FOLK LORE.
Burning Fern brings Rain.
—In a volume containing miscellaneous collections by Dr. Richard Pococke, in the British Museum, MS. Add. 15,801, at fol. 33. is the copy of a letter written by Philip Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain, to the Sheriff of Staffordshire, which illustrates a curious popular belief of the period, from which even the king was not free. It is as follows:
"Sr.—His Majesty taking notice of an opinion entertained in Staffordshire, that the burning of Ferne doth draw downe rain, and being desirous that the country and himself may enjoy fair weather as long as he remains in those parts, His Majesty hath commanded me to write unto you, to cause all burning of Ferne to bee forborne, untill his Majesty be passed the country. Wherein not doubting but the consideration of their own interest, as well as of his Maties, will invite the country to a ready observance of this his Maties command, I rest,
"Your very loving friend,
PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY.
"Belvoir, 1st August, 1636.
"To my very loving friend the High Sheriff of the County of Stafford."
Do any other writers of the time notice this "opinion," and do any traces of it exist at present?
μ.