42. History of Animal Plagues. 



general throughout the whole world for the space of three years, 

 \ so that there escaped not one out of the thousand of any kind of 

 animals. There was great frost in this year, so that the lakes 

 and rivers of Ireland were frozen; and the sea between Ireland 

 and Scotland was frozen, so that there was a communication 

 between them on the ice. Adamnan went to Saxon land/^ 



A.i>, 689. An epizooty devastated the cattle of Ireland. 

 ' It rained blood in Leinster this year; butter was turned into 

 the colour of blood. ^ ^ ' It rained blood seven days together 

 through all Britain ; and milk, cheese, and butter turned to 

 blood.' ^ 



A.D. 694. ' A great morren of cattle throughout all Eng- 

 land.'* 



Hardyng,^ narrating the distress in England about this 

 period, writes : 



' Their catell dyed for faute of fode eche daye, 

 Withouten meate or any sustenance, 

 In townes and feldes, and the common waye, 

 Through which their infecte was by that chance, 

 That mukitude of follce, in great substaunce, 

 On hepys laye full lyke unto the mountaynes 

 That horrible was of sight above the playns.' 



A.D. 695. ' The same morren of cowes came into Ireland 

 the next year, and began in Moythrea, in Teaffia. There was 

 such famyne and scarcitie in Ireland for three years together, 

 that men and women did eat one another for want.' ^ 



A.D. 696. 'A mortality broke out among cows in Hibernia, 

 on the Kalends of February, in Magh Treagha, in Teathbha . . . 

 Great frost in this year, so that the lakes and rivers of Erinn 

 were frozen over, and the sea between Erinn and Alba was frozen 

 to such an extent that people used to travel to and fro on the 

 ice. Famine and pestilence prevailed during three years in 

 Hibernia, to that degree that man ate man.' ''' 



' The Annals of the Four Masters. ^ Annals of Clonmacnoise. 



^ Isac. Chronic. Clark's Mirrour. * Annals of Clonmacnoise. 



^ The Chronicle of John Hardyng, composed in the 14th century. 

 ^ Annals of Clonmacnoise. '' Chronicon Scotorum. 



