History of Animal Plagues. 51 



sonic into Northumbria; and those that were penniless got 

 them ships, and went south over sea to the Seine. The enemy 

 had not, thank God, entirely destroyed the English nation ; but 

 it was much more weakened in these three vears bv the disease 

 in cattle, and, most of all, in men, so that many of the mightiest 

 of the King's thanes that were in the land, died within three 

 years.' ^ 



A.D. 899. In Ireland, 'a rainy year; a great dearth; mor- 

 tality of cattle.' - Rabies in a bear at Lyons, and singular 

 escape of some men whom it had bitten. ' About the vear 900 

 of our era immense forests covered Burgundy, Maconnais, 

 Brescia, and part of Lyonnais. These forests were tenanted by 

 wild boars, wolves, bears, and other ferocious animals. One day, 

 a mad bear, following the course of the river Saone, at last 

 reached the quay at Lyons. Everybody fled at its approach, 

 except some boatmen who, armed with heavy sticks, attempted 

 to kill it. The bear, however, little intimidated by their num- 

 ber, rushed amongst them, and bit many — about twenty. Of 

 this party six were smothered in about twenty-seven days, in 

 consequence of fearful madness. The other fourteen, however, 

 had thrown themselves into the river to escape the animal's 

 attacks, and having to swim to the opposite bank, were thus 

 preserved from the effects of the poison ; the water of the river 

 had saved them, for in beating against their wounds it had 

 washed away the venom.' ^ 



A.D. 903. In Ireland, ^ great mortality of cattle and birds, 

 so that the voice of thrush or blackbird was not heard this 



year.' * 



A.D. 908. In Ireland, "^ mortality of cattle.' ^ 



A.D. 916. 'Great snow, cold, and unusual frost in this year, 

 so that the chief lakes and rivers of Ireland were passable; and 

 a destruction was brought upon cattle, birds, and salmon. Evil 

 signs, too ; the heavens seemed to glow with comets, a flame of 

 fire arose, and passed from beyond the west of Ireland imtil 

 it passed over the sea eastwards.' " 



' Chronicles of the Saxons. * Annals of Ulster. 



' Mcssager de Provence. * Annals of Innisfallen. 



^ Annals of Ulster. « Tl.i.l. 



