510 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



In 462, the Danube was frozen, so that Theodomer marched over the ice to avenge his 

 brother's death in Suabia. 



In 545, the cold was so intense in winter that the birds allowed themselves to be 

 caught by the hand. 



In 763, not only the Black Sea, but the Strait of the Dardanelles was frozen over. 

 The snow in some places rose fifty feet high, and the ice was so heaped in the cities as to 

 push down the walls. 



In 800, the winter was intensely cold. 



In 822, the great rivers of Europe, such as the Danube, the Elbe, and the Seine, were 

 so hard frozen as to bear heavy waggons for a month. 



In 860, the Adriatic was frozen. 



In 874, the winter was very long and severe. The snow continued to fall from the 

 beginning of November to the end of March, and encumbered the ground so much that 

 the forests were inaccessible for the supply of fuel. 



In 891, and again in 893, the vines were killed by the frost, and the cattle perished in 

 their stalls. 



In 991, the winter lasted very long with extreme severity. Every thing was frozen ; 

 the crops totally failed ; and famine and pestilence closed the year. 



In 1044, great quantities of snow lay upon the ground. The vines and fruit-trees were 

 destroyed, and famine ensued. 



In 1067, the cold was so intense, that most of the travellers in Germany were frozen to 

 death on the roads. 



In 1124, the winter was uncommonly severe, and the snow lay very long. 



In 1 ! 33, it was extremely cold in Italy. The Po was frozen from Cremona to the sea ; 

 the heaps of snow rendered the roads impassable ; the wine casks were burst, and even 

 the trees split by the action of the frost, with immense noise. 



In 1179, the snow was eight feet deep in Austria, and lay till Easter. The crops and 

 vintage failed ; and a great murrain consumed the cattle. 



The winters of 1209 and 1210 were both of* -them very severe, insomuch that the 

 cattle died for want of fodder. 



In 1216, the Po froze fifteen ells deep, and wine burst the casks. 



In 1234, the Po was again frozen ; and loaded waggons crossed the Adriatic to Venice. 

 A fine forest was killed by the frost at Ravenna. 



In 1236, the Danube was frozen to the bottom, and remained for a considerable time in 

 that state. 



In 1269, the frost was most intense in Scotland, and the ground bound up. The 

 Categat was frozen between Norway and Jutland. 



In 1281, such quantities of snow fell in Austria as to bury the very houses. 



In 1292, the Rhine was frozen over at Breysach, and bore loaded waggons. One sheet 

 of ice extended between Norway and Jutland, so that travellers passed with ease ; and in 

 Germany 600 peasants were employed to clear away the snow for the advance of the 

 Austrian army. 



In 1 305, the rivers in Germany were frozen ; and much distress was occasioned by the 

 scarcity of provisions and forage. 



In 1316, the crops wholly failed in Germany. Wheat, which some years before sold in 

 England at six shillings a quarter, now rose to two pounds. 



In 1323, the winter was so severe, that both horse and foot passengers travelled over 

 the ice from Denmark to Lubeck and Dantzic. 



In 1 339, the crops failed in Scotland ; and such a famine ensued that the poorer sort 

 of people were reduced to feed on grass, and many of them perished miserably in the 



