Pantagruel's Prognostication: Certain, true, and infallible; for the Year everlasting.

Newly composed for the benefit and instruction of hair-brain'd and idle Fellowes; by Mr. AL­COFRIBAS, Sewer in chief to PANTAGRUEL.

Set forth long since by that famous well-wisher to the Mathematicks, and Doctor in Physick, FRANCIS RABELAIS.

Done in the way, and by the Tables, of that Astrologer of the First Magnitude, in the Brittish Hemisphear, ANGLICUS.

And now of late translated out of French by DEMOCRITUS PSEUDOMANTIS.

LONDON▪

THE DEDICATION TO M r William Lilly.

Learned Sir,

I Here present thee with an ancient famous Wit of France, which yet is not much exalted above the Meridian of thine. But in comparison of whom, all those Dotards of old; Zoroastres of the Bactrians, and Orpheus of the Thracians, and Pythago­ras of the Samians, and Numa of the Romans, and Democritus of the Abderites, and Agrippa of the Germans, and Mer­line of the VVelch, and Nostradamus of the French, and Roger Bacon, Bungey, Lamb, and I know not how many more [Page] of the English; were but heavy and dull Impostors, He is such a pleasant Astro­loger. And thou resemblest him in this, that although thou art not altogether so good a Droll, yet every man when he reads thee, has a kind of tentation to laughter. And yet thou for thy part see­mest so grave and serious that thou wilt easily pardon the Translator of this, having thy selfe so usefully rendred his jest into good earnest: and I know not perfectly whether he were thy Originall, or but an imperfect Type, or faint representation of thee, a greater Prophet to come. Thou hast all along his Style, Figures, and Policy, and all but the profession of Drollery. Thou knowest as well how to wrap thy de­ceits in a cloud of generalities, that they may not lye open to discovery or repre­hension. Do but look upon thy Ephe­merides, and thou canst tell us very gravely that some body or other shal dy next month, and as plainly forseest the fall of some great man in August, as we mortalls the dropping of a Pomwater [Page] in Autumn. In fine, thy Prophecies are as sure as Death: for Those, as This, are in themselves certaine, but the Time, Place, Manner, and Persons, and such petty circumstances, altogether uncer­tain. Thou canst, like him, Prophesie of things past or present: but it will be thy wisdome to be more sparing in future Contingencies which depend on the will of Man; and though Hea­ven look upon us with a thousand Eyes, yet it is thought not to be able to peepe into mens private Clossets, and lesse into the Cabinet of their Hearts; or to discover the little Thefts of a silver Spoon or Tankard, but such as thou imploiest thy Nimble Mercuries to steal. 'Tis true, There may be an un­happy guesse at these events, but 'tis a Casting winter or summer, Crosse or Pile, on which side to be mistaken; a meere Handy Dandy, Even or Odd, which is the right. 'Tis to venture thy discretion at Passage, or, Most in three throwes, in hope thou mayest have the good luck to speak truth. Our noble [Page] Scholler Lord Ve­rul. m. tells thee a mea­sur'd verity, when he gives the reason these bold pre­dictions find so much Credit among us. It is because we observe when they hit, and not when they misse; and their Faults like those of Physitians are hid under ground, when their Cures live a­bove it. The Candles vowed to the shrine of the Saint that preserved the Passengers from a storm, are to be seen in their Chappells, but they who were wrackt in the sea had no such Monu­ments. Nor is the same truth more un­handsomly exprest by the wi­sest Historian our Nation hath brought forth, Sir Walter Rawleigh. That Prognostications of this kind are as seed scattered in the vast Field of Time; 'tis extreme ill hap, if none of them take. Sure I am, Thine are thick sown, how thin soever they come up. If it were not so, what need our Princes allow such excessive Pensions to main­taine honorable Spyes, and receive ad­vices from abroad, when thou an uni­versall [Page] Agent, who lyest lieger for the sphears, and art confederate with Hea­ven, canst more cheaply preserve intelli­gence above: when every Beam of the Sun is a letter, and each Mote in it a Character for thee to uncypher and read over all the dispatches of Fate. And hence I believe arises the angry contest between thee, and the Ignorant sawcy Divines, who pretend to under­stand a Heaven above Thine. They take a bare word, which some hold to be but a weak security, and believe upon Parole: but thou wilt have Gods hand and deed sealed, and delivered to thy Faith in a legible and shining Text. There are that take thee to be not only a discoverer, but a cause of those Effects thou fortellest. As the young Nostra­damus set the City of Pouslin on fire which he Prophesied should be burnt. And Cardan that bespake the time of his owne death, would dy a volunteer at that time to keep his word. Yet some Malicious persons suspect thee to deal not so much in Galileus his Tubes, as [Page] thy Magicall looking glasse (thy Specu­lum Trinitatis upon Earth) wherein to take the height of a match between two starrs when they shall meet in Cot­tu, and enter into the signe of Scorpio. Others take thee to be a right Courtier of Heaven that ever keepest in with the Lord Ascendant. If Saturn be deposed, quit him for a leaden melancholy Planet, and turn thee to Jupiter in his stead. Truly it is not unbecomming, that he who studies the measure of Time, should serve it. As for the Coun­try; it contends for thee as the seven Cities for thy fellow Poet Homer. Essex pretends to thee by reason the Sun, thy Prince, rises from thence. And Surrey, because though it be barren and dry (as thy language) yet it is mistresse of a clear Ayre, such as that of Assyria where thy Brethren the Chaldeans first practis'd. And in Middlesex, though most of the Native Gentlemen have somewhat of the incivility and rude­nesse of Clownes, and the eminent Clownes somewhat of the riches and [Page] pride of the Gentlemen; yet both are content and humble themselves, and purchase thee at the dear expence of a Teston. Onely they complain thou art too negligent of the serious affaires of thy lovers, and would read thee often­er then they carry their Bible to Church, If thou wouldst quit this busy trade of Policy, which they think not so proper, & deal a little more in their beloved Husbandry. They look upon e­very page of the Month to find, Cloudy Dark, somewhat Cold, Thunder-like, Inclining to rain, or, what like an Oracle never fails, Variable wether. They ex­pect to heare from thee under what Signe it is safest to cut their Cocks or their Pigs, when to plough or sow, when to plant or graft Trees or inocu­late their Vines, with the likeliest hope of fruit. They itch to be instructed when are the Quarterly or Monthly Tearms; what is the wide difference betwixt St. Lucies might, and St. Barnabyes, and the effects of a showry St. Swethins, or a shiny Candlemas. When a deare [Page] year is a comming, for Sordido to hoard up his Corn. And the Epicure longs to know from thee when Oysters are fullest and fattest; and the very minute and second, when Venson or Lobsters goe out of season. If thou didst but inter­taine them with these usefull discourses they sweare to do nothing without thee. Not to eat or drink without thy licence. Not to goe to stoole unlesse Mercury be Retrograde. Nor to a Con­venticle but by star light. Nor to Court without enquiry, if Jupiter be stirring. The goodwif would not sow her Leeks or Onyons but under an Egyptian con­stellation: Nor keep a milch Cow with­out thy Heavenly Bull. Nor expect her butter to come, unlesse by thy charming. Their Petitions seem to me very rea­sonable: to which they add, It would doe well if thou leave not out the Effi­gies of the Man that is stabd through all the twelve Signes, but place it in the room of thy Picture, and such whol­some advices in rhyme, as, Flee Bathes and Venery, Drink wine but sparingly, [Page] and the like, These were atcheive­ments fit for thy Learned adventures. These things they understand, and (I am afraid) thy self does No more. But they are perswaded, that to cast the Nativity-water of a Nation, and pre­scribe the Phlebotomy of War, or purg­ing of a Parlament, City, or Army is but to be a Celestial Quack, a fortune-teller at large, and a State-Mountebanck. To conclude, I should forget the Na­ture of an Almanack, did I not a little fringe it over with verses: And there­fore I presume herewithall to send you an ancient Prophesy made in Henry the 8 his time, by a Poet Laureat John Skel­ton; who, though he were as merry a Madcap as the Doctor, and his verses appeare like that play at Crambo; and that he run a poor rhyme out of breath till it pant and expire, or hurry it on with such a strong gale, til it touch upon the Coast of Nonsense; yet per­haps between his fits of talking idly, he hath some lucid Intervalls of shrewd and poinant expressions. Read [Page] him here as a Prediction of our Rablais in Type, but in Truth of thee, to whom all the world subscribes, as I do my selfe,

Thine Idolater, as thou art the Stars, Democritus Pseudomantis.

Skelton upon Rabelais.

O VVilliam Lilly,
Thou Conqueror Billy,
So subtle and wily,
That art not so silly
As the Fole of a Filly,
To take a cold Gelly
On the ground that we see lie.
For a grave fixt Star,
That shines from afar,
And moves regular;
Yet asquint doth appear,
And to steal a look fear,
If William be near.
He knowes when they joyne
In Quartile or Trine,
Or in the sixth Line.
And in every Mine
On Will they do shine.
He's their Chaplain in fine,
And houshold Divine.
Sans prair's, Fumes, or Unctions,
Or magique injunctions,
That cause our compunctions,
For the best of his functions
Is to pimp for Conjunctions.
He knowes every season
H'as a politick reason,
Why the Beans or the Peason
Be cheap or be geason.
He knowes to diseise one
Prince, fatter to grease one,
For the Stars speak no treason.
The Planets all seven,
Houses one and eleven,
To him rent-free are given.
Plots on earth he makes even,
And puts 'em upon heaven.
For better a great deal
Sage Thales might tell
The Stars in the Well,
When musing he fell,
Then the pit deep as Hell,
By the Stars to reveal.
To him the Swedes faine
To be bound for his pain;
And to bind him again
[Page] They send a gold-chain.
Then woe be to Spain,
If Will say, No rain.
So I do not intrench man,
To lend thee this Frenchman:
He once lov'd a Wenchman
Well as any oth'Benchman.
Then come, do not flinch man,
And bate not an inch man.
For though a Physitian,
He was no Magitian,
But a Mathematician
That made inquisition
Of Natures condition.
In a doubtfull position.
And thou art much such a one.
Him well you may trust,
He's a Troth-teller just;
And ne're for his lust
Found Venus combust.
Nor to leap at a crust
Th'Ascendant untrust.
Nor swore he by Ods digger,
E're thought to grow bigger
By casting a Figure,
Or lying in leagure
[...] [...]
[Page] Saw the Stars dance a jig here.
But this a fair bliss is,
A cunning man guesses,
As sage as Ulysses,
What the Serpent hisses,
Or whom Virgo kisses,
Or when the Moon pisses.
You cast the skie's water,
And find where they faulter;
Or else you but palter.
But Jack of Horologers
Ape of Amphibologers,
And friend of Philologers,
And Bat of Tautologers,
Buffone of Bomolochers,
And cream of Chronologers,
Whom all Etymologers
Call the Flower of Astrologers.
Per me Johannem Skeltonum, Po­etam Laureatum.

To the courteous READER, Heal [...]h and Peace in JESUS CHRIST.

TAking into Consideration the infinite abuses, that are occa­sion'd by a number of Louvain Prognostications, made over a glasse of wine; I have here now Calculated the most certaine and true One that ever was seen, as Experience will demonstrate to you.

For without doubt, considering that which the Royall Prophet sayes (in the fifth Psalm) Thou shalt destroy all them that speak lies; 'Tis no small sin to lye knowingly, and abuse the poor world that is curious and in­quisitive after Newes, as the French nation have been in all ages, as Casar writes in his Commentaries, and John de Gravot in his Gallick Mythology, and which we likewise [Page] see every day in France, where the first dis­course that is held to people, newly arrived, is, what newes? Do you know nothing that is New? what is the talke? what do they dis­course of abroad? And so earnest and atten­tive they are, that they oftentimes are angry which those that come from other Countries, and strange places, without bringing their budget full of Newes, calling them Fools and Idiots.

So that, As they are ready to enquire Newes, they do likewise easily believe what is told them. Were it not a good deed to enter­taine some persons (worthy of beliefe) and place them at the Entrance of the Country, onely to examine the Newes that is brought, whether it be true or no? Yes, Certainly. And thus did my Good Master Pantagruel throughout the Countries of Vtopia and Dipsodia. And so successefull it hath been to him, and his territories have so prospered, that they have more Wine then they know how to drink; and they are faine to throw it away, if good Drinkers and Merry boyes come not from other places to help them. Being desirous then to satisfie the Curiosity of [Page] all good fellowes, I have rounded all the hea­vens, Calculated the squares of the Moon, pick'd out and discovered all that the Astrophils, Hypernephelists, Anemo­phylaces, Uranopetes, and Obrophores ever thought of, and conferred with Em­pedocles concerning it, who remembers himselfe to you. And all the Tu Autems I have here digested into a few Chapters; assuring you that I speak nothing of it but what I think, and think nothing of it but what is. And nothing else of it is true, but what you'l now read.

That which shall be said over and above, shall in Grosse passe the strainer pesle mesle: And peradventure it shall come to passe, and peradventure never. Of one thing I give you notice, that if you do not believe all, you'l do me a very great shrowd turn; for which, either here or else where you shall be most grievously punished; and the Bulls Pisle shall not be spared upon your shoulders. And suck in the aire as long as you will, like Oysters: for certainly, There shall be some of you well warm'd, if the Rakefire doth not fall asleep. Well, wipe your noses, little ones; [Page] and, you old dotards, mount your Spectacles, and weigh these words in the ballance of the Sanctuary.

Of the Golden Number, Non Dicitur. I find none this yeare, for all the Cal­culation I have made: Lets go for­ward (verte Folium).

Pantagruel's Prognostication;
Certain, true, and infallible; for the year Everlasting.

CHAP. I.
Of the Government and Soveraignty of this Year.

WHat ever those foolish A­strologers of Louvain, Nor­remberg, [...], and Li­ons tell you; believe, That there will be no other Go­vernour of the universall world this yeare but God the Creator, who by his Divine word governs and orders every thing, by whom all things are main­tained in their nature, propriety, and [Page 2] Condition, and without whose Go­vernment and power all things would in a Moment be reduced to nothing, as out of nothing they were by him made and brought to what they now are: for from him commeth, in him is, and by him is perfected, all beings, and all good, all life, and Motions, as saith the Evangelicall Trumpet, My Lord Saint Paul, Rom. the 11. The Governour then of this yeare and all others according to our true opinion will be the most powerfull God, and Saturne, Mars, Jupiter, nor other Planet, no not the Angells, Saints, nor Men, nor Divells, shall have any power, energy, or influ­ence whatsoever, if God of his good pleasure doth not bestow it upon them. As A [...]cen saies, The second causes have not influence in any action, unlesse they receive it from the first cause. Doth not the good little man speak truth?

CHAP. II.
Of the Eclipses this year.

THere shall be so many Eclipses of the Sun and Moon this year, that I am afraid (not without reason) that our purses will suffer Emptiness, and our senses Perturbation; Saturne shall be Retrograde, Venus Direct, Mer­cury Inconstant; and a number of other Planets shall not go as you would have them. For this reason therefore, Crabs shall go sidewayes, and Rope-makers backwards, the Joyn-stools shall get up upon the formes, The Spits upon the Andirons, And Capps upon Hatts: Many Mens bollocks will hang down for want of a pouch: Fleas for the most part will be black: The Bacon in Lent shall runne away from the Pease, The Belly shall go formost, the briech shall sit down first: The Beane shall not be found in the Cake on twelfth Night: The Ace will not be seen at flush: The Dice shall not please al­though [Page 4] they be flatter'd, And the Chance one wishes for, shall seldome come: in many places the beasts shall speak: Shrovetide shall get his Proces: One part of the World shall disguise themselves to cozen the other, and runne about the Streets like fools and mad Men. Never was there such disor­der seen in Nature, and above twenty­seaven Verbs shall be made irregu­lar, if Priscian keep them not short. If God doth not help us, we shall have a great deal of businesse, but against the haire: If he be for us, nothing can do us hurt, as sayes the Divine Astrologer that was ravisht into Heaven. Rom. 8. 31. Si Deus pro Nobis, quis contra Nos? Nemo, Domine: for He is too good and too powerfull: Let us here blesse his Holy Name for it.

CHAP. III.
Of Diseases this year.

THis year, the Blind shall see but very little, the Deafe shall hear [Page 5] but ill, the Dumb shall not speak much, the Rich shall be a little better then the poor, and those that are wel better then those that are sicke. Many Sheep, Beevs, Hoggs, Geese, Hens, and Ducks shall dye. And there shall not be so cruel a Mortality among the Monkeys and Dromedaries. Old Age shall be this year incurable by reason of the years past. Those that have a Pleu­risy shall be troubled with great pain in their sides, They that are troubled with a loosenesse shall goe often to the Close-stool. The Catharrs this year shal fall from the brain into the lower parts. Sore eyes shal be very hurtfull to the sight. Eares shall be short, and more rare in Gascony then usual; and a very horrible Maligne, troublesome, and scurvey disease shal raigne this year, almost universally, which shall make the World very much wonder, and many shall not know which way to turne themselves. And oftentimes they shall raveningly compose, and Syl­logise upon the Philosophers Stone, [Page 6] and of Midas his Eares. I tremble for fear when I think on't, for 'twill (I say) be Epidemical, (and Averoes calls it VII. Colligent) want of Money: And by reason of the Comet last year and the Retrogradation of Saturn, a great-Rogue shal dye in the Hospital all pocky and scabby, at whose Death there shal be a horrible sedition between the Cats and the Rats, between the Hounds and the Hares, betweene the Hauks and the Partridges, between the Monks and the Eggs.

CHAP. IV.
Of Fruits, and the Riches that we receive from the Earth.

I Find by Albumazars computation, in the book of the great Conjunction, and elsewhere, that this year shal be very fertile, and there shal be plenty of all things with those that have wherewithall; but the Hops of Pi­cardie will be somewhat afraid of the Cold. Oats shall doe Horses a great [Page 7] deal of good: there shall not be much more bacon then there are hoggs, by Reason of prices Ascendant; it shal be a great year of Snailes. Mercury doth a little threaten the Parsely, but it shall be notvvithstanding at reasonable rates. Marigolds and Honey-suckles shall grovv more then usually, and there vvill be abundance of Choakey pears. Corne, Grapes, all sorts of fruits, Pease, Beanes, and all manner of Rootes vvas never seene in such abundance, if poor peoples prayers are heard.

CHAP. V.
Of the conditions of some People.

Tis the greatest folly in the world to thinke there are starres for Kings, Popes, and great Persons, more then for poor and ordinary people: As if new starrs had been created since the Deluge; or of Romulus, or Pharamon at the new creation of Kings. 'Tis that which Triboulet nor Catlette will not say, who were neverthelesse Persons of [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] High knowledge and great Renown and perhaps in Noah's Ark, this Tribou­let was of the Race of the Kings of Ca­stile; and Caillete of the blood of Priam. But this error proceeds onely from the vvant of the true Catholicke faith. Granting it then for certaine that the Starres care as little for Kings as for Beggars, for Rich folkes as for Poor, I leave it to other foolish Prognosticators to speak of Kings and wealthy persons and speak of those of a low condition. And first of those that are under Saturn: as, people unprovided of Money, Jea­lous, Dotards, Evil-thinkers, Suspitious persons, Mole-catchers, Usurers, Far­mers, Coblers, Tanners, Tylers, Bell­founders, Compounders of Debts, Bot­chers, Melancholy people, shall not have this year al that they would have; they shall study much how to get the holy Crosse, they shall not throw their Bacon to the Dogges, and they shall often Scratch where it doth not Itch.

Those that are under Jupiter, as Hy­pocrites, [Page 9] dissemblers, Buskin-makers, Pardon-sellers, Attorneys, Writing­masters, Scriveners, Bull-makers, Dispatchers of the Popes Bulls, Law­yers, Capuchins, Monks, Hermits, Bigots, Santons, hairy-handed wry­necked fellowes, blotters of paper, Braggadoshoes, wearers of long hair, Clarks of the Prison, Maker of Fryers hoods, Bed-sellers, Blurrers of Parch­ment, Notaryes, Counterfeits, Convey­ancers, shall behave themselves accor­ding to the money they have. And so many Church men shall dye, that 'twill be hard to find Parsons to conferre be­nefices upon; insomuch that many shal enjoy two, three, four, and more. Hy­pocritical zeal will make a great tem­pest with its antient accustomed Noise, since the World is grown so very bad, and is now but little foolish, as sayes A­venzagel.

Under Mars, as Hang-men, Murthe­rers, Free-booters, Rogues, Bailiffs, Recorders, Watch-men, Dead-payers, Tooth-drawers, Cut-purses, Butchers, [Page 10] Coyners, Physicians, Nigars, Renega­does, Atheists, and Blasphemers, sel­lers of Matches, Boutefeux, Chimney­sweepers, Churls, Colliers, Alchy­mists, Tinkers, Cooks, Pedlers, Alms­gatherers, Lantern-makers, Boores, shal play many notable tricks this year: but some of them shal be very subject to be bastonadoed. One of the fore­named shall this year be made Bishop of the Country, giving his benediction with his feet to the Passengers.

Under Sol, as Drinkers, Fiery-faces, Gorbellyes, Brewers, Hay-makers, Por­ters, Mowers, Thatchers, Packers, Shepheards, Cow-keepers, Hog-keep­ers, Bird-keepers, Gardeners, Grangers Hedgers, Beggars, Cap-clensers, Stock­ing menders, Lazy Rogues, Smel feasts all generally wearing their shirts tied upon their backs, shall be healthfull, & merry; and when they are invited to a Wedding shall not have the Gout in their teeth.

Under Venus, as Whorers, Bawdes, Wenchers, Buggerers, Gallants, Fren­chified [Page 11] fellows, canker'd boyes, Rorers, Pimps, Beggerly Sluts, Chamber-maids of Inns. Nomina Mulierum desinentia in sses ut Landresses, Tavernesses, Hostes­ses, Starchers, Washers, Brokers, shall be in esteem this year. But the Sun en­tring into Cancer and other Signes, they must have a care of the Pox, Gonor­rhea, C—botches, &—. The Nuns shall hardly conceive without virile Operation, very few Maids shall have Milk in their breasts.

Under Mercury, as Cheaters, Coze­ners, Deceivers, Mountebanks, Theevs, Millers, Street-walkers, Pick-locks, Filchers, Keepers, Rimers, Charletans, Juglers, Pedants, Anagrammatists, a Pa­per-maker, Card-sellers, Pirates. They would seeme oftentimes to be more Merry than they are, sometime they'l put their hand in their Pocket; when there is nothing in it; and shall be ve­ry subject to become bankrouts, if they finde not more money in their purses, then they have occasion of.

Under the Moon as Almanack Letters, [Page 12] Huntsmen, Faulkners, Posts, Salters, Lu­naticks, Fools, Shallow-brains, Obsti­nates, Fantastical people, Carriers, Hors­coursers, Lacquies, Brokers, Tennis­players, Glaziers, Light horsemen, Fer­ry-men, Seamen, Groomes, shall not this year have many Stops. Neverthelesse there shall not many swagbellied Swis­sers go to Saint Hiaccho, as there did in the year 524. Many Pilgrims shall come down the Mountaines of Savoy and Avergne; but Sagittarius threatens them with Chilblaines at their heels.

CHAP. VI.
Of the condition of some Countries.

THe noble Kingdome of France shall triumph and prosper this yeare in all manner of Pleasure and delights, insomuch that strange Nati­ons will willingly resort thither: little delights and Passe-times will be acted there, in which every one will take plea­sure. There was never more wines seen nor more delicate: great quantity of [Page 13] Raddishes in Lymosin, store of Ches­nutts in Perigard and Dauphine, Many Olives in Languedoc, great store of sand in Olone: Much fish in the sea, Many starrs in the sky, Much salt in Porridge: Plants, Corn, Pease, Fruit, Herbs, Roots, in fields. No plague, No war, No trouble. Good store of Poverty, Great store of Care, Much melancholly. And those old double Ducats, Rose Nobles, Angelots, Royalls, and Sheep with the long wool, will come in fashion again, with plenty of Seraphs and Crowns of the Sunne. Neverthelesse about the middle of the Summer, the comming of some black fleas, and corne mites, is to be feard, —adeò nihil est ex omni parte bea­tum; but they must be moderated by evening collations, A take over night a medicine for the fleas. Italy, Romagnia, Naples, Sicily, shall remain where they were the last yeare. They shall dream soundly about the end of Lent, and sometimes shall talke idly, when 'tis towards Noon.

Germany, Swisserland, Saxony, Stras­bourg [Page 14] &c, shall thrive if they do'nt break. The Pardon sellers ought to dread them. And this yeare many An­niversaries shall not be founded.

Spain, Castile, Portugal, Arragon, shall be very subject to suddain altera­tions: and the young as the old, shall be very much afraid to dye; and therefore shall keep themselves warme, and of­ten tell their Dollars if they have any.

England, Scotland, the Easterlings, shall be but bad Pantagruelists. Wine would be as wholsome for them as Beer, provided 'twere good & delicate. At all tables their hopes shall be in an after Game. Saint Traignant of Scotland shall do divers and sundry miracls; but he shall see never the better, for all the Candles that are offered to him. If Aries lose not his hornes, the Moscovites, Indians, Persians and Troglodites shall be often troubled with the bloody flux, because they will not be gulled by the Romanists. By reason of the dance of ascendant Sagittarins, Bohemians, Jews, Egyptians, will not this year be redu­ced [Page 15] into that condition they expect. Venus threatens them cruelly with the Kings evill in the throat: but they shall yield to the will of the King of Butterflyes.

Escargots, Sarabogites, Canquemares, Cannibals, shall be much troubled with hors-flies, and not much inclined to lea­chery, unlesse Guaicum be in Request. Austria, Hungary, Turkey, by my faith, my good fellowes, I know not how 'twill be with them; and very little do I care, considering the brave entry of the Sunne into Capricorne; And if you know any more, say nothing of it, but stay till the lame Post comes.

CHAP. VII.
Of the four Seasons of the Year: and first of the Spring.

IN all this year, there shall be but one Moon, Neither shall it be a new one. You blades, that do not beleive in God are very sorry for it. You that persecute his holy and divine word together [Page 16] with those that maintain and stand for it; But go hang your selves, never shall there be other Moon, than that which God created at the beginning of the World; and which by the power of his aforesaid sacred word was placed in the great firmament to light and guid man­kind by night. But hold, I will not from hence inferre that she doth not show greater or lesser light to the people up­on earth, according as she is neer or farre off the Sunne: for why, for asmuch as &c. Besides, don't pray to God to keep her from the wolves, for they shal not so much as touch with her this year I assure you. Oh! to our purpose. You shall see this season more flowers by halfe than in all the other three, and he shall not be thought a fool that in this season makes his provision of mony rather then of cobwebs all the year af­ter. The Griffons and Chestnuts of the Mountaines of Savoy, Dauphine, Hyper­boreans, that have perpetuall Snows shall be disappointed this season; and there shall be none, according to the [Page 17] opinion of Avicen, vvho sayes, that 'tis then Spring when the Snow falls from the Mountaines. Beleive this, Por­ter. In my time, they thought it winter when the Sunne enter'd into the first degree of Aries. If they reckon otherwise now, I am satisfied, and will hold my tongue.

CHAP. VIII.
Of Summer.

IN Summer, I know not what winds will be abroad, but I know that 'twill be hot weather, and the southerly wind will raigne. Neverthelesse if it should happen otherwise, we must not blas­pheme God, for he is wiser then we are, and knowes better what is necessa­ry for us then we our selves. Yeas, I'le assure you, upon my honour, what ever Haly and his Disciples have said of it, You'l do well to be Merry and drink in Fresco, although some have said that there is nothing more contrary to thirst. And I likewise believe it, Contraria con­trariis curantur.

CHAP. IX.
Of Autumne.

IN Autumne, will be the vintage, or before, or after; 'tis all one to me so we have drink enough. Paper will now be in season, for some that think onely to fart will bravely beshite themselves; Them and those that have vowed to fast, till the starrs appeare in the sky, may now by my Grant and dispensation feed aboundantly; and in troth, they have stayed long enough. For I tell you they have been fast enough there, this 16 thousand and I know not how many more dayes agoe. Hope not hencefor­ward to catch Larks when the sky falls, for upon my honour it shall not fall in your dayes. Hypocrites, Zelots, Pardon­sellers, Begging friers, and such kind of Counterfeit Companions, shall come out of their holes; every one have a care of himselfe that will: beware likewise of Arrests when you eate Fish, and from poison God keep you.

CHAP. X.
Of Winter.

ACcording to my little understan­ding, those will have no great wit that in winter sell their furrs to buy wood; for the Ancients did not so, as Avenzouart witnesses. Be not melan­cholly if it raine, you'l have the lesse dust upon the roades. Keep your selves warme, beware of Catarrhs and Colds; Drink of the best, whilst the worst mends, and henceforward shite no more in Bed. O ho, Poultry do you go so high to roost?

End of the Pantagrueline Prognostication.
FINIS.

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