66 History of Animal Plagues. 



A.D. mi. According to Holinshed, a dreadful plague visited 

 London, which not only caused a terrible mortality amongst its 

 citizens, but extended itself to cattle, fowls, and other domestic- 

 ated animals. ' About the same time many wonders were seen 

 and heard of. The river of Trent, near to Nottingham, for the 

 space of a mile, ceased to run the wonted course during the time 

 of four-and-twenty hours, so that, the channel being dried up, 

 men might pass to and fro dry-shod. Also a sow brought forth 

 a pig with a face like a man, and a chicken was hatched with 

 four feet. Moreover, a comet or blazing star appeared in a 

 strange sort, for rising in the east, when it once came aloft in 

 the firmament, it kept not the course forward, but seemed to go 

 backward, as if it had been retrograde.^ ^ Mn this year there was 

 a very severe winter; the people died in great numbers ; the loss 

 of cattle was great ; all domestic animals suffered. Birds were 

 destroyed in great numbers/ ^ In Ireland, ' extreme ill weather 

 of frost and snow, which made slaughter of tame and wild 

 beasts.' ^ 



A.D. 1 1 12. In England, 'this yeare was a great mortalitie of 

 men, and morcin (murrain) of beasts ^ * 



A.D. 1 1 13. In Ireland, '^ a great mortality of cows. O^Lon- 

 gan, Erenach of Ardpatrick, was killed by lightning on 

 Cruao;h Patrick,^ ^ 



A.D. II 15. ' In this year (in England) there was so hard a 

 winter, with snow and with frost, that no man living ever 

 remembers a harder, and throup-h it there was a great cattle 

 plague.'" Cattle, birds, and people also perished in Ireland.'' 



A.D. 1 1 24. 'There was on the third of August an eclipse 

 of the sun, which was followed by a great pestilence amongst 

 oxen, sheep, pigs, and bees. Even the crops failed.'* The 

 winter was so severe that fishes in ponds, and even eels, were 

 killed. After this there was a severe famine in England, and 

 destruction of men and cattle. 



' Holiiished. Chronicles. Saxon. Chronic, p. 217. 



- Simeon Diinelm. De Gest. Reg. Angl. Twysden. Scrip, p. 234. 



3 Annals of Ulster. * Stow. Chronicles of England. 



* Chronic. Scotorum. 6 Chronic. Saxon., p. 219. 

 ' Annals of the Four Masters. Chronic. Scot. Annals of Boyle, &c. 



* Cosmae. Prag. Chronic, book ill. 



