dition of the work appears in Watt's very inaccurate book under
CLARIDGE, another under CLEARIDGE, and a third under CAMPBELL. I will
now speak of the original work: it is a small octavo volume of
thirty-two pages, rudely printed, with an amusing Preface "To the
Reader," in which the shepherd dwells with much satisfaction on his
peculiar vaticinating talents. As this Preface has been omitted in all
subsequent editions, and as the book itself is extremely scarce, I
conceive that a reprint of it in your pages may be acceptable to your
Folk-lore readers. The "Rules" are interlarded with scraps of poetry,
somewhat after the manner of old Tusser, and bear the unmistakeable
impress of a "plain, unlettered Muse." The author concludes his work
with a poetical address "to the antiquity and honour of shepheards." The
title is rather a droll one, and is as follows:

"The Shepheard's Legacy: or John Clearidge his forty Years'
Experience of the Weather: being an excellent Treatise, wherein
is shewed the Knowledge of the Weather. First, by the Rising and
Setting of the Sun. 2. How the Weather is known by the Moon. 3.
By the Stars. 4. By the Clouds. 5. By the Mists. 6. By the
Rainbow. 7. And especially by the Winds. Whereby the Weather may
be exactly known from Time to Time: which Observation was never
heretofore published by any Author. 8. Also, how to keep your
Sheep sound when they be sound. 9. And how to cure them if they
be rotten. 10. Is shewed the Antiquity and Honour of Shepheards.
With some certain and assured Cures for thy Horse, Cow, and
Sheep.

An Almanack is out at twelve months day,
My Legacy it doth endure for aye.
But take you notice, though 'tis but a hint,
It far excels some books of greater print.

London: printed and are to be sold by John Hancock, Junior, at
the Three Bibles in Popes-head Ally, next Cornhill, 1670."

In the Preface he tells us that--

"Having been importun'd by sundry friends (some of them being
worthy persons) to make publique for their further benefit what
they have found by experience to be useful for themselves and
others, I could not deny their requests; but was willing to
satisfie them, as also my own self, to do others good as well as
myself; lest I should hide my talent in a napkin, and my skill
be rak'd up with me in the dust. Therefore I have left it to
posterity