FOLK LORE.

_Superstitions of the Midland Counties._--It is believed a sign of "bad
luck" to meet a white horse, unless the person _spits_ at it, which
action is said to avert the ill consequences of the recontre.

A rainy Friday is believed to be followed as a natural and invariable
consequence, by a wet Sunday; but I am not aware that the contrary is
believed, viz., that fine Friday produces a fine Sunday.

If the fire burns brightly when a person has poked or stirred it up, it
is a sign that the _absent_ lover, wife, or husband (as the case may be)
is in good spirits, and in good humour.

The itching of the right hand palm is said to portend the reception of a
gift; which is rendered more certain if the advice in this distich be
followed:--

"Rub it 'gainst wood,
'Tis sure to come good."

Persons with much hair or down upon their arms and hands, will at some
future period enjoy great wealth; or as the common expression has it,
"are born to be rich."

HENRY KERSLEY.

Corp. Chris. Hall, Maidstone.

_A Rainbow in the Morning, &c._--"Mr. THOMS" (No. 26, p. 413.) says that
he believes no one has remarked the philosophy of this proverbial rhyme.
Sir Humphry Davy, however, points it out in his _Salmonia_.

* * * * *

ERROR IN JOHNSON'S LIFE OF SELDEN.

In Johnson's (Geo. W.) _Memoirs of John Selden_, London, 1635, 8vo. pp.
128, 129, is a notice of Dr. Sibthorpe's celebrated Sermon preached at
Northampton, and printed in 1627 with the title of _Apostolike
Obedience_. After stating the difficult experienced in obtaining the
necessary sanction for its publication, owing to Abp. Abbot refusing the
requisite _imprimatur_, the author says that ultimately the licence was
"_signed by Land himself_, and published under the title of _Apostolical
Obedience_." A reference at the foot of the page to "Rushworth, p. 444,"
leads me to conclude that it is on his authority Mr. Johnson has made
this statement; but not having access to the "Historical Collections," I
am unable to examine. At any rate, Heylin, in his _Cyprianus Anglicus_,
Lond., 1671 fol. p. 159., may be understood to imply the correctness of
the assertion.

A copy of this now rare sermon before me {452} proves, however, that the
statement is incorrect. At the back of the title is as follows:--

"I have read over this sermon upon _Rom._ xiii. 7., preached at
_Northampton_, at the assises for the county, _Feb._ 22,