to dawb them with pitch and soap ashes, or lime vinegar and soap ashes. Lastly, the dry hutch, chest, or b'ing of dry Oak wood, being well seasoned, will keep corn an hundred years without putrefaction: and where they are not to be got, there if the soil be dry & without moisture, as in rocks, sands, or where springs abound not, there handsome and close caucs made in the earth, and covered so as the air may not enter, will keep corn long and sound without taint, and as well as any art before rehearsed.   

A general rule to perfect all manner of works in Husbandry.  
THe ancient Fathers or Masters in Husbandry, have appointed for every work in husbandry his especial time, and season, as at plow-day and not before to fallow, at S. Valen●ines day to sow Beans, at S. Chadds' day to sow all sorts of small pulse and Oats; a fortnight before our Lady's day in March, and a fortnight after to sow Barley at S. George's day to fell great timber, at Ascention day to plant herbs and flows, at S. john Baptist to cut down meadows, and shear sheep; at S. james day to reap Rye, at Lammas Wheat, at S. Bartholomew's day Barley, and at the nativity of Mary, Pease: also to sow Hemp and flax on S. Wilfreds' day; to carry it to the water on S. Margaret's day, and to begin to ripple and brake at S. Mathewes day, with a world of such like other observations, which the Husbandman might by no means either go before or come after. Now let every one understand that the best time to undertake any of these works, is five days at least before any of these feasts and seasons, if the weather be constant and fit for the purpose. For the years having gone on so long, and every year losing certain minutes, we cannot choose but to have lost in our computation diverse days at least: and though not so many as the Roman computation would have us, which is ten, yet doubtless five may be well suffered in any of the Husbandman's works and labours, and in his observations he shall find both the increase and profit. As touching the laying of Meadows, or dryning of your grounds for meadow, it matters not though you keep the old form of the ancient Husbandmen, which is, to lay your upland or high meadows at the annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, and your low and more fruitful meadows at the feast of Philip and jacob, commonly called May day: for the seasons are fit, and the time long enough for the growth.   

Ordinary signs of fair weather.  
THe flying of night bats early in the evening, the next day will be fair: the moon appearing in the West, fair, and clear without vapours about her, three days before the opposition, and three days after the conjunction, showeth long fair clear weather to ensue: the flying of Kites together, the declining of clouds downwards, the rising or setting of the Sun clear without any clouds: If any mist fall either in the spring or harvest time, shows that a fair day: the hooting of an owl in rainy weather, the gaping of Daws in the morning, Ants, or Mites removing their eggs: the rising of any steam or mist in the morning, before the Sun over any waters, pools, martish or meadows, the appearing of a white circle about the moon in the form of a crown: The swarming of bees, a red sky in the evening, showeth a fair day to ensue. The gaping of Ravens and crows in Sun, the flying of humble bees, drones, beetles or any such flies in the evening, also when it lighteneth the day being clear, sudden showers of rain after any great winds, the circle or circles about th● Sun, if they be clear and no continuance: Look for fair weather, also in the Winter, if in the evenings the firmament be full of stars, & the wind easterly, judge frosty hard weather: the moon being in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius, in Winter you may judge fair weather, but in Summer immoderate heat. And to conclude, when all shrews have dined, and the cloudy substance of their anger be dispersed, their brows smooth without wrinkles, their countenance smiling, you may well hope then for fair weather.   

Ordinary signs of windy, rainy, and other tempestuous weather.  
THe rising of the Sun, thinly overcast with a cloud, if at the setting the Sun be of diverse colours or clouds like water: you may judge of rain to follow. If at his setting, it be a mist or rain in the evening, it is a token of rainy weather to ensue: if the circles about the Sun be dispersed and broken, and are thick & black, look for cold wind or snow. Also, the moon being pale or somewhat too black or thick, rain followeth: and the earth sucking up the rain extraordinarily, the bubbling of springs, or old springs flowing faster than they were wont, the appearing of the rainbow in clear weather, the extraordinary biting of fleas, the moistness of stones in any cellar or pavement, the falling of soot from chimneys, also a violent heat in summer: The Clement cloudy and of a dark dusky substance, the wind in the south, or northwest, the rainbow appearing in the south, showeth much rain to ensue in those parts, & the greener the rainbow is, the greater rain it doth signify: the extraordinary feeding of cattle, the moistness of salt, the weather extraordinary hot at sunrising or setting; if it thunder when the wind is easterly, or westerly, bells being heard further than they were wont to be, without the help of wind, also thunder in the south, and worms coming out of the earth in great quantity in the evening, also woodlice walking, the croaking of frogs, souls bathing themselves in hot weather, mouldwarpes turning up the ground, especially, if the earth they turn up be small and dry: when the moon is 5 days old, mark the tipps of her horns, if they be blunt it signifieth rain, if the 4 day after her change she have a red circle about her, it doth signify winds & rain. The clouds dispersed seeming like to flocks of sheep: if the moon be in any of these signs, Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, in winter judge wet weather, but in Summer a pleasant temperature: all these aforesaid are tokens of rain. If the moon be in any of these signs, Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius, much wind ensueth: the conjunction, opposition, or quadrat aspect of Saturn, with the Sun or Moon showeth great alteration in the air. jupiter, with Mercury, or the Sun, showeth raging and tempestuous winds: the meeting of Mars and Venus, or jupiter and Mars, enforceth fearful thunders, lightnings, & rain. Lightning from the north, south, or south-west showeth wind to come from those parts: the diving of Moorehens, or dap-divers shaking their wings, is a token of wind: the sparkling of the fire, or the noise of the flame, the rising of the sea about the shore, the cakling of geese, duckslor other fowls: the beams of the Sun being red and broad, piercing the clouds like darts, all these foretell of wind. The Hedgehog hath two holes, or vents in his cave, the one towards the north, the other towards the south, look which of them he stoppeth, thence shall great storms and winds follow. Great store of spider webs flying about: as also Thunder in the morning, showeth winds to ensue. Those winds that begin by day time are of more continuance than those that rise in the night. The northern winds are ever more healthful than the southern winds: small store of water in winter, doth signify a moist and wet spring to follow, and an extraordinary hot summer, foretelleth of a moist winter to follow: the breaking of music strings made of guts, cats licking their forefeet, and therewith washing their heads, show rain. If old people are troubled with corns, toynt aches, or any other aches in their bodies, it is a sign of rain. The crying of Hearnshawes, and the extraordinary crowing of Peacocks, is a manifest token of rain; the bleating, playing or skipping of sheep wantonly, as also if swine do carry bottles of hay or straw to any place and hide them, is a token of the same: When cattle, horses, swine, or sheep, being upon any great common make haste home, it is a manifest token of a storm to come presently. If any vessels of glass or any white wall, or any thing of wood or iron, grow moist and dampish, & yield any water without manifest cause, it is a sign that it will rain not long after. If the the clouds in summer, it signifies foul and stormy weather, so is it when small worms creep to the three leaved grass. Thunders in the morning signify wind, about noon rain, & in the evening great tempest. If it begin to freeze with an easterly wind, it is a token the cold weather is like to continue long. If the moon rise or appear with 2 or 3 clear circles about it, it is a sign the air will be very cold. It is a manifest sign 〈◊〉 cold weather, if the dew fall not in the ●orning, especially being not hindered by ●e wind. If the stars in winter time appear more bright, & clearer than ordinary ●hey are wont, or if they seem to send ●orth some little sparkles, it is a sign of ●treeme cold weather. If sea-birds fork the sea, or water fowls do the like, as ●ucks, drakes, mallards, wild geese, or such like be seen in the beginning of winter, to seek for great and broad waters which frieze not, or that they fly to she sea, it is a sign of very long cold weather. If for 2 or 3 days together the ●louds be very whitish towards the evening it is a sign of much snow: if when it raines the air be troubled and ouer●ast, & the the clouds be more whitish than they were wont, it is a manifest token of snow, and so much the more if the air be warm or sultry. If the summer been moist, wet, and cloudy, it is a sign that all fruits, corn, and all kind of pulse will be in danger to be blasted and corrupted. If the Springtime be very cloudy, and full of mistress and hoary frosts, namely when trees do bud and blossom, and that the fields war green, it is also a token to be feared the fruits of the earth to be blasted, rotten, or destroyed: great store of snow in winter signifieth a plentiful year: also, if great store of snow fall on the plain, and champion fields, it is a token that the frost cannot continue long, and that great plenty of fruit, herbs, roots, and corn, and pasture will be; which God in his mercy grant unto us.   

The cause of the Sun Eclipsed.  
THe Eclipse of the Sun is nothing else but the interposition of the body of the Moon betwixt us and the Sun. And note this, that the Sun is never Eclipsed, but at a new Moon, for then the Moon is just underneath the Sun: for the further the Moon goeth from the Sun, the more her light increaseth: Yet the Sun is not Eclipsed every new Moon, the reason is because she is sometimes on one side of the Sun, and sometimes on the other; and when she happeneth just under that t Sun, then doth she eclipse & hide her light from us.   

The cause of the Moon's Eclipse.  
THe Eclipse of the Moon is nothing but the interposition of the body of the earth betwixt her and the Sun: for the Moon herself, as also all other stars whatsoever, the Sun excepted, are dark and have no light of themselves, but that the Sun shineth on them continually, and so maketh them to cast a light; and the earth being between the Sun, and the Moon, shadoweth the light of the Sun from the Moon; and further observe, that as the Sun is never Eclipsed, but at a new Moon, so is the Moon never Eclipsed, but when she is just at the full, for than she is farthest off from the Sun, and just over against him, but the earth is betwixt them.   

Of the 4. principal Winds showing their nature and effects.  
THe East wind is hot and dry, being temperate, sweet and healthful, especially at the rising of the Sun, which maketh it the purer, expelling all infe●on gathered into man's body, causing fair sun shine weather; yet sharp wind● especially in the winter, frosts and suc● like cold weather.  
The West wind is temperate, hot an● moist, making all flowers, grass an● herbs, as also trees, plants, and the like to spring, dissolving hard frosts & snow especially the Sun shining fair & clean  
The North wind for the most part is cold and dry, bringing extremity of cold weather, being very wholesome in aspect it draweth away noisome contagious infectious airs; yet is an enemy to a forward spring, in the nipping of th● fruits of the earth.  
The South wind is hot and moist, provoking in the general rain, thick cloudy weather, and sickness.   

What Thunder and Lightning is.  
THunder and lightning is a hot and dri● exhalation mixed with moisture, attracted into the middle Region by the extraordinary heat, and beams of the Sun● closed in the body of a cloud, where being ●o contraries fight together, break 〈◊〉 substance of the cloud violently, maung that extraordinary terrible noise ●armed by us thunder: and the sudden ●e that cometh before it to our visible aht (though both break the cloud at an ●●stant) is termed by us lightning, which ●th many strange effects, as hurting and ●rning the intralls, the outward skin spearing fair; killing the child in the ●ombe, the mother not hurt: melting the ●ony in the purse, and the sword in the scabbard, when the purse & scabbard are ●ot burned: betwixt these two contrarie●es of thunder and lightning is ingen●ed betwixt them in the cloud a gross substance, or stone termed by us the thunderbolt, which at the breaking of the ●oud is violently cast out, and where it ●oth light it much indangereth.   

A necessary rule fit to be observed in good husbandry for the avoiding of unnecessary expense.  
A Peny a day is by the year one pound, one half pound, one groat, one penny: which in all cometh to one pound, te● shillings, five pence.  
Two pence a day, by the year is tw● pounds, two half pounds, two groats▪ two pence, which put together comme● to three pounds ten pence.  
Three pence a day, by the year cometh to three pounds, three half pound● three groats, and three pence: which being put together, cometh to four● pounds, eleven shillings, three pence.  
Four pence a day, by the year cometh to four pounds, four half pounds, four groats, and four pence● which being put together, cometh to six pounds, one shilling and eight pence.  
And thus may you do of any other● some of five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, pence the day, cometh by the year, observing to reckon as before: as twelve pence the day, say, twelve pounds▪ twelve half pounds, twelve groats, and twelve pence, is in the whole year eighteen pounds, and five shillings: and thus I leave you, & rest always your loving friend, Verus Pater.  
FINIS.