It hath been duly observed, by the learned in all ages of the world, that
our all-wise and beneficent Creator originally implanted in the frame of
nature a means whereby mankind may attain to the knowledge of such future
contingencies as concern their welfare and happiness; and, more
especially, since we observe, even in the brute creation, that even the
most inconsiderable creatures upon the earth are more or less endowed with
a gift of foreknowledge. Thus the industrious bee, and laborious ant, lay
in their summer store, in order to supply the necessary wants of an
inclement winter, which they foreknow is yet to come; yet, even of all the
whole race of reptiles, the ant, the spider, and the bee, appear to be
endowed with the greatest share of sagacity. The wisdom of the ants is
conspicuous in forming themselves into a kind of republic and therein
observing, as it were, their own peculiar laws and policies; but the
cunning of the spider seems to exceed that of most other insects; its
various artifices to ensnare its prey is no less remarkable than its
contrivance of a cell or retreat behind its web, where it feasts upon its
game in safety and conceals the fragments of those carcasses it has
devoured, without exposing to public view the least remains of its
barbarity, which might tend to distinguish its place of abode, or create
the least jealousy in any sect, that their enemy was near. Into what
history can we look to find people who are governed by laws equal to what
we observe in the republic of bees? What experience can we desire beyond
what we observe in the cunning spider, to teach us to guard against the
artifices of those who lay snares to catch the thoughtless and unwary? or
what can exceed the indefatigable ant, in teaching us lessons of frugality
and industry?
The badger, the hedgehog and the mole also provide themselves a magazine
of plants and herbs, which they foreknow will enable them to lie concealed
in their holes during the hard frosts of winter, contented with their
prison, which affords them safety. Their holes are constructed with
amazing art, and generally have two apertures, that in case one should be
beset by an enemy, they may escape by the other. The doublings by the
hare, the tricks of the fox to escape the hounds, are also astonishing
indications of foresight and sagacity. The feathered race are likewise
endowed with a similar faculty and often foretell an approaching storm a
considerable time before it appears, by retiring in flocks to their holes
and hiding places for shelter and protection. The birds of passage seem to
inherit this gift in a remarkable degree, for they assemble together in
prodigious flocks at an appointed hour, and take their leave before the
approach of winter; which they see will destroy the flies and insects, as
they feed on nothing else. And it is no less extraordinary than true, that
these birds return as early as the sun brings forth this class of insects
into new life, and they have also the sagacity to find out and possess
their old nests and habitations. The wise, provident forecast for
self-preservation and safety is even extended to the innumerable
inhabitants of the immense ocean, where we see the fishes, pressed by
unceasing hunger, indiscriminately prey upon one another, the large upon
the small, even of its own species; whence the smaller fish in regular
gradations, when in danger of being devoured, fly for an asylum to the
shallow waters, where they know their enemy either cannot or dare not come
to pursue them. And this pursuit of one species of fish after another, is
by no means confined to a single region, for we find shoals of them
pursuing one another, from the vicinity of the pole even down to the
equator, and thus the cod from the banks of the Newfoundland pursues the
whiting, which flies before it, even to the southern shores of Spain. It
is astonishing also, that herrings, which appear to generate towards the
north of Scotland, regularly make their way once a year to the British
Channel. Their voyage is conducted with the utmost regularity, and the
time of their departure is fixed from the month of June to August. They
always assemble together before they set out and no stragglers are ever
found from the general body. It is impossible to assign any cause for this
emigration, but it doubtless proceeds from the same instinctive impulse
with which all orders of animated nature are more or less imbued.
Now observe, that when you go out of your house to do or transact any kind
of business, and in the way you do see a man, or a bird going or flying,
so that either of them do set themselves before you on your right hand,
that is a good signification in reference to your business; but when you
shall go out of your house on any business whatsoever, and shall see a
bird or a man before you on the left side of you, it is an ill sign in
reference to your said business. When either a man or a bird shall thus
pass before you, coming from the right side of you and bending towards the
left, goeth out of your sight, that is a good sign concerning your
business. When you do find a man going, or a bird flying, and then he
rests himself before you on your right side, and you seeing it, this is
also a good sign of success in your business. But when you see a man or a
bird bending from your right side to your left, it is an ill sign
concerning your business; when a man or a bird comes behind you, and goes
faster than you, but before he cometh at you he rests, or the same before
you came at him, he rests, and you seeing him on your right side, it is to
you a good sign. But when this happens on the left side, it is an evil
sign. When a man or a bird, coming from your left side, and passing to the
right, goeth out of your sight without resting, it is a good sign. If a
man or bird, coming from your right hand, passing behind your back to the
left, and you see him resting anywhere, this is an evil sign. All the
auspicia which first happeneth in the beginning of any business, ought not
to be taken notice of, as if in the beginning of any work you find that
rats have been gnawing your clothes, then insist upon your undertakings.
If, on going out of your house, you happen to stumble on the threshold, or
if in the way you happen to dash your foot against anything, then forbear
your journey; if any ill omen ever happens at the beginning of your
business, then put it off for a while, lest you be completely disappointed
therein. If a crow, raven or a jackdaw do croak over any person, it doth
show much evil of a serious nature. The magpie informs you that you will
soon hear news and come into company; but whether such news be good or
bad, observe whether it comes from the right hand or the left. The screech
owl is always unfortunate, for, about the 17th Oct., 1807, Grantham church
was a repository for a number of owls every evening, for about one month,
when it followed that, before that time next year, the same church was
actually robbed of all its plate and money, to a large amount, by a gang
of villains, in the dead of the night, to the great loss and detriment of
the whole parish. If you meet sparrows, it is unfortunate, except for
love. Flies indicate importunity and impudent affronts; cocks meeting
you, or crowing against your house, inform you of visitors coming and
success in your journeys and business. If you meet a hare, a mule, or a
hog, it is an ill omen; to meet horses in a carriage is good, but if you
meet an ass, expect trouble; while to meet sheep and goats is very good
and indicates prosperity in your affairs; if you either meet a dog or
oxen, you may expect the same success, for it is good; mice indicate that
you will soon meet with danger; locusts making a stand in any place,
hindereth a person from their wishes and is an ill omen; on the contrary,
grasshoppers promote a journey and foretell a good event of things. The
spider weaving a line downwards, signifies hope of money to come; as also
the ants having a nest near your door is good, because they know how to
provide for themselves, and portend security and riches. If you meet with
a snake, take care of an ill-tongued enemy; a viper signifies lewd women
and wicked children; an eel shows a man that is displeased with everybody.
But of all the various auspices and omens, there is none more effectual
and potent than man, none that doth signify the truth more clearly. You
must, therefore, diligently note and duly observe the condition of that
man you meet, or that meeteth you; his age, profession, station, gesture,
motion, exercise, complexion, habit, name, words, speech, &c.; for, seeing
there are in all other animals so many discoveries or presages, yet those
are all more efficacious and clear which are infused into the soul of man.