64 History of A nimal Plagues. 



pitif'ullv plagued with burning fevers, which brought many 

 to their end; a murrain also came to their cattle, whereof a won- 

 derful number died. At the same time (which is more marvel- 

 lous) tame fowls, such as hens, geese, and peacocks, forsaking 

 their owners' houses, fled to the woods, and became wild. Great 

 hurt was done in many places of the realm by fire.'^ In Ireland, 

 'areat abundance of nuts and fruit. Murrain of cows and 

 dearth in this year, and a great wind which destroyed houses 

 and churches.' ^ 



A.D. 1088. In Ireland, ^ great snow in this year, and great 

 mortality of oxen, and sheep, and pigs in the same year.' ^ 



A.D. 1089-9T. On the Continent, 'in these years many men 

 were killed by the ignis sacer (ergotism or gangrenous erysipelas), 

 which destroyed their vitals, putrefied their flesh, and blackened 

 their limbs like to charcoal. Even if their lives were preserved, 

 their extremities were so affected, that they were only reserved 

 for a most pitiable existence.' * This epidemy is mentioned by 

 several ancient chroniclers. Animals suflfered as well as the 

 human species. 



A.D. 1091. Great floods at Constantinople which drowned 

 thousands of people and cattle. Immense swarms of locusts ar- 

 rived, whose masses, when in flight, darkened the sun. From 

 their putrefaction next year arose a most desolating plague in 

 man and beast.^ 



A.D. 1092-4. ^ In 1093 there was a great mortality in men 

 and cattle in all countries, which lasted for three, and in some 

 places for four, years.' " This disease in men and animals pre- 

 vailed in Germany, France, Italy, and England, and lasted until 

 1094 ; ^ indeed, calamities of this description appear to have pre- 

 vailed almost incessantly since 1087. 'Ex quo namque furoris 

 sui rabiem vesana multitudo in principem religiosum evomuit, 

 agri fructibus steriles, prata herbis attenuantur, silva glandibus 



1 Holmshed. Chronicles of England. 



2 Annals of the Four Masters. 3 Annals of Innisfallen. 

 * Chronic. St Bavon. Corp. Chronic. Flandriae. 



•' Polydorus, Zonarius, and Crantzius. 

 ^ Spa ngeu berg. Op. cit., 228. 



' Hofmanni. Annal. Bamberg. Ludivig. Scrip, rer. Bamberg, p. 90. 

 Agrkola. De Peste. Briet. Annal. Mund. Fabricius. Origin. Saxon., p. 218. 



