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1256 There was a heavy flood in the valley of the Ouse, 

 which swept away the bridge of Bedford, with much hay 

 (Dugdale). 



Three days after the Feast of St. Ciricus (8th August) 

 a marvellous sore tempest of wind, rain, hail, and thunder 

 that did exceeding much hurt. Mill wheels, by the 

 violence of waters were carried away, and the wind mills 

 were no less tormented with the rage of wind. Arches of 

 bridges, stacks of hay, houses that stood by water sides, 

 and children in cradles were borne away that both 

 wonderful and no less pitiful to see. At Bedford the river 

 of Ouse bare down six houses together, and did unspeak- 

 able hurt thereabouts (Holinshed). 



1257 Wheat 24*. per qr. (Smith). 



1258 Wheat 17^. per qr. (Smith). 



The harvest was very late this year, so that the most 

 part of the corn rotted on the ground, and that which at 

 length was got in remained yet abroad till after All- 

 hallowentide (Nov. i), so intemperate was the weather with 

 excessive wet and rain beyond all measure. Hereupon 

 the dearth so increased that even those which had of late 

 relieved other, were in danger to starve themselves. 

 Finally the weather partly amended, and some corn was 

 got in. A quarter of wheat was sold in London for 24^., 

 whereas two or three years before a quarter sold for 

 2s. The wind continually certain months together kept 

 northerly, the flowers, with other growing things, were so 

 hindered that scarcely they appeared to any purpose till 

 the most part of June was past ; whereupon the hope of 

 receiving the fruits of the earth was quite taken away, and 

 so upon the dearth that happened a sore death and 

 mortality followed for want of necessary food to sustain 

 the pining bodies of the poor people. They died so 

 thick that there were great pits made in churchyards to 

 lay the dead bodies in one upon the other. 



In the first night of December there chanced a marvel- 



