A very wonderful sign appeared in the sun (Roger de 

 Hovedeti). 



After some excessive inundations, which had been 

 caused by the rain, even the large rivers were covered 

 with such a thick ice, which lasted a long time, that they 

 became passable for men and loaded carriages and 

 wagons. At last, when the snow melted, the fragments 

 of ice floating down the river left scarcely one sound 

 bridge in the whole country (M. of W.). 



1094 England and Normandy were sore vexed with mor- 

 tality, both of men and beasts, insomuch that tillage of 

 the ground was laid aside in many places, by reason 

 whereof there followed great dearth and famine. Many 

 hideous sights were seen, as flashes of fire, stars falling 

 from heaven, and such like wonders (Holinshed). 



Dearth so great in England and France that wheat 

 was sold for almost 205-. per quarter, followed by a pesti- 

 lential fever that carried off multitudes of people (L. 

 Townsend). 



Stars were seen to fall from heaven (M. of W.}. 



1095 On St. Ambrose mass night (that is 2nd nones April) 

 stars fell so thickly that no man might tell them (Nicholas 

 Annals ; Roger de JHoveden). 



In this year were very unseasonable tempests, and 

 therefore through all this land the earth-fruits were all 

 turned to mediocrity (A. S. C.), 



1096 This was a year of great famine and time of affliction 

 (Nicholas}. 



1097 About Michaelmas a star was seen in the south- 

 west for a week. Many men supposed it to be a comet 

 (Nicholas Annals], 



In an unusual storm of wind and rain, and a very tem- 

 pestuous sea, the Goodwin Sands were formed (Camderi). 



This was in all things a very sad year, and over 

 grievous, from the tempests when the land should be tilled, 

 or after, when the produce should be gathered (A. S. C.). 



