History of Animal Plagues. 117 



A.D. 1392. 'During the whole of the past summer, the 

 largest rivers of Franee, which carry the tribute of their waters 

 to the sea, were dried up, and could no longer serve as transport. 

 Not only did no rain fall, but the earth scarcely furnished the 

 springs with water. In certain places this famine of water 

 made great ravages among the flocks, which died of thirst on 

 the banks of fountains and streams, or succumbed to contagious 

 maladies.' ^ 



A.D. 1401. In England, '^ the insects of leaves did immense 

 injury throughout the country, by consuming the leaves and grass 

 to such an extent that no provender was left for cattle.' "' They 

 were destroyed by lime, which likewise fertilized the ground, 

 and is said to have ffiven orioin to lijne manuring. 



A.D. 1407. ' A long and severe winter in England. Frost 

 and snow lay all December, January, February, and March. 

 Thrushes, blackbirds, and many thousands of smaller birds died 

 from hunger and cold.'^ In Ireland, 'very inclement weather, 

 and a great destruction of cattle in this year.' * ' There was 

 foul and bad weather this year, and a great murrain of cattle.'^ 

 A pestilence in Wales from a putrid fish which was cast ashore." 



A.D. 1414. According to Saxo Grammaticus, a severe form 

 of dysentery ravaged Germany, affecting horses, cattle, dogs, 

 and cats, as well as man. 



A.D. 1423. The priory of All Saints, which stood upon the 

 site now occupied by Trinity College, Dublin, ' was reduced to 

 such a state of misery, by the unfruitfulness of the seasons, by 

 the mortality of men and cattle,' and other circumstances, that 

 the revenue of the establishment was insufficient for its support.'' 



A.D. 1425. 'Very inclement weather in Ireland this year 

 from November ist to May, which caused a great destruction 

 upon cows, and delay in ploughing throughout the island, and 

 loss of people.' * 



A.D. 1430. An epidemy in Italy, and soon after i^'^i.) a great 



^ Chroniques de St Denys, ii. p. 45. Edition, 1S40. 



2 lola MS. 3 T. Short. Op. cit., p. 1S5. 



* Annals of Connaught. '■' Annals of Clonniacnoise. 

 « lola M.S. 



^ Registry of the Priory of All Saints. Irish Archscol. Transactions. 



* Annals of Clonniacnoise. 



