It is said that if the little beetle, the _Carabus_, should be trodden upon, rain will fall. This little glittering insect runs about only in fine weather. SHIP MONEY. The first writ for the levying of ship money was issued by King Charles I, addressed to the Lord Mayor and citizens of London. It is dated October 20th, in the 10th year of the reign of King Charles I [1634], and after reciting that "certain thieves, pirates, and robbers, of the sea, as well Turks, enemies of the Christian name, as others, being gathered together, taking by force and spoiling the ships and goods and merchandises not only of our subjects, but also of the subjects of our friends in the sea, which hath been accustomed anciently to be defended by the English nation, and the same at their pleasure have carried away, delivering the men in the same into miserable captivity." The writ commands the citizens of London to provide seven ships of war, varying in size from 900 to 300 tons, with 1,460 men, with ordnance, gunpowder, spears, and weapons, and other necessary arms for war; and directs that their ships shall be at Portsmouth on the 1st of March then next. In the year 1636, King Charles I, by the advice of his Privy Council, sent writs to the different counties for the raising of money to provide ships. This was called ship money; but although it was levied for the nominal purpose of providing ships, the counties, instead of providing any, paid the amount into the Royal Exchequer, and this was really a mere device to raise money without the authority of Parliament. The county and city of Worcester were assessed as follows: Tunnes. Men. Charge. "Worcestershire, one ship 350 140 £3,500 Corporate Towns-- City of Worcester £233 Burrough of Evesham 74 Burrough of Bewdley 62 Burrough of Droitwich 62 Town or Burrough of Kidderminster 27" On the 10th of November, 1639, King Charles I, by the advice of his Privy Council, caused other writs for ship money to be issued to the several counties of England; and by one of these writs the county of Worcester was assessed thus: Ship. Men. Tons. "Worcester 1 112 280" But at this time thirty-five of the English counties and seven of the Welch counties were in arrears for their earlier ship money, as appears from a table of the arrears, in which there is the following entry as to Worcestershire: Arrears. Arrears. Arrears. An. 1636. An. 1637. An. 1638. "Worcester £096 0 0 £1070 0 0 £710 0 0" Ship money was declared to be illegal by the statute 16th Charles I, chap. 14, which was passed in the year 1640.