G. If before sunrising there appear some rays as forerunners, it signifies both wind and rain. 7. If the sun at its rising diffuses its rays through the clouds, the middle of the sun remaining still under clouds, it shall signify rain, especially if those beams break out downwards, that the sun appears as it were with a beard. But if the rays break forth out of the middle, or dispersed, and its exterior body, or the out parts of it, be covered with clouds, it foreshows great tempests both of wind and rain. 8. If the sun, when it rises, be encompassed with a circle, let wind be expected from that side on which the circle opens. But if the circle fall off all at one time it will be fair weather. 9. If at the setting of the sun there appears a white circle about it, it signifies some small storm the same night; if black or darkness, much wind the day following. 10. If the clouds look red at sunrising, they are prognostics of wind; if at sunsetting, of a fair ensuing day. 11. If about the rising of the sun clouds do gather themselves about it, they foreshow rough storms that day; but if they be driven back from the rising towards the setting of the sun, they signify fair weather. 12. If at sunrising the clouds be dispersed from the sides of the sun, some southward, and some northward, though the sky be clear about the sun, it foreshows wind. 13. If the sun goes down in a cloud, it foreshows rain the next day; but if it rains at sunsetting it is a token of wind rather. But if the clouds seem to be as it were drawn towards the sun, it signifies both wind and storms. 14. If clouds at the rising of the sun seem not to encompass it, but to lie over it, as if they were about to eclipse it, they foreshow the rising of winds on that side as the clouds incline. And if they do this about noon, they signify both wind and rain. 15. If the clouds have encompassed the sun, the less light they leave it, and the lesser the orb of the sun appears, so much the more raging shall the tempest be; but if there appear a double or treble orb, as though there were two or three suns, the tempest will be so much the more violent for many days. 16. New moons presage the dispositions of the air; but especially the fourth rising of it, as if it were a confirmed new moon. The full moons likewise do presage more than the days which come after. or dusky, or any way blemished, it signifies stormy and tempestuous days before the full moon; if it be ill coloured in the middle, tempests will come about the full of the moon; if it be so about the upper part of the horn, they will be about the decreasing of the moon. 20. If at the fourth rising the moon appear bright, with sharp horns, not lying flat, nor standing upright, but in a middle kind of posture between both, it promises fair weather for the most part until the next new moon. 21. If at the same rising it be red, it portends winds; if dusky or black, rain; but, howsoever, it signifies nothing beyond the full moon. 22. An upright moon is almost always threatening and hurtful, but it chiefly portends winds; but if it have blunt horns, and as it were cut off short, it rather signifies rain. 23. If one horn of the moon be sharp and the other blunt, it signifies wind; if both be blunt, rain. 24. If a circle or halo appear about the moon, it signifies rain rather than wind, unless the moon stands directly within that circle, for then it signifies both. 25. Circles about the moon always foreshow winds on that side where they break; also a notable shining in some part of the circle, signifies winds from that part where the shining is. 26. If the circles about the moon be double or treble, they foreshow horrible and rough tempests, and especially if those circles be not whole, but spotted and divided. 27. Full moons, as concerning the colours and circles, do in a manner foreshow the same things, as the fourth rising, but more present, and not so long delayed. 28. Full moons use to be more clear than the other ages of the moon, and in winter use to be far colder. 29. The moon appearing larger at the going down of the sun, if it be splendent and not dusky, betokens fair weather for many days. 30. Winds almost continually follow the eclipses of the moon, and fair weather the eclipses of the sun; rain comes after neither. 31. From the conjunctions of any of the planets, but only the sun, you may expect winds both before and after; from their conjunctions with the sun, fair weather. 32. At the rising of the Pleiades and Hyades come showers of rain, but calm ones; after the rising of Arcturus and Orion, tempests. 33. Returning and shooting stars (as we call 17. By long observation the fifth day of the them) signify winds to come from that place moon is feared by mariners for stormy. 18. If the new moon do not appear before the fourth day, it foreshows a troubled air for the whole month. 19. If the new moon, at her first appearance, or within a few days, have its lower horn obscure whence they run, or are shot; but if they fly from several, or contrary parts, it is a sign of great approaching storms of wind and rain. 34. When such little stars as those which are called Aselli are not seen generally all over the sky, it foreshows great tempests and rain within some few days; but if they be seen in some places, and not in other some, it foreshows winds only, and that suddenly. 45. If at sunsetting there arise black and dark clouds, they presage rain; if against the sun, namely, in the east, the same night; if near the sun in the west, the next day, with winds. 46. The clearing of a cloudy sky, if it begins against the wind which then blows, signifies clear, fair weather; with the wind it betokens nothing, but the thing remains uncertain. 25. The sky, when it is all over bright, in a new moon, or at the fourth rising of it, portends fair weather for many days; if it be all over dark, it foreshows rain; if partly dark and partly fair, it portends wind of that side where the darkness is seen; but if it grow dark on a sudden, without either cloud or mist to dim the brightness of the stars, there are great and rough tempests a-above the other, (so as Gilbertus affirms, he hath breeding. 36. If an entire circle encloseth a planet, or any of the greater stars, it foreshows wind; if it be a broken circle, winds from those parts where the circle is deficient. 47. There are sometimes seen several, as it were, chambers, or joined stories of clouds, one seen five of them together,) and always the blackest are lowermost, though sometimes it appears otherwise, because the whitest do more allure the sight. A double conjunction of stories, if it be thick, shows approaching rain, (especially if the lower cloud seem, as it were, big with child;) 37. When the thunder is more than the lightnings, there will be great winds; but if the light-more conjunctions presage continuance of rage. nings be thick amidst the thundering, it foreshows thick showers, with great drops. 38. Morning thunders signify wind; midday thunders, rain. 39. Bellowing thunders, which do as it were pass along, presage winds; and those which make a sharp and unequal noise, presage storms both of wind and rain. 40. When it lightens in a clear sky, winds are at hand, and rain from the part where it lightens; but if it lightens in diverse parts, there will follow cruel and horrid tempests. 41. If it lightens in the cold quarters of the heavens, namely, the east and north, hail will follow; if in the warmer, namely, south and west, we shall have rain and a warm sky. 42. Great heats after the summer solstice, and commonly with thunder and lightning, and if those come not, there will be wind and rain for many days. 43. The globe of flame, which the ancients called Castor, which is seen by mariners and seafaring men at sea, if there be but one, presages a cruel tempest, (Castor is the dead brother,) and much more, if it stick not close to the mast, but dances up and down; but if they be twins, (and Pollux the living brother be present,) and that when the tempest is high, it is a good presage; but if there be three, (namely, if Helen, the plague of all things, come in,) it will be a more cruel tempest: so that one seems to show the indigested matter of the storm; two, a digested and ripe matter; three or more, an abundance that will hardly be dispersed.. 44. If we see the clouds drive very fast when it is a clear sky, we must look for winds from that way from which the clouds are driven; but if they wheel and tumble up together, when the sun draws near to that part in which they are tumbled up together, they will begin to scatter and sever; and if they part most towards the north, it betokens wind; if towards the south, rain. 48. If clouds spread abroad like fleeces of wool here and there, they foreshow tempests; but if they lie one atop of another, like scales or tiles, they presage drought and clear weather. 49. Feathered clouds, like to the boughs of a palm tree, or the flowers of a rainbow, are prognostics of present rain, or immediately to follow. 50. When hills and hillocks look as though they wore caps, by reason of the clouds lying upon them, and encompassing them, it presages imminent tempests. 51. Amber, or gold colour clouds before sunsetting, that have, as it were, gilded helms or borders, after the sun begins to be quite down, foreshow fair, clear weather. 52. Grayish, and, as it were, clay-coloured clouds, show that rain, with wind, are drawing on. 53. Some petty cloud showing itself suddenly, having not been seen before, and all the sky clear about it, especially if it be in the west, and about noon, shows there is a storm a-coming. 54. Clouds and mists ascending, and going upward, presage rain, and that this be done suddenly, so that they be, as it were, sucked up, they presage rain, but if they fall, and reside in the valleys, they presage fair weather. 55. A big cloud growing white, which the ancients called a white tempest, in summer, is a forerunner of small hail, like comfits, in winter, snow. 56. A fair and clear autumn presages a windy winter; a windy winter a rainy spring; a rainy spring, a clear summer; a clear summer, a windy autumn. So that the year (as the proverb goes) is seldom its own debtor, and the same order of seasons will scarce happen two years together. 57. Fires upon the hearth, when they look paler than they are accustomed, and make a murmuring noise within themselves, do presage tempests. And if the flame rises, bending and turning, it signifies wind chiefly; and when the snuffs of lamps and candles grow like mushrooms with broad heads, it is a sign of rainy weather. 58. Coals shining bright, and sparkling over- and melancholy upon the sand, or a crow walking much, signify wind. up and down, do presage wind only. 59. When the superficies of the sea is calm and smooth in the harbour, and yet murmurs within itself, though it doth not swell, signifies wind. 60. The shores resounding in a calm, and the sound of the sea itself, with a clear noise, and a certain echo, heard plainer and further than ordinary, presages winds. 61. If, in a calm and smooth sea, we espy froth here and there, or white circles or bubbles of water, they are prognostics of winds; and if these presages be very apparent, they foreshow rough tempests. 62. If, in a rough sea, there appear a shining froth, (which they call sea-lungs,) it foreshows a lasting tempest for many days. 63. If the sea swell silently, and rises higher than ordinary within the harbour, or the tide come in sooner than it uses to do, it foretells wind. 73. Dolphins playing in a calm sea are thought to presage wind from that way they come; and, if they play and throw up water when the sea is rough, they presage fair weather. And most kinds of fishes swimming on the top of the water, and sometimes leaping, do prognosticate wind. 74. Upon the approach of wind, swine will be so terrified and disturbed, and use such strange actions, that country people say that creature only can see the wind, and perceive the horridness of it. 75. A little before the wind spiders work and spin carefully, as if they prudently forestalled the time, knowing that in windy weather they cannot work. 76. Before rain, the sound of bells is heard further off; but before wind it is heard more unequally, drawing near and going further off, as it doth when the wind blows really. 64. Sound from the hills, and the murmur of 77. Pliny affirms for a certain, that three-leaved woods growing louder, and a noise in open cham-grass creeps together, and raises its leaves against pion fields, portend wind. Also a prodigious murmuring of the element, without thunder, for the most part, presages winds. 65. Leaves and straws playing on the ground, without any breath of wind that can be felt, and the down of plants flying about, feathers swimming and playing upon the water, signify that wind is near at hand. 66. Waterfowls flying at one another, and flying together in flocks, especially sea-mews and gulls, flying from the sea and lakes, and hastening to the banks and shores, especially if they make a noise and play upon dry land, they are prognostics of winds, especially if they do so in the morning. 67. But, contrariwise, sea-fowls going to the water, and beating with their wings, chattering, and bathing themselves, especially the crow, are all presages of storms. 68. Duckers and ducks cleanse their feathers with their bills against the wind; but geese, with their importunate crying, call for rain. 69. A hern flying high, so that it sometimes flies over a low cloud, signifies wind; but kites, when they fly high, foreshow fair weather.' 70. Crows, as it were, barking after a sobbing manner, if they continue in it, do presage winds, but if they catchingly swallow up their voice again, or croak a long time together, it signifies that we shall have some showers. 71. A chattering owl was thought by the ancients to foretell change of weather; if it were fair, rain; if cloudy, fair weather. But, with us, the owl making a clear and free noise, for the most part, signifies fair weather, especially in winter. 72. Birds perching in trees, if they fly to their nests, and give over feeding betimes, it presages tempest. But the hern, standing, as it were, sad a storm. 78. He says likewise, that vessels, which food is put into, will leave a kind of sweat in cupboards, which presage cruel storms. Monition. Seeing rain and wind have almost a common matter, and seeing always, before rain there is a certain condensation of the air, caused by the new air received into the old, as it appears by the sounding of the shores, and the high flight of herns, and other things; and seeing the wind likewise thickens, (but afterward in rain the air is more drawn together, and in winds, contrariwise, it is enlarged,) of necessity winds must have many prognostics common with the rain. Whereof advise with the prognostics of rain, under their own title. Imitations of Winds. To the three-and-thirtieth article. Connexion. If men could be persuaded not to fix their contemplations overmuch upon a propounded subject, and reject others, as it were, by-the-by; and that they would not subtilize about that subject in infinitum, and for the most part unprofitably, they would not be seized with such a stupor as they are; but, transferring their thoughts, and discoursing, would find many things at a distance, which near at hand are hidden. So that, as in the civil law, so we must likewise in the law of nature, we must carefully proceed to semblable things, and such as have a conformity between them. 1. Bellows with men are Eolus his bags, out of which one may take as much as he needeth. And likewise spaces between, and openings of hills, and crooks of buildings, are but, as it were, large bellows. Bellows are most useful either to kindle fire or for musical organs. The manner of the working of bellows is by sucking in of the air, to shun vacuity, (as they say,) and to send it out | trary to the waves below; so in the air, when by compression. 2. We also use hand fans to make a wind, and to cool, only by driving forward of the air softly. 3. The cooling of summer-rooms we spake of in answer to the ninth article. There may other more curious means be found, especially if the air be drawn in somewhere after the manner of bellows, and let out at another place; but those which are now in use have relation only to mere compression. 4. The breath in man's microcosmos, and in other animals, do very well agree with the winds in the greater world; for they are engendered by humours, and alter with moisture as wind and rain doth, and are dispersed and blow freer by a greater heat. And from them that observation is to be transferred to the winds, namely, that breaths are engendered of matter that yields a tenacious vapour, not easy to be dissolved; as beans, pulse, and fruits; which is so likewise in greater winds. 5. In the distilling of vitriol and other minerals which are most windy, they must have great and large receptacles, otherwise they will break. 6. Wind composed of nitre and gunpowder, breaking out and swelling, the flame doth not only imitate but also exceed winds, which blow abroad in the world, unless they be such as are made by thunder. 7. But the forces of it are pressed in, as in human engines, as guns, mines, and powder-houses set on fire. But it hath not yet been tried whether, in open air, a great heap of gunpowder set on fire would raise a wind for certain hours, by the commotion of the air. 8. There lies hidden a flatuous and expansive spirit in quicksilver, so that it doth (in some men's opinions) imitate gunpowder, and a little of it mixed with gunpowder will make the powder stronger. Likewise, the chymists speak the same of gold, that being prepared some way, it will break out dangerously like to thunder; but these things I never tried. A greater Observation. The motion of winds is for most things seen, as it were, in a looking-glass, in the motion of waters. Great winds are inundations of the air, as we see inundations of waters, both through the augmentation of the quantity. As waters either descend from above, or spring out of the earth, so some winds are cast down, and some rise up. As sometimes in rivers there are contrary motions, one of the flowing of the sea, the other of the current of the river, yet both become one motion, by the prevailing of the flood; so, when contrary winds blow, the greater subdues the lesser. As in the currents of the sea, and of some rivers, it sometimes falls out, that the waves above go con contrary winds blow together, one flies over the other. As there are cataracts of rain within a narrow space, so there are whirlwinds. As waters, however they go forward, yet, if they be troubled, swell up into waves, sometimes ascending, grow up into heaps, sometimes descending, are as it were furrowed; so the winds do the same, but only want the motion of gravity. There are also other similitudes which may be observed and gathered out of those things which have already been inquired about. Movable Rules concerning Winds. Connection. Rules are either particular or general, both with us are movable; for, as yet, we have not affirmed any thing positively. Particular rules may be taken and gathered almost out of every article. We will cull out some general ones, and those but a few, and add thereunto. 1. Wind is no other thing but moved air; but the air itself moved either by a simple impulsion, or by commixion of vapours. 2. Winds, by a simple impulsion, are caused four ways, either by the natural motion of the air, or by expansion of the air in the sun's ways; or by reception of air thorow a sudden cold, or by the compression of the air by external bodies. There may be also a fifth way, by the agitation and concussion of the air by stars. But let these things be a while silent, or be given ear unto with a sparing belief. 3. Of winds which are made by immixion of vapours, the chief cause is the overburdening of the air by air newly made out of vapours, whereby the mass of the air grows bigger, and seeks new room. 4. A small quantity of air added, causeth a great tumour of the air round about it, so that new air out of the resolution of vapours doth confer more to motion than to matter. But the great body of wind consists in the former air, neither doth the new air drive the old air before it, as if they were several bodies, but being both commixed, they desire larger room. 5. When any other beginning of motion concurs, besides the overburdening of the air, it is an accessory which strengtheneth and increaseth that principal, which is the reason that great and violent winds do seldom rise, by the simple overburdening of the air. 6. Four things are accessory to the overburdening of the air. The breathing out of subterraneal places; the casting down out of (as it is called) the middle region of the air; dissipation made out of a cloud, and the mobility and acrimony of the exhalation itself. 7. The motion of the wind is for the most part lateral; but that which is made by mere over. burdening, is so from the beginning, that which | grind more with less wind. A thing very useful is made by the expiration of the earth, or reper- for gain. cussion from above, a little while after, unless the eruption, or precipitation, or reverberation, be exceeding violent. 8. Air will endure some compression before it be overburdened, and begins to thrust away the adjoining air, by reason whereof all winds are a little thicker than quiet and calm air. 9. Winds are allayed five ways, either by the conjunction of vapours, or by their sublimation, or by transporting them, or by their being spent. 10. Vapours are conjoined, and so the air itself becomes water, four ways, either by abundance aggravating, or by colds condensing, or by contrary winds compelling, or by obstacles reverberating. 11. Both vapours and exhalations, but wind very frequently from vapours. But there is this difference, that winds which are made of vapours do more easily incorporate themselves into pure air, are sooner allayed, and are not so obstinate as those winds which are engendered of exhalations. 12. The manner and several conditions of heat have no less power in the generation of winds, than the abundance or conditions of the matter. 13. The heat of the sun ought to be so proportioned in the generation of winds, that it may raise them, but not in such abundance as that they gather into rain, nor in so small a quantity, that they may be quite shaken off and dispersed. 14. Winds blow from their nurseries, and the nurseries being disposed several ways, divers winds for the most part blow together, but the strongest either quite overthrows, or turns into its current the weakest. 15. Winds are engendered everywhere, from the very superfices of the earth, up into the middie region of the air, the more frequent below, but the stronger above. 16. The countries which have retaining or trade winds, if they be warm, have them warmer than according to the measure of their climate; if they be cold, they have them colder. Next. Look concerning this upon our experiments in the answer to the seven-and-twentieth article, where the thing seems to be, as it were, done. 3. Optative. To foreknow when winds will rise and allay. A thing useful for navigation and for husbandry, especially for the choosing of times for sea-fights. Next. To this belong many of those things which are observed in the inquisition, and especially in the answer to the two-and-thirtieth article. But a more careful observation hereafter (if any shall apply their mind to it) will give far more exact prognostics, the cause of the winds being already laid open. 4. Optative. To give judgment, and make prognostics by winds, of other things, as, first, whether they be continents or islands in the sea in any place, or rather a free, open sea; a thing very useful for new and unknown voyages. Next. The next is the observation concerning constant and trade winds; that which Columbus seemed to make use of. 5. Optative. Likewise of the plenty or scarcity of corn every year. A thing useful for gain, and buying beforehand, and forestalling, as it is reported of Thales, concerning monopoly of olives. Next. To this belong some things specified in the inquisition of winds, either hurtful or shaking winds, and the times when they do hurt; to the nine-and-twentieth article. 6. Optative. Likewise concerning diseases and plagues every year. A thing useful for the credit of physicians, if they can foretell them, also for the causes and cures of diseases, and some other civil considerations. Next. To this likewise belong some things set down in the inquisition to the thirtieth article. Monition. Of predictions by wind concerning corn, fruits, and diseases, look upon histories of husbandry and physic. 7. Optative. How to raise winds and to allay them. Next. Concerning these things there are some superstitious opinions, which do not seem worthy to be inserted into a serious and severe natural history. Nor can I think of any thing that is near in this kind. The design may be this, to look thoroughly into and inquire about the nature of the air; whether any thing may be found, whereof a small quantity put into air may raise and multiply the motion to dilatation, or contraction in the body of the air. For out of this (if it might be done) would follow the raisings and allayings of winds. Such as that experiment of Pliny is, concerning vinegar thrown against the whirlwinds, if it were true. Another design might be, by letting forth of winds out of subterraneal places; if so be they should gather to |