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In South Wiltshire the constant observation is that if droppes doe
hang upon the hedges on Candlemas-day that it will be a good pease
yeare. It is generally agreed on to be matter of fact; the reason
perhaps may be that there may rise certain unctuous vapours which may
cause that fertility. [This is a general observation: we have it in
Essex. I reject as superstitious all prognosticks from the weather
on particular days.-JOHN RAY.]
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At Hullavington, about 1649, there happened a strange wind, which did
not onely lay down flatt the corne and grasse as if a huge roller had
been drawn over it, but it flatted also the quickset hedges of two or
three grounds of George Joe, Esq.-It was a hurricane.
Anno 1660, I being then at dinner with Mr. Stokes at Titherton, news
was brought in to us that a whirlewind had carried some of the hay-
cocks over high elmes by the house: which bringes to my mind a story
that is credibly related of one Mr. J. Parsons, a kinsman of ours,
who, being a little child, was sett on a hay-cock, and a whirlewind
took him up with half the hay-cock and carried him over high elmes,
and layd him down safe, without any hurt, in the next ground.
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Anno 1581, there fell hail-stones at Dogdeane, near Salisbury, as big
as a child's fist of three or four yeares old; which is mentioned in
the Preface of an Almanack by John Securis, Maister of Arts and
Physick, dedicated to .
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