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of the sun and moon appeared, insomuch that William of 

 Malmesbury, who then lived, writeth that he saw the stars 

 plainly about the sun at the very time of the eclipse. On 

 the Friday after such an earthquake that many houses 

 were overthrown and flames issued from rifts in the earth 

 which defied all attempts to quench them (Holinshed; 

 M. of W.) 



1134 October i. Along the English coast and in the 

 Netherlands the sea rose suddenly with such violence as 

 to inundate the country, returning to its usual level as 

 suddenly (Mallet). 



On the fourth day before the nones of August, at about 

 the sixth hour, an eclipse of the sun took place to such 

 a degree that the whole of the sun's disc appeared as 

 though covered by a black shield (Roger de Hoveden). 



1135 August 2. The day darkened over all lands, and the 

 sun became as it were a three night old moon and the 

 stars about it at midday. Men were greatly wonder- 

 stricken and affrighted, and said that a great thing should 

 come hereafter. So it did, for that year the king died 

 (A. S. C.). 



A mighty great tempest of thunder horrible to hear, 

 and lightning dreadful to behold, the day Stephen arrived 

 in England. Now because this happened in winter time 

 it seemed against nature, and therefore was the more 

 noted as a foreshowing of some trouble (Holinshed). 



This storm was on the vigil of the Feast of the Apostles 

 St. Simon and St. Jude (M. of W.). 



1137 Corn was dear, and meat, cheese and butter, for none 

 was in the land ; wretched men died of hunger (A. S. C.). 



However a man tilled, the earth bare no corn (A. S. C.). 

 1140 On 1 3th calends April, in Lent, the sun was darkened, 

 and about noontide men lighted candles to eat by 

 (Hugo). 



Men were greatly wonder-stricken (A. S. C.; M.ofW.). 

 1142 Earthquake severely felt at Lincoln (Lowe). 



