242 



1301. Men and beasts perished in divers parts with thunder and lightning. 



1382, January. A great gale on the south coast, when many houses were 

 thrown down, cattle destroyed, and trees uprooted. 



1389, A similar tempest occurred. 



1359. A storm took place in Normandy which has great British interest, 

 for Edward III. was then on his march and within two leagues of Chartres, 

 when a tempest of rain, lightning, and hailstones of so prodigious a size occurred 

 as to instantly kill 6,000 of his horses, and 1,000 of his best troops. 



1413 or 1438 (both dates given, the first probably correct), Nov. 25th. 

 The whole side of a street, called the Old Exchange, London, was beaten 

 down, and the leads of the Grey Friars Church torn off. 



1441. St. Paul's steeple fired by lightning, and the steeple of "Waltham 

 Cross consumed. 



1 170. At St. Neot's, Huntingdonshire, hail fell measuring 18 inches round. 



1561. At Dorchester the pellets of a hailstorm were seven inches in 

 circumference. 



1545. June 25, hurricane in Devonshire, " whereby trees were over- 

 turned, churches, chappels, houses uncovered." — Stow. 



Hail in Derbyshire at the same period " as big as a man's fist."— Howes. 



1558. July 11, " at Nottingham, whirlwind and thunder, beating down 

 churches, heaving water into the air, hail 15 inches in circumference."— Howes. 



1570. September and October, great winds without rain at Newport, 

 Bedford, Chester, &c. — Howes. 



1570 or 1571. Oct. 5, tremendous gales in the midland and eastern 

 counties. 



1571. Feb. 17, at Kynaston, between Ross and Hereford, the ground 

 rose upon the surface of a hill amid much rumbling noise, became detached 

 from the subsoil, and shifted or slid some distance, carrying with it trees, flocks, 

 and sheepfolds. It laid bare a gap covering something like 20 acres, consisting of 

 a rugged and disturbed patch of ground. The convulsion overturned Kynaston 

 chapel. 



1574. Feb. 26, another shock was felt in the " three choirs " district, 

 when Stow tells us " Bookes were thrown from their places, bells tolled, and 

 chimnies fell." 



At Tewkesbury, Feb. 14, after a flood which was not great, great num- 

 bers of flies and beetles came down the river a foot thick above the water. — Goad. 



July 30, great tempest, lightning, and thunder. 



1586. Nov. 29, a violent gale on the eve of St. Andrew, accompanied by 

 severe frost. 



1593. March 21, Alrewas, Staffordshire. This year was an exceeding great 

 tempest of winde. In Lichfield, St. Mary's and St. Michael's blown down ; 

 also steeples, barns, and dwelling-houses, and trees, &c , innumerable in every 

 place. 



