Domesday Book. 169 



length and breadtli of the land. In 1089 they were reaping 

 their corn at Martinmas, instead of watching the ensuing 

 year's wheat crop shoot up into life. In 1095 and 1096 the 

 produce was evidently insufficient to keep alive 1,500,000 souls, 

 though a few centuries later, viz. 1760, this same country 

 could grow sufficient in one season to feed nearly four times 

 that quantity for four years. In 1098 the excessive wet de- 

 stroyed the crops on all the low-lying soils. Even a great 

 wind, as in 1103, was sufficient to cause starvation from short 

 supplies, and — so the record goes on — boisterous weather, 

 prolonged frosts and snow, immoderate rains, were ample causes 

 for famine, blight, and pestilence. 



In the Edinburgh Magazine, vol. vi., 1762, there is a graphic 

 description of a famine year in Henry III.'s reign, purporting 

 to have been transcribed from some ancient record. It begins 

 with the usual celestial phenomena — the moon and stars red, 

 the earth shadowed with " a thick myst of smoke," notwith- 

 standing the north-east wind. The drought begins in March, 

 late frosts almost destroy the fruits of the earth, and the 

 summer's heat completes the destruction. The pastures burn 

 up, and the grass can be rubbed in the hand to a powder. 

 Fleas, flies, and gnats increase and torment the people. Dis- 

 eases, sweats, and agues ensue. During harvest, murrain 

 devastates the cattle. Norfolk, the fens, and the south country 

 suffer most. Dogs and ravens feed on the carrion, swell, and 

 die, and no one dares eat beef for fear of infection. Young 

 " heyters " and bullocks follow and suck the milch kine in the 

 waste. Apples and pears blossom a second time after fruiting. 

 After four months' drought the rains of August freshen up the 

 soil, and the starved cattle batten and die from overfeeding on 

 the fresh young grass. This is no doubt a typical instance of 

 a season which left the people utterly destitute of means to 

 defy the winter's cold and sterility. 



The Conqueror's chamberlain, Richarde de Rulos, lord of 

 Deeping, was one of the few great laymen who devoted his 

 mind to land improvements. He seems to have converted the 

 flooded marsh grounds about the river Welland into the 

 orchards and rich corn and meadow lands which now cover 



