I30 



Chronology mentions a "stomi on the coast of Kent, Sussex, and 

 Hampshire, in 566 ;" and a " Terrible huiTicane, at Chichester" was 

 recorded in 995 ; but no particulars were known respecting them. Tlie 

 earliest storm of which any definite account existed occurred on 

 October 1st, 1250, and was thus described in a manuscript formerly in 

 the possession of Mr. Thomas Martin, of Winchelsea : — 



" The moon being in her prime, the sea passed its accustomed 

 bounds, flowing twice without ebb, and made so horrible a noise that 

 it was heard a great distance inland, not without the astonishment of 

 the oldest man that heard it. Besides this, at dark night, the sea 

 seemed to be alight and to burn, and the waves to beat with one 

 another insomuch that it was past the mariners' skill to save their 

 ships ; and to omit others, at a place called Huckebourn (Eastbourne) 

 three noble and famous ships were swallowed up by the violent rising 

 of the waves and were drowned." * 



Holinshed's account was somewhat similar : — 



" On the first day of October (1250) the moon, upon the change, 

 appearing exceedingly red and swelled, began to show tokens of the 

 great tempest of wind that followed, which was so huge and mightie, 

 both by land and sea, that the like had not been lightlie known, and 

 seldom, or rather never, heard of by men then aliue. The sea, forced 

 contrarie to his natural course, flowed twice without ebbing, yielding 

 such a rooring that the same was heard (not without great wonder) a 

 farre distance from the shore. Moreover, the same sea appeared in 

 the night to burn, as it had been on fire, and the waves to strive and 

 fight togither after a maruellous sort, so that the mariners could not 

 deuise how to save their ships where they laieat anchor, by no cunning 

 or shift which they could deuise. At Hertbourne, three tall ships 

 perished without recouerie, besides other smaller vessels. At Win- 

 chelsey, besides other hurte that was doone, in bridges, mills, breakes, 

 and banks, there were 300 houses and churches drowned with the high 

 rising of the water course." 



This storm diverted the course of the river Rother, which now 

 entered the sea near Rye, but before the storm had its exit to the east 



* Horsfield's History of Sussex. 



