Part 4

Huntingdon.

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ST. ANTHONY. (January 17th.)

It is affirmed of him that all the world bemoaned his death, for afterwards there fell no rain from heaven for three years.

ST. VINCENT. (January 22nd. Old Style. February 3rd. New Style.)

Remember in St. Vincent's Day If the sun his beams display, 'Tis a token bright and clear, That you will have a prosperous year.

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Winter's thunder's summer's wonder.

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ST. PAUL'S EVE. (January 24th.)

Winter's white shrowd doth cover all the grounde, And Caecias blows his bitter blaste of woe; The ponds and pooles, and streams in ice are bounde, And famished birds are shivering in the snowe.

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Still round about the house they flitting goe, And at the windows seek for scraps of foode Which Charity with hand profuse doth throwe, Right weeting that in neede of it they stoode, For Charity is shown by working creatures goode. The sparrowe pert, the chaffinche gay and cleane, The redbreast welcome to the cotter's house, The livelie blue tomtit, the oxeye greene, The dingie dunnock, and the swart colemouse; The titmouse of the marsh, the nimble wrenne, The bullfinch and the goldspink, with the king Of birds the goldcrest. The thrush, now and then, The blackbird, wont to whistle in the spring, Like Christians seeke the heavenlie food Saint Paul doth bring.

Dr. Forster.

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ST. PAUL'S DAY.

If Saint Paul's Day be fair and clear, It promises then a happy year; But if it chance to snow or rain, Then will be dear all sorts of grain; Or if the wind do blow aloft, Great stirs will vex the world full oft; And if dark clouds do muff the sky, Then foul and cattle oft will die.

T. Passenger.

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OF GARDENS.

For the latter part of January and February, the mezerion tree, which then blossoms; crocus vernus, both the yellow and the gray; primroses, anemones, the early tulippa, hyacinthus orientalis, chamairis, frettellaria.

Bacon.

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A January spring Is worth no thing.

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Pluck broom, broom still, Cut broom, broom kill.

Tusser.

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