When the sand doth feed the clay,
England woe and well-a-day:
But when the clay doth feed the sand,
Then it is well with Angle Land.
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay,
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon.
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
Under a broomstalk silver and gold,
Under a gorsestalk hunger and cold.
When hempe's spun,
England's done.
The latter referred to the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward IV., Mary and
Philip, and Queen Elizabeth, but proved false prophecy.
W.
* * * * *
CROWLAND ABBEY.
In the days of Monks and Friars, the following lines in bad Latin, were
composed on Crowland, Lincolnshire, or the adjoining Abbey:
In Hollandia stat Crowland;
Ibi vinium talequale,
Ibi foenum gladiale
Ibi lecti lapidale,
Ibi viri boreali,
Ibi vale sine vale.
They are thus translated in the _Beauties of England and Wales_ (1767):--
"In Holland stands Crowland
Built on dirty low land.
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