i 
theCnippf a Lemr frm SomQff^tfhne^ mcerning a Strange 
Froft, which hmb lately done much hurt about Briftol 5 ioge'^ 
ther with JameMfeful bints fuggejled upntbatoccajion^ 
SIR, 
Y Have my felf bbferved^ and heard fr^m others, that 
Jt^mueh violent Raio fell in many places of England 
this laft Summer and Autumn 1672^ And 'ds manifeft, 
that fuch vehement ftiowsrs do wafti and carry away the 
Soil and richeft Compoft out of the common fields into the 
Rivers^ and by them into the Ocean : Which is the caufe 
of barrenefs and fcarcity of Corn, and fometimes of a 
great mortality of Men and Cattle in the following years ; 
as I could make appear by many fad inftances. 
For a remedy againft Famine^or to prevent ir^fome good 
Men, with much zeal for the publick welfare, have ear- 
n^ftly folhcited The Plantation of Orchards and Groves ha< 
viog received it from a Tradition pretending to long Ob* 
fervation and frequent Experience, that in thofe years^ 
in which Cjorn moft fails, fruit, maft^chefnuts, wali-nuts, 
andfach relief from our Trees, do moft abound. But 
thcreis nofufficient defence againft Divine Judgments , 
till we return to our duty. That Orchards and Groves 
#ill not do it, you may lee by thQ Narrative foUming 5 
The Freezing rain, which fell here the ninths tenths or 
eleventh Decmberh^ (for i cannot confine the time 
exadly) hath made flicha deftruftion of Trees in all the 
Willages and Hi Wells and to* 
^zrd^shepton^Mallet^ gindiiowzxdi Bath Brutmi, and 
in other places of the Weft, that both for the Manner and 
Matter it may feem incredible 5 and is more ftrange than 
i have found in any Englifli Chronicle. You will havethe 
proof and manner and beftmeafureofit in a Tranfcript, 
which I lhall here give you from a very worthy perfon 
of unqueftionable credit, as you or others of your near 
a<:quaintanc€ do wellfcaowt 
<«^Xhe 
