The north part of this county is much influenc’t by the river Severne, which flowes impetuously from the Atlantick Sea.  It is a ventiduct, and brings rawe gales along with it:  the tydes bringing a chilnesse with them.
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On the top of Chalke-downe, 16 or 18 miles from the sea, the oakes are, as it were, shorne by the south and south-west winds; and do recline from the sea, as those that grow by the sea-side.
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A Wiltshire proverb:-

        “When the wind is north-west,
        The weather is at the best: 
        If the raine comes out of east
        ’Twill raine twice twenty-four howres at the least.”

I remember Sr.  Chr.  Wren told me, 1667, that winds might alter, as the apogæum:  e.g. no raine in Egypt heretofore; now common:  Spaine barren; Palseston sun-dried, &c.  Quaere, Mr. Hook de hoc.

A proverbial rithme observed as infallible by the inhabitants on the Severne-side:-

“If it raineth when it doth flow, Then yoke your oxe, and goe to plough; But if it raineth when it doth ebb, Then unyoke your oxe, and goe to bed.” ___________________________________

It oftentimes snowes on the hill at Bowden-parke, when no snow falles at Lacock below it.  This hill is higher than Lacock steeple three or four times, and it is a good place to try experiments.  On this parke is a seate of my worthy friend George Johnson, Esqr., councillor at lawe, from whence is a large and most delightfull prospect over the vale of North Wiltshire.

Old Wiltshire country prognosticks of the weather:-

        “When the hen doth moult before the cock,
        The winter will be as hard as a rock;
        But if the cock moults before the hen,
        The winter will not wett your shoes seame.”

In South Wiltshire the constant observation is that if droppes doe hang upon the hedges on Candlemas-day that it will be a good pease yeare.  It is generally agreed on to be matter of fact; the reason perhaps may be that there may rise certain unctuous vapours which may cause that fertility. [This is a general observation:  we have it in Essex.  I reject as superstitious all prognosticks from the weather on particular days.-John Ray.]
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At Hullavington, about 1649, there happened a strange wind, which did not onely lay down flatt the corne and grasse as if a huge roller had been drawn over it, but it flatted also the quickset hedges of two or three grounds of George Joe, Esq.-It was a hurricane.

Anno 1660, I being then at dinner with Mr. Stokes at Titherton, news was brought in to us that a whirlewind had carried some of the hay-cocks over high elmes by the house:  which bringes to my mind a story that is credibly related of one Mr. J. Parsons, a kinsman of ours, who, being a little child, was sett on a hay-cock, and a whirlewind took him up with half the hay-cock and carried him over high elmes, and layd him down safe, without any hurt, in the next ground.
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