Page:Mother Bunch's closet newly broke open (1).pdf/18

18 lying down in your bed: then if your fortune be to marry a gentleman, your sleep will be filled with fine golden dreams, variety of sweet music, and many running footmen; if a tradesman, great noise and tumults; if a traveller (who is a seaman) then frighful visions of lightening and roaring thunder will disturb your sleep. This has been often tried, and as often approved.

Fourthy, St. Agnes's day I have not wholly blotted out of my book; No, but I have found a more exact way of trial than before: You shall not need to abstain from kisses, nor be forced to keep a fast from a glance of your love in the night. If you can rise to be at the parish church-door, punctually betwixt the hours of twelve and one in the morning, and then and there, put only the fore-finger of your right hand into the key-hole of the said door, repeating the following words, three times over:

O sweet St. Agnes, now draw near, With my true love, let him appear.

Then he will straight approach to you with a chearful and smiling countenance. This is a new and infallible way of making the trial.

Fifthly, My dear Daughters, you all know the thirteenth day of February is Valentine's Day, at which time the fowls of the air couple together, and not only so, but the young men and maidens are for chusing mates at the same time. Now, that you may speed to your full satisfaction, follow this approved direction: Take five bay leaves, lay one under every corner of your pillow, and the fifth under the middle, then laying yourself down to rest, repeat the following words in the four lines, seven times over:

Some Guardian Angel let me have, What I most earnestly do crave,