Thomas Passenger, who dwelt at the Three Bibles and Star, on London Bridge,
was very celebrated during the latter part of the seventeenth century for
publishing popular histories and chap-books. His shop seems to have been
the principal place of resort for the hawkers who then supplied the
provinces with literature. Many of the works which issued from his press
are now very rare: one of the most curious, and, at the same time, the
rarest, is _The Shepherd's Kalendar: or, the Citizen's and Country Man's
Daily Companion_, &c. The contents of this book are of a very singular
nature, it being a kind of epitome of the facts it was then thought
necessary for a countryman to be acquainted with. A considerable portion of
the work is occupied by remarks on the weather, and on lucky and unlucky
days: if I were to extract all on those subjects, this communication would
extend to an unreasonable length.
We are informed, under the head "Observations on Remarkable Days, to know
how the whole Year will succeed in Weather, Plenty," &c., that--
"If the sun shine clear and bright on Christmas-day, it promiseth a
peaceable year from clamours and strife, and foretells much plenty to
ensue; but if the wind blow stormy towards sunset, it betokeneth
sickness in the spring and autumn quarters."
"If January 25 (being St. Paul's day) be fair, it promises a happy
year; but if cloudy, windy, or rainy, otherwise: hear in this case what
an ancient judicious astrologer writes:
'If St. Paul 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.'"
"Mists or hoar frosts on the tenth of March betokens (_sic_) a
plentiful year, but not without some diseases."
"If, in the fall of the leaf in October, many of them wither on the
bows, and hang there, it betokens a frosty winter and much snow."
Under "The Signs of Rain in Creatures" we have the following:
"When the hern or bitron flies low, the air is gross, and thickening
into showers."
"The froggs much croaking in ditches and pools, &c., in the evening,
foretells rain in little time to follow: also, the sweating of stone
pillars or tombs denotes rain."
"The often doping or diving of water fowl foreshows rain is at hand."
"The peacock's much crying denotes rain."
There is a list given of Lucky Days, which contains all the red letter
saints' days of the Reformed English kalendar. We are also informed that
there are other days in each month which "are successful enough." Thus--
"In January there are three, viz. 16. 18. 26.
In February there are four, viz. 10. 19. 27. 28.
In March there are two, viz. 14. 18.
In April there are three, viz. 13. 22. 27.
In May there are five, viz. 3. 5. 7. 11. 19.
In June there are four, viz. 10. 17. 20. 27.
In July there are six, viz. 1. 13. 19. 21. 27. 30.
In August there are three, viz. 3. 7. 9.
In September there are five, viz. 4. 8. 11. 15. 19.
In October there are three, viz. 1. 8. 13.
In November there are four, viz. 3. 9. 11. 15.
In December there are three, viz. 9. 13. 17."