’Tis thought the king is dead ...
The bay trees in our country are all withered.
Shakespeare, Richard II. (1597).
N.B.--The bay was called by the Romans “the plant of the good angel,” because “neyther falling sicknes, neyther devyll, wyll infest or hurt one in that place whereas a bay tree is.”--Thomas Lupton, Syxt Book of Notable Thinges (1660).
Bee. The buzzing of a bee in a room indicates that a stranger is about to pay the house a visit.
Birtha’s Emerald Ring. The Duke Gondibert gave Birtha an emerald ring which, he said, would preserve its lustre so long as he remained faithful and true, but would become dull and pale if he proved false to her.--Wm. Davenant, Gondibert.
Brawn’s Head (The). A boy brought to King Arthur’s court a brawn’s head, over which he drew his wand thrice, and said, “There’s never a traitor or a cuckold who can carve that head of brawn.”--Percy, Reliques (“The Boy and the Mantle”).
Canace’s Mirror indicated, by its lustre, if the person whom the inspector loved was true or false.--Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Squire’s Tale”).
Candles. The shooting forth of a parcel of tallow, called a winding-sheet, from the top of a lighted candle, gives warning to the house of an approaching death; but a bright spark upon the burning wick is the promise of a letter.
Cats on the deck of a ship are said to “carry a gale of wind in their tail,” or to presage a coming storm. When cats are very assiduous[assiduous] in cleaning their ears and head, it prognosticates rain.