If Christmas Day on Monday Be

from the “Harleian Manuscripts” (circa 17th cent.)

If Christmas Day on Monday be,
A great winter that year you’ll see,
And full of winds both loud and shrill;
But in the summer, truth to tell,
Stern winds shall there be and strong,
Full of tempests lasting long;
While battles they shall multiply,
And great plenty of beasts shall die.
They that be born that day, I ween,
They shall be strong each one and keen;
He shall be found that stealeth ought;
Though thou be sick, thou diest not.