ible Prognostick of these changes
of weather, which do follow a long serenity, or setled weather. And
perchance in brighter Climats it may be constantly infallible. In these
_Northern Islands_, the Clouds are so short, and narrow, and by fickle
changes are sometimes emptied upon us, sometimes so neer, as may make so
little variation in the weight of the whole Atmosphere of Air, as may
sometimes deceive us, or smother and hide from us the causes of fixedness,
or of changes. I wish I could see a good _Calendar_ or _Journal_ taken in
taken in _Tangier_, and in some of our _Northern_ and most _Southern_ parts
of _America_. I have store of _Hygroscopes_ of divers kinds; and I do
remark them, and the sweatings of Marble, and as many other famed
Prognosticks, as I can hear off; but can find nothing so neerly indicative
of the change of weather, as this _Ballance_. Those others are often
changed by Dews, which do not at all alter the _Ballance_, nor alter the
state of the weather: And the open Weather-glass is known to signifie
nothing at certainty, having a double obedience to two Masters, sometimes
to the _Weight of the Air_, sometimes to _Heat_, as the service is
commanded.

2. And in further confirmation of this Note, I may adde to the former, That
in _January_ last 1665/6, from the _fourth_, and more especially from the
_seventh_ day, for many daies it continued very dark, so that all men
expected daily great rain; yet the _Mercury_ held very high, neer to the
greatest height; And though in those daies sometimes thick mists arose, and
some small rain fell, yet the _Quick-silver_ held at a great height: which
did indicate to me, there could _then_ be no great change of weather. As
the small rain fell, it yeilded somewhat, not much; and that does more
{165} confirm the indication. And more lately, in very dark daies, I had
the same confidence upon the same ground, and I was not disappointed.

3. Again, if the _Mercury_ ascends to a good height after the fall of rain
(as sometimes, but less often it does) then I look for a setled serenity;
but if it proceeds after rain in a descending motion, then I expect a
continuance of broken and showry weather. But in all, as I only say, _For
the most part_, so I dare not positively declare it an affirmative result,
but do refer it to the remarks of others. And this may explicate the Notes
6. and 14 of _Num._ 9. into more clearness.

4. That we find the Weather and our Bodies more chill