Notes and Queries, Number 214, December 3, 1853. Various

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      Spectandam se sine arbitro præbeat viro:'

      Which made Phidias, belike, at Elis paint Venus treading on a tortoise: a symbole of women's silence and housekeeping.... I know not what philosopher he was, that would have women come but thrice abroad all their time, to be baptized, married, and buried; but he was too straitlaced."—Burton's Anat. Mel., part iii. sec. 3. mem. 4. subs. 2.

      "Apelles us'd to paint a good housewife upon a snayl; which intimated that she should be as slow from gadding abroad, and when she went she shold carry her house upon her back: that is, she shold make all sure at home. Now, to a good housewife, her house shold be as the sphere to a star (I do not mean a wandring star), wherin she shold twinckle as a star in its orb."—Howell's Parly of Beasts: Lond. 1660, p. 58.

      The last passage reminds us of the fine lines of Donne (addressed to both sexes):

      "Be then thine own home, and in thyself dwell;

      Inn anywhere;

      And seeing the snail, which everywhere doth roam,

      Carrying his own home still, still is at home,

      Follow (for he is easy-paced) this snail:

      Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail."

Eirionnach.

      WEATHER RULES

(Vol. vii., pp. 373. 522. 599. 627.)

      J. A., Jun., being desirous of forming a list of weather rules, I send the following, in the hope that they may be acceptable to him, and interesting to those of your readers who have never met with the old collection from which they are taken.

English

      In April, Dove's-flood is worth a king's good.

      Winter thunder, a summer's wonder.

      March dust is worth a king's ransom.

      A cold May and a windy, makes a fat barn and findy.

Spanish

      April and May, the keys of the year.

      A cold April, much bread and little wine.

      A year of snow, a year of plenty.

      A red morning, wind or rain.

      The moon with a circle brings water in her beak.

      Bearded frost, forerunner of snow.

      Neither give credit to a clear winter nor cloudy spring.

      Clouds above, water below.

      When the moon is in the wane do not sow anything.

      A red sun has water in his eye.

      Red clouds in the east, rain the next day.

      An eastern wind carrieth water in his hand.

      A March sun sticks like a lock of wool.

      When there is a spring in winter, and a winter in spring, the year is never good.

      When it rains in August, it rains wine or honey.

      The circle of the moon never filled a pond, but the circle of the sun wets a shepherd.

Italian

      Like a March sun, which heats but doth not melt.

      Dearth under water, bread under snow.

      Young and old must go warm at Martlemas.

      When the cock drinks in summer, it will rain a little after.

      As Mars hasteneth all the humours feel it.

      In August, neither ask for olives, chesnuts, nor acorns.

      January commits the fault, and May bears the blame.

      A year of snow, a year of plenty.

French

      When it thunders in March, we may cry Alas!

      A dry year never beggars the master.

      An evening red, and a morning grey, makes a pilgrim sing.

      January or February do fill or empty the granary.

      A dry March, a snowy February, a moist April, and a dry May, presage a good year.

      To St. Valentine the spring is a neighbour.

      At St. Martin's winter is in his way.

      A cold January, a feverish February, a dusty March, a weeping April, a windy May, presage a good year and gay.

W. Winthrop.

      Malta.

      OCCASIONAL FORMS OF PRAYER

      I now send you a list of Occasional Forms of Prayer in my own possession, in the hope that the example may be followed by other individuals.

      A Fourme to be used in Common Prayer table twise a Weke, and also an Order of Publique Fast to be used every Wednesday, &c. during this time of Mortalitie, &c. London, 1563.

      This was the first published occasional form of the reign of Elizabeth.

      A Fourme to be used in Common Prayer every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the whole Realme: to excite and stirre up all Godly People to pray for the Preservation of those Christians and their Countreys that are now invaded by the Turke in Hungary or elsewhere. Set fourthe by The Reverend Father in God, Matthew, Archbishop of Cantaburie. Imprinted by Richarde Jugge and John Cawood. 4to.

      There is no date; but it is ascertained that this form was put forth in the year 1566.

      The Order of Prayer and other Exercises upon Wednesdays and Fridays, &c. 4to. Christopher Barker. 1580.

      This was put forth in consequence of an earthquake.

      Prayers. 1584.

      They consist of "A Prayer for all Kings," &c., "A Prayer for the Queene," &c., and "A Prayer in the Parliament onely." They are appended to Treasons of Pary, forming part of the volume.

      An Order for Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Safety of Her Majesty. 1594.

      Certaine Prayers set forth by Authoritie to be used for the Prosperous Successe of her Majesties Forces and Navy. 4to. The Deputies of Christopher Barker, 1597.

      An Order for Prayer and Thanksgiving (necessary in these dangerous Times) for the Safety of her Majestie and the Realme. 4to. The Deputies of C. Barker. No date.

      An Order for Publike Prayers within the Province of Canterbury. No date. By the Queen's Printer.

      Prayers for the Queen's safe Deliverance, London, 1605.

      Form of Prayer, &c. Nov. 5. London, 1605.

      The original edition.

      Form of Prayer, &c., Nov. 5. London, 1620.

      Form, &c. for the 5th of August, being the Day of His Highnesse's happy Deliverance from the Earle of Gowry. London, 1623.

      Form, &c. Fast during the Plague. 1625.

      The "Prayer for the Parliament" appears for the first time in this form.

      Form, &c. Fast. War and Pestilence. 1626.

      Form, &c. Fast. War. 1628.

      Forme of Prayer, &c. for averting God's heauy Visitation, &c. 1636.

      This is the form which was attacked by Burton and Prynne, and on which a charge was raised against Laud.

      Form, &c. Fast. Plague. 1640

      Form, &c. Fast. War. Oxford, 1643.

      This is the form authorised by Charles I. to be used at the commencement of the war. It is frequently alluded to by the Parliamentary writers of the period. The House of Commons had ordered a monthly fast, and Charles commanded that the second Friday in every month should be set apart for the same purpose. This form was to be used on such occasions.

      Form,