A helpe to discourse. Or, A miscelany of merriment Consisting of wittie, philosophical and astronomicall questions and answers. As also, of epigrams, epitaphs, riddles, and iests. Together with the countrymans counsellour, next his yearely oracle or prognostication to consult with. Contayning diuers necessary rules and obseruations of much vse and consequence being knowne. By W.B. and E.P.

Certaine admonitions to Coun∣treymen.

Hee is branded with the name of a sluggard that would not goe forth, because. the weather was colde, and a Lion was in the way.

But he shall be knowne by the cog∣nizance of a foole that forbeares his worke or iourney because his Alma∣nack saith, it shall raine.

Sowe not the seede of discention, least thou reape the haruest of repen∣tance, neyther take vp Law as thy In∣strument or reuenge vpon euery small occasion, lest in the end thou be foy∣led with thine owne weapon; for thus know, that althogh euery Term haue her seuerall returnes, yet if thou be too conuersant herein thy purse shall finde more goings out then comming in.

Poore Countreymen for the most

Part, it is your wisdome to follow the direct rules of your Almanack, eyther for Phlebotomie, or other directions for the health of the body, for sowing and setting of Seedes or Plants, for the cutting of the hayre, for the gel∣ding of your Cattle, &c. Yet where the great Doctor both of health and wealth, of Soule and body, shall giue you rules, by his word, by his messen∣gers, Hoc fac & viues, this doe, and you shall liue: or as it was 5000. yeares since, and vpward spoken to our first Parents, Hoc fac, & morieris, doe this and thou shalt dye: yet it will be more curious with the poreblind World to follow your petty Anniuersary Ora∣cle, concerning many times there vn∣certaine directions, & but about trash and trumpery, sticks, and shreds, of small auaileance, then that matter of all primall importance, and for which many thousands now smart that can∣not come here to complaine.

For thy choyse of good, and auoi∣ding of euill dayes for the speed or hinderance of any businesse thou ta∣kest in hand, I aduise thee not to bee greatly scrupulous therin, thogh some haue beene curious to obserue them, for to the good all dayes are good, as to the euill all dayes are euill.

Concerning the causes of sundry Meteors, you for the most part thinke they haue none more then the imme∣diate hand of God, To which I aun∣swere.

The Winde bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof.

The Thunder roareth where hee listeth, that holdeth the waters in his fist, wayeth the Hils and mountaines in a ballance, and sayleth vpon the winges of the wind. Yet thou that thinkest and rightly thinkest, and so answerest to him, that demaundeth: They came from God, yet with all know they come not so immediatelie

from him that they haue no seconda∣rie causes as his instruments whereof they proceede and are effected, as hath in this Treatise more largely beene declared.

The end of the Countrimant Counsellour.

FINIS.