The xv. Chapter.
Of the common peoples fond and superstitious collections and observations.
MONGST us there be manie women, and effeminat menO vaine follie and foolish vanitie! (marie papists alwaies, as by their superstition may appeere) that make great divinations upon the shedding of salt, wine, &c: and for the observation of daies, and houres use as great *withcraft[* read, witch—] as in anie thing. For if one/148. chance to take a fall from a horsse, either in a slipperie or stumbling waie, he will note the daie and houre, and count that time unluckch†[† read,—kie] for a journie. Otherwise, he that receiveth a mischance, wil consider whether he met not a cat, or a hare, when he went first out of hfr‡[‡ read, his] doores in the morning; or stumbled not at the threshhold at his going out; or put not on his shirt the wrong side outwards; or his left shoo on his right foote, which Augustus Cæsar reputed for the woorst lucke that might befall. But above all other nations (as Martinus de ArlesMartin. de Arles in tract. de superst. contra maleficta.*
Appian. de bello civili.[* read,—ficia.] wit/nesseth)204. the Spaniards are most superstitious herein; & of Spaine, the people of the province of Lusitania is the most fond. For one will saie; I had a dreame to night, or a crowe croked upon my house, or an owle flew by me and screeched (which augurie Lucius Silla tooke of his death) or a cocke crew contrarie to his houre. Another saith; The moone is at the prime; another, that the sun rose in a cloud and looked pale, or a starre shot and shined in the aire, or a strange cat came into the house, or a hen fell from the top of the house.
Many will go to bed againe,Augurificall toies. if they neeze before their shooes be on their feet; some will hold fast their left thombe in their right hand when they hickot; or else will hold their chinne with their right hand whiles a gospell is soong. It is thought verie ill lucke of some, that a child, or anie other living creature, should passe betweene two friends as they walke togither; for they say it portendeth a division of freendship. Among the papists themselves, if any hunters, as they were a hunting, chanced to meet a frier or a preest; they thought it so ill lucke, as they would couple up their hounds, and go home, being in despaire of any further sport that daie. Marrie if they had used venerie with a begger, they should win all the monie they plaied for that daie at dice. The like follie is to be imputed unto them, that observe (as true or probable) old verses, wherein can be no reasonable cause of such effects; which are brought to passe onlie by Gods power, and at his pleasure. Of this sort be these that follow:
Vincenti festo si sol radiet memor esto,
Remember on S. Vincents daie,Englished by Abraham Fleming.
If that the sunne his beames displaie.
Clara dies Pauli bona tempora denotat anni,
If Paule th’apostles daie be cleare,By Ab. Fleming.
It dooth foreshew a luckie yeare.
Si sol splendescat Maria purificante,
Major erit glacies post festum quàm fuit ante,//205. 149.
If Maries purifieng daie,By Ab. Fleming.
Be cleare and bright with sunnie raie,
Then frost and cold shalbe much more,
After the feast than was before.
Serò rubens cœlum cras indicat esse serenum,
Si manè rubescit, ventus vel pluvia crescit.
The skie being red at evening,By Ab. Fleming.
Foreshewes a faire and cleare morning;
But if the morning riseth red,
Of wind or raine we shalbe sped.
Some sticke a needle or a buckle into a certeine tree, neere to the cathedrall church of S. Christopher, or of some other saint; hoping thereby to be delivered that yeare from the headach. Item maids forsooth hang some of their haire before the image of S. Urbane, bicause they would have the rest of their haire grow long and be yellow. Item, women with child runne to church, and tie their girdles or shoo latchets about a bell, and strike upon the same thrise, thinking that the sound thereof hasteth their good deliverie. But sithence these things beginne to touch the vanitiesSeeke more hereof in the word Habar. and superstitions of incantations, I will referre you thither, where you shall see of that stuffe abundance; beginning at the word Habar.