154 History of the Weather, 



tween Gothland and Oeland, and between Norway and Den- 

 mark, so that wolves driven from their forests came over the ice 

 into Jutland. In France the vineyards and orchards were de- 

 stroyed. 



In 1423, both the North Sea and the Baltic were frozen. Tra- 

 vellers passed on foot from Lubeck to Dantzig. In France the 

 frost penetrated into the very cellars. Corn and wine failed, and 

 men and cattle perished for want of food. 



The successive winters of 1432, 1433, and 1434, were uncom- 

 monly severe. It snowed forty days without interruption. All 

 the rivers of Germany were frozen : and the very birds took shel- 

 ter in the towns. The price of wlieat rose, in Enj^land, to 27*. 

 a quarter, but was reduced to 55. in the following year. 



In 1460 the Baltic was frozen, and both horse and foot pas- 

 sengers crossed over the ice from Denmark to Swedpn. The 

 Danube likewise continued frozen two months; and the vineyards 

 jn Germany were destroyed. <• 



In 1468, the winter was so severe in Flanders, that the wine 

 distributed to the soldiers was cut in pieces with hatchets. 



In 1544, the same thing happened again, the wine being frozen 

 into solid lumps. 



In 154S, the winter was very cold and protracted. Between 

 Denmark and Rostock, sledges drawn by horses or oxen travelled 

 over the ice. 



In 1564, and again in 1565, the winter vvas extremely severe 

 over all Europe. The Scheldt froze so hard as to support loaded 

 WBggons for three months. 



In 1571, the winter was severe and protracted. Ail the rivers 

 in France were covered with hard and solid ice ; and fruit trees, 

 even in Languedoc, were killed by the frost. 



In 1594, the weather vvas so severe, tliat the Rhine and the 

 Scheldt were frozen, and even the sea at Venice. 



The year 160S was uncommonly cold, and snow lay of im- 

 mense depth even at Padua. Wheat rose, in the Windsor market, 

 from 36^. to 56^. a quarter. 



In 1621 and 1622, all the rivers of Europe were frozen, and 

 even the Zuyder Zee. A sheet of ice covered the Hellespont ; 

 and the Venetian fleet was choaked up in the lagoons of the 

 Adriatic. 



In 1655, the winter was very severe, especially in Sweden. 

 The excessive quantities of snow and rain which fell did great 

 injury in Scotland. 



The winters of 1658, 1659, and 1660, were intensely cold.— 

 The rivers in Italy bore heavy carriages ; and so much snow had 

 not fallen at Rome for several centuries. It was in 1658 that 

 Charles X, of Sweden crossed the Little Belt over the ice, from 



Holsteia 



