( 16 ) 



burning fevers, which brought many to their end. A 

 murrain also came to their cattle, whereof a wonderful 

 number died. At the same time tame fowls, as hens, 

 geese, and peacocks, forsaking their owners' houses, fled 

 to the woods and became wild (Holinshed). 



A very great famine over all England through the 

 great tempests, so that many hundred men perished by 

 death (A. S. C.) 



The nation was attacked by such a great disease and 

 pestilence, that those who escaped the fevers died of 

 famine. For God sent tempests and thunders and light- 

 nings, by which many men perished, and He spared 

 neither animals nor cattle ; but even the domestic birds 

 of England, the peacocks and poultry and geese, fled 

 from the houses, and all became wild birds (M. of W.). 



1088 Scarcity of corn. Some crops not ripe till end of 

 November (Lowe). 



1089 Great earthquake over all England on third ides of 

 August (Roger de Hovederi), and was so late a season 

 that many men cut their corn about Martinmas or later 

 (Nicholas). 



1090 In November, in consequence of a violent tempest 

 the river was so swollen as entirely to sweep away 

 London Bridge, and inundate the banks on each side to 

 a great distance (JB ray ley). 



An earthquake throughout all England, followed by a 

 great scarcity of fruit and a late harvest (L. Townsend). 



1091 A violent and mischievous wind struck London, 

 shaking the towers and buildings and fruit-bearing trees 

 (M. of W.). 



October 5. Five hundred houses destroyed by a great 

 storm in London (Old Chronicle). Roger de Hoveden 

 says more than six hundred houses and a considerable 

 number of churches. 



October 5. A marvellous sore tempest fell in sundry 

 parts of England, especially in the town of Winch- 



