CHAPTER IV

_Of the Extent of this Storm, and from what Parts it was suppos'd to

come; with some Circumstances as to the Time of it_

As all our Histories are full of the Relations of Tempests and Storms

which have happened in various Parts of the World, I hope it may not be

improper that some of them have been thus observ'd with their remarkable

Effects.

But as I have all along insisted, that no Storm since the Universal

Deluge was like this, either in its Violence or its Duration, so I must

also confirm it as to the particular of its prodigious Extent.

All the Storms and Tempests we have heard of in the World, have been

Gusts or Squauls of Wind that have been carried on in their proper

Channels, and have spent their Force in a shorter space.

We feel nothing here of the Hurricanes of _Barbadoes_, the North-Wests

of _New England_ and _Virginia_, the terrible Gusts of the _Levant_, or

the frequent Tempests of the _North Cape_. When Sir _Francis Wheeler_'s

Squadron perish'd at _Gibralter_, when the City of _Straelsond_ was

almost ruin'd by a Storm, _England_ felt it not, nor was the Air here

disturb'd with the Motion. Even at home we have had Storms of violent

Wind in one part of _England_ which have not been felt in another. And

if what I have been told has any truth in it, in St. _George_'s Channel

there has frequently blown a Storm at Sea right up and down the Channel,

which has been felt on neither Coast, tho it is not above 20 Leagues

from the _English_ to the _Irish_ Shore.

Sir _William Temple_ gives us the Particulars of two terrible Storms in

_Holland_ while he was there; in one of which the great Cathedral Church

at _Utrecht_ was utterly destroy'd: and after that there was a Storm so

violent in _Holland_, that 46 Vessels were cast away at the _Texel_, and

almost all the Men drowned: and yet we felt none of these Storms here.

And for this very reason I have reserv'd an Abridgment of these former

Cases to this place; which as they are recited by Sir _William Temple_,

I shall put them down in his own Words, being not capable to mend them,

and not vain enough to pretend to it.

'I stay'd only a Night at _Antwerp_, which pass'd with so great Thunders

and Lightnings, that I promis'd my self a very fair Day after it, to go

back to _Rotterdam_ in the _States_ Yacht, that still attended me. The

Morning prov'd so; but towards Evening the Sky grew foul, and the Sea

men presag'd ill Weather, and so resolved to lie at Anchor before

_Bergen ap Zoom_, the Wind being cross and little. When the Night was

fallen as black as ever I saw, it soon began to clear up, with the most

violent Flashes of Lightning as well as Cracks of Thunder, that I

believe have ever been heard in our Age and Climate. This continued all

Night; and we felt such a fierce Heat from every great Flash of

Lightning, that the Captain apprehended it would fire his Ship. But

about 8 the next Morning the Wind changed, and came up with so strong a

Gale, that we came to _Rotterdam_ in about 4 Hours, and there found all

Mouths full of the Mischiefs and Accidents that the last Night's Tempest

had occasioned both among the Boats and the Houses, by the Thunder,

Lightning, Hail, or Whirlwinds. But the Day after came Stories to the

_Hague_ from all Parts, of such violent Effects as were almost

incredible: At _Amsterdam_ they were deplorable, many Trees torn up by

the Roots, Ships sunk in the Harbour, and Boats in the Channels; Houses

beaten down, and several People were snatch'd from the Ground as they

walk'd the Streets, and thrown into the Canals. But all was silenc'd by

the Relations from _Utrecht_, where the Great and Ancient Cathedral was

torn in pieces by the Violences of this Storm; and the vast Pillars of

Stone that supported it, were wreathed like a twisted Club, having been

so strongly compos'd and cimented, as rather to suffer such a Change of

Figure than break in pieces, as other Parts of the Fabrick did; hardly

any Church in the Town escap'd the Violence of this Storm; and very few

Houses without the Marks of it; Nor were the Effects of it less

astonishing by the Relations from _France_ and _Brussels_, where the

Damages were infinite, as well from Whirlwinds, Thunder, Lightning, as

from Hail-stones of prodigious Bigness. This was in the Year 1674.

'In _November_, 1675, happen'd a Storm at _North-West_, with a

Spring-tide, so violent, as gave apprehensions of some loss

irrecoverable to the Province of _Holland_, and by several breaches in

the great Diques near _Enchusen_, and others between _Amsterdam_ and

_Harlem_, made way for such Inundations as had not been seen before by

any man then alive, and fill'd the Country with many relations of most

deplorable Events. But the incredible Diligence and unanimous Endeavours

of the People upon such occasions, gave a stop to the Fury of that

Element, and made way for recovering next Year all the Lands, though not

the People, Cattel, and Houses that had been lost.'

_Thus far_ Sir William Temple.

I am also credibly inform'd that the greatest Storm that ever we had in

_England_ before, and which was as universal here as this, did no Damage

in _Holland_ or _France_, comparable to this Tempest: I mean the great

Wind in 1661. An Abstract of which, as it was printed in _Mirabilis

Annis_, an unknown, but unquestion'd Author, take as follows, in his own

Words.

_A dreadful Storm of Wind, accompanied with Thunder, Lightning, Hail

and Rain; together with the sad Effects of it in many Parts of the

Nation._

Upon the 18_th_ of _February_, 1661, being _Tuesday_, very early in the

Morning, there began a very great and dreadful Storm of Wind

(accompanied with Thunder, Lightning, Hail, and Rain, which in many

Places were as salt as Brine) which continued with a strange and unusual

Violence till almost Night: the sad Effects whereof throughout the

Nation are so many, that a very great Volume is not sufficient to

contain the Narrative of them. And indeed some of them are so

stupendious and amazing, that the Report of them, though from never so

authentick Hands, will scarce gain Credit among any but those that have

an affectionate Sense of the unlimited Power of the Almighty, knowing

and believing that there is nothing too hard for Him to do.

Some few of which wonderful Effects we shall give a brief Account of,

as we have received them from Persons of most unquestionable Credit in

the several Parts of the Nation.

In the City of _London_, and in _Covent Garden_ and other Parts about

_London_ and _Westminster_, five or six Persons were killed outright by

the Fall of Houses and Chimneys; especially one Mr. _Luke Blith_ an

Attorney, that lived at or near _Stamford_ in the County of _Lincoln_,

was killed that Day by the fall of a Riding-House not far from

_Pickadilla_: and there are some very remarkable Circumstances in this

Man's Case, which do make his Death to appear at least like a most

eminent Judgment and severe Stroak of the Lord's Hand upon him.

From other Parts likewise we have received certain Information, that

divers Persons were killed by the Effects of this great Wind.

At _Chiltenham_ in _Gloucestershire_, a Maid was killed by the Fall of a

Tree, in or near the Church-Yard.

An honest Yeoman likewise of _Scaldwel_ in _Northamptonshire_, being

upon a Ladder to save his Hovel, was blown off, and fell upon a Plough,

died outright, and never spoke Word more.

Also at _Tewksbury_ in _Gloucestershire_, a Man was blown from an House,

and broken to Pieces.

At _Elsbury_ likewise in the same County, a Woman was killed by the Fall

of Tiles or Bricks from an House.

And not far from the same Place, a Girl was killed by the Fall of a

Tree.

Near _Northampton_, a Man was killed by the Fall of a great Barn.

Near _Colchester_, a Young-man was killed by the Fall of a Wind-mill.

Not far from _Ipswich_ in _Suffolk_, a Man was killed by the Fall of a

Barn.

And about two Miles from the said Town of _Ipswich_, a Man was killed by

the Fall of a Tree.

At _Langton_, or near to it, in the County of _Leicester_, one Mr.

_Roberts_ had a Wind-mill blown down, in which were three Men; and by

the Fall of it, one of them was killed outright, a second had his Back

broken, and the other had his Arm or Leg struck off; and both of them

(according to our best Information) are since dead.

Several other Instances there are of the like Nature; but it would be

too tedious to mention them: Let these therefore suffice to stir us up

to Repentance, _lest we likewise perish_.

There are also many Effects of this Storm which are of another Nature,

whereof we shall give this following brief Account.

The Wind hath very much prejudiced many Churches in several Parts of the

Nation.

At _Tewksbury_ in _Gloucestershire_, it blew down a very fair Window

belonging to the Church there, both the Glass, and the Stone-work also;

the Doors likewise of that Church were blown open, much of the Lead torn

up, and some Part of a fair Pinnacle thrown down.

Also at _Red-Marly_ and _Newin_, not far from _Tewksbury_, their

Churches are extreamly broken and shatter'd, if not a considerable part

of them blown down. The like was done to most, if not all the Publick

Meeting-places at _Gloucester_ City. And it is reported, that some

Hundreds of Pounds will not suffice to repair the Damage done to the

Cathedral at _Worcester_, especially in that Part that is over the

Quire.

The like Fate happen'd to many more of them, as _Hereford_, and

_Leighton Beau-desart_ in _Bedfordshire_, and _Eaton-Soken_ in the same

County; where they had newly erected a very fair Cross of Stone, which

the Wind blew down: and, as some of the Inhabitants did observe, that

was the first Damage which that Town sustained by the Storm, though

afterwards in other respects also they were in the same Condition with

their Neighbours. The Steeples also, and other Parts of the Churches of

_Shenley_, _Waddon_, and _Woolston_ in the County of _Bucks_, have been

very much rent and torn by the Wind. The Spire of _Finchinfield_ Steeple

in the County of _Essex_, was blown down, and it brake through the Body

of the Church, and spoil'd many of the Pews; some Hundreds of Pounds

will not repair that Loss. But that which is most remarkable of this

kind, is, the Fall of that most famous Spire, or Pinnacle of the

Tower-Church in _Ipswich_: it was blown down upon the Body of the

Church, and fell reversed, the sharp End of the Shaft striking through

the Leads on the South-side of the Church, carried much of the

Timber-work down before it into the Alley just behind the Pulpit, and

took off one Side of the Sounding-board over the Pulpit: it shattered

many Pews: The Weather-Cock, and the Iron upon which it stood, broke off

as it fell; but the narrowest Part of the Wood-work, upon which the Fane

stood, fell into the Alley, broke quite through a Grave-stone, and ran

shoring under two Coffins that had been placed there one on another;

that Part of the Spire which was pluck'd up was about three Yards deep

in the Earth, and it is believed some Part of it is yet behind in the

Ground: some Hundreds of Pounds will not make good the Detriment done to

the Church by the Fall of this Pinnacle.

Very great Prejudice has been done to private Houses; many of them blown

down, and others extreamly shattered and torn. It is thought that five

thousand Pounds will not make good the Repairs at _Audley-End House_,

which belongs to the Earl of _Suffolk_. A good Part also of the

Crown-Office in the _Temple_ is blown down. The Instances of this kind

are so many and so obvious, that it would needlesly take up too much

time to give the Reader an Account of the Collection of them; only there

has been such a wonderful Destruction of Barns, that (looking so much

like a Judgment from the Lord, who the last Year took away our Corn, and

this our Barns) we cannot but give a short Account of some Part of that

Intelligence which hath come to our Hands of that Nature.

A Gentleman, of good Account, in _Ipswich_, affirms, that in a few Miles

riding that Day, there was eleven Barns and Out-houses blown down in the

Road within his View; and within a very few Miles of _Ipswich_ round

about, above thirty Barns, and many of them with Corn in them, were

blown down. At _Southold_ not far from the Place before mentioned, many

new Houses and Barns (built since a late Fire that happened there) are

blown down; as also a Salt-house is destroyed there: and a thousand

Pounds, as it is believed, will not make up that particular Loss.

From _Tewksbury_ it is certified, that an incredible Number of Barns

have been blown down in the small Towns and Villages thereabouts. At

_Twyning_, at least eleven Barns are blown down. In _Ashchurch_ Parish

seven or eight. At _Lee_, five. At _Norton_, a very great Number, three

whereof belonging to one Man. The great Abby-Barn also at _Tewksbury_ is

blown down.

It is credibly reported, that within a very few Miles Circumference in

_Worcestershire_, about an hundred and forty Barns are blown down. At

_Finchinfield_ in _Essex_, which is but an ordinary Village, about

sixteen Barns were blown down. Also at a Town called _Wilchamsted_ in

the County of _Bedford_ (a very small Village) fifteen Barns at least

are blown down. But especially the Parsonage Barns went to wrack in many

Places throughout the Land: In a few Miles Compass in _Bedfordshire_,

and so in _Northamptonshire_, and other Places, eight, ten, and twelve

are blown down; and at _Yielding Parsonage_ in the County of _Bedford_

(out of which was thrust by Oppression and Violence the late Incumbent)

all the Barns belonging to it are down. The Instances also of this kind

are innumerable, which we shall therefore forbear to make further

mention of.

We have also a large Account of the blowing down of a very great and

considerable Number of Fruit-Trees, and other Trees in several Parts; we

shall only pick out two or three Passages which are the most remarkable.

In the Counties of _Gloucester_, _Hereford_, and _Worcester_, several

Persons have lost whole Orchards of Fruit-Trees; and many particular

Mens Loss hath amounted to the Value of forty or fifty Pounds at the

least, meerly by Destruction of their Fruit-Trees: and so in other Parts

of _England_ proportionably the like Damage hath been sustained in this

Respect. And as for other Trees, there has been a great Destruction made

of them in many Places, by this Storm. Several were blown down at

_Hampton-Court_. And three thousand brave Oaks at least, but in one

principal Part of the Forest of _Dean_, belonging to his Majesty. In a

little Grove at _Ipswich_, belonging to the Lord of _Hereford_ (which

together with the Spire of the Steeple before-mentioned, were the most

considerable Ornaments of that Town) are blown down at least two hundred

goodly Trees, one of which was an Ash, which had ten Load of Wood upon

it: there are now few Trees left there.

In _Bramton Bryan Park_ in the County of _Hereford_, belonging to Sir

_Edward Harly_, one of the late Knights of the _Bath_, above thirteen

hundred Trees are blown down; and above six hundred in _Hopton Park_ not

far from it: and thus it is proportionably in most Places where this

Storm was felt. And the Truth is, the Damage which the People of this

Nation have sustained upon all Accounts by this Storm, is not easily to

be valued: some sober and discreet People, who have endeavoured to

compute the Loss of the several Counties one with another, by the

Destruction of Houses and Barns, the blowing away of Hovels and Ricks of

Corn, the falling of Trees, _&c._ do believe it can come to little less

than two Millions of Money.

There are yet behind many Particulars of a distinct Nature from those

that have been spoken of; some whereof are very wonderful, and call for

a very serious Observation of them.

In the Cities of _London_ and _Westminster_, especially on the Bridge

and near _Wallingford-house_, several Persons were blown down one on the

Top of another.

In _Hertfordshire_, a Man was taken up, carried a Pole in Length, and

blown over a very high Hedge; and the like in other Places.

The Water in the River of _Thames_, and other Places, was in a very

strange manner blown up into the Air: Yea, in the new Pond in _James's

Park_, the Fish, to the Number of at least two Hundred, where blown out

and lay by the Bank-side, whereof many were Eye-witnesses.

At _Moreclack_ in _Surry_, the _Birds_, as they attempted to fly, were

beaten down to the Ground by the Violence of the Wind.

At _Epping_ in the County of _Essex_, a very great Oak was blown down,

which of it self was raised again, and doth grow firmly at this Day.

At _Taunton_, a great Tree was blown down, the upper Part whereof rested

upon a Brick or Stone-wall, and after a little time, by the force of the

Wind, the lower part of the Tree was blown quite over the Wall.

In the City of _Hereford_, several persons were, by the Violence of the

Wind, borne up from the Ground; one Man (as it is credibly reported) at

least six Yards.

The great Fane at _Whitehall_ was blown down; and one of the four which

were upon the _white Tower_, and two more of them strangely bent; which

are to be seen at this Day, to the Admiration of all that behold them.

The several _Triumphant Arches_ in the City of _London_ were much

shattered and torn; That in _Leaden-hall-Street_ lost the King's Arms,

and many other rare Pieces that were affixed to it; That in _Cheapside_,

which represented the Church, suffered very much by the Fury of the

Storm; and a great Part of that in _Fleet Street_ (which represented

Plenty) was blown down: but, blessed be God, none as we hear of were

either killed or hurt by the Fall of it.

The Wind was so strong, that it blew down several Carts loaded with Hay

in the Road between _Barnet_ and _London_; and in other Roads leading to

the City of _London_.

_Norwich_ Coach, with four or six Horses, was not able to come towards

_London_, but stayed by the way till the Storm was somewhat abated.

It is also credibly reported, That all, or some of the Heads which were

set up upon _Westminster-Hall_, were that Day blown down.

There was a very dreadful Lightning which did at first accompany the

Storm, and by it some of his Majesty's Houshold conceive that the Fire

which happened at _Whitehall_ that Morning, was kindled; as also that at

_Greenwich_, by which (as we are informed) seven or eight Houses were

burnt down.

_Thus far the Author of_ Mirabilis Annis.

'Tis very observable, that this Storm blew from the same Quarter as the

last, and that they had less of it Northward than here; in which they

were much alike.

Now as these Storms were perhaps very furious in some Places, yet they

neither came up to the Violence of this, nor any way to be compar'd for

the Extent, and when ruinous in one County, were hardly heard of in the

next.

But this terrible Night shook all _Europe_; and how much farther it

extended, he only knows who _has his way in the Whirlwind, and in the

Storm, and the Clouds are the Dust of his Feet_.

As this Storm was first felt from the West, some have conjectur'd that

the first Generation or rather Collection of Materials, was from the

Continent of _America_, possibly from that part of _Florida_ and

_Virginia_ where, if we respect natural Causes, the Confluence of

Vapours rais'd by the Sun from the vast and unknown Lakes and Inland

Seas of Water, which as some relate are incredibly large as well as

numerous, might afford sufficient Matter for the Exhalation; and where

time adding to the Preparation, God, who has generally confin'd his

Providence to the Chain of natural Causes, might muster together those

Troops of Combustion till they made a sufficient Army duly proportion'd

to the Expedition design'd.

I am the rather inclin'd to this Opinion, because we are told, they felt

upon that Coast an unusual Tempest a few Days before the fatal 27th of

_November_.

I confess, I have never studied the Motion of the Clouds so nicely, as

to calculate how long time this Army of Terror might take up in its

furious March; possibly the Velocity of its Motion might not be so great

at its first setting out as it was afterward, as a Horse that is to run

a Race does not immediately put himself into the height of his Speed:

and tho' it may be true, that by the length of the way the force of the

Wind spends it self, and so by degrees ceases as the Vapour finds more

room for Dilation; besides, yet we may suppose a Conjunction of some

confederate Matter which might fall in with it by the way, or which

meeting it at its Arrival here, might join Forces in executing the

Commission receiv'd from above, all natural Causes being allow'd a

Subserviency to the Direction of the great supream Cause; yet where the

vast Collection of Matter had its first Motion, as it did not all take

Motion in one and the same moment, so when all the Parts had felt the

Influence, as they advanc'd and press'd those before them, the Violence

must increase in proportion: and thus we may conceive that the Motion

might not have arriv'd at its Meridian Violence till it reach'd our

Island; and even then it blew some Days with more than common fury, yet

much less than that last Night of its force; and even that Night the

Violence was not at its extremity till about an hour before Sun-rise,

and then it continued declining, tho' it blew a full Storm for four Days

after it.

Thus Providence, by whose special Direction the Quantity and Conduct of

this Judgment was manag'd, seem'd to proportion things so, as that by

the course of things the proportion of Matter being suited to Distance

of Place, the Motion shou'd arrive at its full Force just at the Place

where its Execution was to begin.

As then our Island was the first, this way, to receive the Impressions

of the violent Motion, it had the terriblest Effects here; and

continuing its steady Course, we find it carried a true Line clear over

the Continent of _Europe_, travers'd _England_, _France_, _Germany_, the

_Baltick_ Sea, and passing the Northern Continent of _Sweedland_,

_Finland_, _Muscovy_, and part of _Tartary_, must at last lose it self

in the vast Northern Ocean, where Man never came, and Ship never sail'd;

and its Violence cou'd have no effect, but upon the vast Mountains of

Ice and the huge Drifts of Snow, in which Abyss of Moisture and Cold it

is very probable the Force of it was check'd, and the World restor'd to

Calmness and Quiet: and in this Circle of Fury it might find its End not

far off from where it had its Beginning, the Fierceness of the Motion

perhaps not arriving to a Period, till having pass'd the Pole, it

reached again the Northern Parts of _America_.

The Effects of this impetuous Course, are the proper Subjects of this

Book; and what they might be before our Island felt its Fury, who can

tell? Those unhappy Wretches who had the misfortune to meet it in its

first Approach, can tell us little, having been hurried by its

irresistible Force directly into Eternity: how many they are, we cannot

pretend to give an Account; we are told of about seventeen Ships, which

having been out at Sea are never heard of: which is the common way of

Discourse of Ships founder'd in the Ocean: and indeed all we can say of

them is, the fearful _Exit_ they have made among the Mountains of

Waters, can only be duly reflected on by those who have seen those

Wonders of God in the Deep.

Yet I cannot omit here to observe, That this Loss was in all probability

much less than it would otherwise have been; because the Winds having

blown with very great Fury, at the same Point, for near fourteen Days

before the Violence grew to its more uncommon height, all those Ships

which were newly gone to Sea were forc'd back, of which some were

driven into _Plymouth_ and _Falmouth_ who had been above a hundred and

fifty Leagues at Sea; others, which had been farther, took Sanctuary in

_Ireland_.

On the other hand, All those Ships which were homeward bound, and were

within 500 Leagues of the _English_ Shore, had been hurried so furiously

on _afore it_ (_as the Seamen say_) that they had reach'd their Port

before the Extremity of the Storm came on; so that the Sea was as it

were swept clean of all Shipping, those which were coming home were

blown home before their time; those that had attempted to put to Sea,

were driven back again in spight of all their Skill and Courage: for the

Wind had blown so very hard, directly into the Channel, that there was

no possibility of their keeping the Sea whose Course was not right afore

the Wind.

On the other hand, these two Circumstances had fill'd all our Ports with

unusual Fleets of Ships, either just come home or outward-bound, and

consequently the Loss among them was very terrible; and the Havock it

made among them, tho' it was not so much as every body expected, was

such as no Age or Circumstance can ever parallel, and we hope will never

feel again.

Nay, so high the Winds blew even before _that we call the Storm_, that

had not that intolerable Tempest follow'd so soon after, we should have

counted those Winds extraordinary high: and any one may judge of the

Truth of this from these few Particulars; That the _Russia_ Fleet,

compos'd of near a hundred Sail, which happen'd to be then upon the

Coast, was absolutely dispers'd and scatter'd, some got into

_Newcastle_, some into _Hull_, and some into _Yarmouth_ Roads; two

founder'd in the Sea; one or two more run a-shore, and were lost; and

the _Reserve_ Frigat, their Convoy, founder'd in _Yarmouth_ Roads, all

her Men being lost, and no Boat from the Shore durst go off to relieve

her, tho' it was in the Day-time, but all her Men perished.

In the same previous Storms the--Man of War was lost off of _Harwich_;

but by the help of smaller Vessels most of her Men were sav'd.

And so high the Winds blew for near a Fortnight, that no Ship stirr'd

out of Harbour; and all the Vessels, great or small, that were out at

Sea, made for some Port or other for shelter.

In this juncture of time it happen'd, that together with the _Russia_

Fleet, a great Fleet of Laden Colliers, near 400 Sail, were just put out

of the River _Tine_: and these being generally deep and unweildy Ships,

met with hard measure, tho' not so fatal to them as was expected: such

of them as could run in for _Humber_, where a great many were lost

afterwards, as I shall relate in its course; some got shelter under the

high Lands of _Cromer_ and the Northern Shores of the County of

_Norfolk_, and the greater number reach'd into _Yarmouth_ Roads.

So that when the Great Storm came, our Ports round the Sea-Coast of

_England_ were exceeding full of Ships of all sorts: a brief account

whereof take as follows.

At _Grimsby_, _Hull_, and the other Roads of the _Humber_, lay about 80

Sail, great and small, of which about 50 were Colliers, and part of the

_Russia_ Fleet as aforesaid.

In _Yarmouth_ Roads there rode at least 400 Sail, being most of them

Laden Colliers, _Russia_ Men, and Coasters from _Lynn_ and _Hull_.

In the River of _Thames_, at the _Nore_, lay about 12 Sail of the

Queen's hir'd Ships and Store-ships, and only two Men of War.

Sir _Cloudsly Shovel_ was just arriv'd from the _Mediterranean_ with the

Royal Navy: Part of them lay at _St. Hellens_, part in the _Downs_, and

with 12 of the biggest Ships he was coming round the _Foreland_ to bring

them into _Chatham_; and when the Great Storm began was at an Anchor at

the _Gunfleet_, from whence the _Association_ was driven off from Sea as

far as the Coast of _Norway_: What became of the rest, I refer to a

Chapter by it self.

At _Gravesend_ there rode five _East India_ Men, and about 30 Sail of

other Merchant-men, all outward bound.

In the _Downs_ 160 Sail of Merchant Ships outward bound, besides that

part of the Fleet which came in with Sir _Cloudsly Shovel_, which

consisted of about 18 Men of War, with Tenders and Victuallers.

At _Portsmouth_ and _Cowes_ there lay three Fleets; first, a Fleet of

Transports and Tenders, who with Admiral _Dilks_ brought the Forces from

_Ireland_ that were to accompany the King of _Spain_ to _Lisbon_;

secondly, a great Fleet of Victuallers, Tenders, Store-ships, and

Transports, which lay ready for the same Voyage, together with about 40

Merchant-ships, who lay for the benefit of their Convoy; and the third

Article was, the Remainder of the Grand Fleet which came in with Sir

_Cloudsly Shovel_; in all almost 300 Sail, great and small.

In _Plymouth_ Sound, _Falmouth_ and _Milford_ Havens, were particularly

several small Fleets of Merchant-ships, driven in for Shelter and

Harbour from the Storm, most homeward bound from the Islands and

Colonies of _America_.

The _Virginia_ Fleet, _Barbadoes_ Fleet, and some _East India_ Men, lay

scatter'd in all our Ports, and in _Kinsale_ in _Ireland_ there lay near

80 Sail, homeward bound and richly laden.

At _Bristol_ about 20 Sail of home-bound _West India_ Men, not yet

unladen.

In _Holland_, the Fleet of Transports for _Lisbon_ waited for the King

of _Spain_, and several _English_ Men of War lay at _Helvoet Sluice_;

the _Dutch_ Fleet from the _Texel_ lay off of _Cadsandt_, with their

Forces on Board, under the Admiral _Callenberge_. Both these Fleets made

180 Sail.

I think I may very safely affirm, That hardly in the Memory of the

oldest Man living, was a juncture of Time when an Accident of this

nature could have happen'd, that so much Shipping, laden out and home,

ever was in Port at one time.

No Man will wonder that the Damages to this Nation were so great, if

they consider these unhappy Circumstances: it shou'd rather be wonder'd

at, that we have no more Disasters to account to Posterity, but that the

Navigation of this Country came off so well.

And therefore some People have excus'd the Extravagancies of the _Paris

Gazetteer_, who affirm'd in Print, that there was 30000 Sea-men lost in

the several Ports of _England_, and 300 Sail of Ships; which they say

was a probable Conjecture; and that considering the multitude of

Shipping, the Openness of the Roads in the _Downs_, _Yarmouth_, and the

_Nore_, and the prodigious Fury of the Wind, any Man would have guess'd

the same as he.

'Tis certain, It is a thing wonderful to consider, that especially in

the _Downs_ and _Yarmouth_ Roads any thing shou'd be safe: all Men that

know how wild a Road the first is, and what Crowds of Ships there lay in

the last; how almost every thing quitted the Road, and neither Anchor

nor Cable would hold; must wonder what Shift or what Course the Mariners

could direct themselves to for Safety.

Some which had not a Mast standing, nor an Anchor or Cable left them,

went out to Sea wherever the Winds drove them; and lying like a Trough

in the Water, wallow'd about till the Winds abated; and after were

driven, some into one Port, some into another, as Providence guided

them.

In short, Horror and Confusion seiz'd upon all, whether on Shore or at

Sea: No Pen can describe it, no Tongue can express it, no Thought

conceive it, unless some of those who were in the Extremity of it; and

who, being touch'd with a due sense of the sparing Mercy of their Maker,

retain the deep Impressions of his Goodness upon their Minds, tho' the

Danger be past: and of those I doubt the Number is but few.

OF THE EFFECTS OF THE STORM

The particular dreadful Effects of this Tempest, are the Subject of the

ensuing Part of this History: And tho' the Reader is not to expect that

all the Particulars can be put into this Account, and perhaps many very

remarkable Passages may never come to our Knowledge; yet as we have

endeavour'd to furnish our selves with the most authentick Accounts we

could from all Parts of the Nation, and a great many worthy Gentlemen

have contributed their Assistance in various, and some very exact

Relations and curious Remarks; so we pretend, not to be meanly furnish'd

for this Work.

Some Gentlemen, whose Accounts are but of common and trivial Damages, we

hope will not take it ill from the Author, if they are not inserted at

large; for that we are willing to put in nothing here common with other

Accidents of like nature; or which may not be worthy of a History and a

Historian to record them; nothing but, what may serve to assist in

convincing Posterity that this was the most violent Tempest the World

ever saw.

From hence 'twill follow, that those Towns who only had their Houses

until'd, their Barns and Hovels levell'd with the Ground, and the like,

will find very little notice taken of them in this Account; because if

these were to be the Subject of a History, I presume it must be equally

voluminous with _Fox_, _Grimston_, _Holinshead_ or _Stow_.

Nor shall I often trouble the Reader with the Multitude or Magnitude of

Trees blown down, whole Parks ruin'd, fine Walks defac'd, and Orchards

laid flat, and the like: and tho' I had, my self, the Curiosity to count

the Number of Trees, in a Circuit I rode, over most part of _Kent_, in

which being tired with the Number, I left off reckoning after I had gone

on to 17000; and tho' I have great reason to believe I did not observe

one half of the Quantity; yet in some Parts of _England_, as in

_Devonshire_ especially, and the Counties of _Worcester_, _Gloucester_,

and _Hereford_, which are full of very large Orchards of Fruit-Trees,

they had much more mischief.

In the Pursuit of this Work, I shall divide it into the following

Chapters or Sections, that I may put it into as good Order as possible.

1. Of the Damage in the City of _London_, &c.

2. in the Counties.

3.} {in the Royal Navy.

} _On the Water_ {

4.} {to Shipping in general.

5. by Earthquake.

6. by High Tides.

7. Remarkable Providences and Deliverances.

8. Hardned and blasphemous Contemners both of the Storm and its

Effects.

9. Some Calculations of Damage sustain'd.

10. The Conclusion.

We had design'd a Chapter for the Damages abroad, and have been at no

small Charge to procure the Particulars from foreign Parts; which are

now doing in a very authentick manner: but as the World has been long

expecting this Work, and several Gentlemen who were not a little

contributing to the Information of the Author, being unwilling to stay

any longer for the Account, it was resolved to put it into the Press

without any farther Delay: and if the foreign Accounts can be obtain'd

in time, they shall be a Supplement to the Work; if not, some other

Method shall be found out to make them publick.

_I. Of the Damages in the City of London, and Parts adjacent_

Indeed the City was a strange Spectacle, the Morning after the Storm, as

soon as the People could put their Heads out of Doors: though I believe,

every Body expected the Destruction was bad enough; yet I question very

much, if any Body believed the Hundredth Part of what they saw.

The Streets lay so covered with Tiles and Slates, from the Tops of the

Houses, especially in the Out-parts, that the Quantity is incredible:

and the Houses were so universally stript, that all the Tiles in Fifty

Miles round would be able to repair but a small Part of it.

Something may be guest at on this Head, from the sudden Rise of the

Price of Tiles; which rise from 21 _s. per_ Thousand to 6 _l._ for plain

Tiles; and from 50 _s. per_ Thousand for Pantiles, to 10 _l._ and

Bricklayers Labour to 5 _s. per_ Day: And tho' after the first Hurry the

Prices fell again, it was not that the Quantity was supply'd; but

because,

1_st_, The Charge was so extravagant, that an universal Neglect of

themselves, appear'd both in Landlord and Tenant; an incredible Number

of Houses remain'd all the Winter uncovered, and expos'd to all the

Inconveniences of Wet and Cold; and are so even at the Writing of this

Chapter.

2. Those People who found it absolutely necessary to cover their Houses,

but were unwilling to go to the extravagant Price of Tiles; chang'd

their Covering to that of Wood, as a present Expedient, till the Season

for making of Tiles should come on; and the first Hurry being over, the

Prices abate: and 'tis on this Score, that we see, to this Day, whole

Ranks of Buildings, as in _Christ Church Hospital_, the _Temple_,

_Asks-Hospital_, _Old-street_, _Hogsden-Squares_, and infinite other

Places, covered entirely with Deal Boards; and are like to continue so,

perhaps a Year or two longer, for Want of Tiles.

These two Reasons reduc'd the Tile-Merchants to sell at a more moderate

Price: But 'tis not an irrational Suggestion, that all the Tiles which

shall be made this whole Summer, will not repair the Damage in the

covering of Houses within the Circumference of the City, and Ten Miles

round.

The next Article in our Street Damage was, the Fall of Chimneys; and as

the Chimneys in the City Buildings are built in large Stacks, the Houses

being so high, the Fall of them had the more Power, by their own Weight,

to demolish the Houses they fell upon.

'Tis not possible to give a distinct Account of the Number, or

particular Stacks of Chimneys, which fell in this fatal Night; but the

Reader may guess by this Particular, that in _Cambray-House_, commonly

so called, a great House near _Islington_, belonging to the Family of

the _Comptons_, Earls of _Northampton_, but now let out into Tenements;

the Collector of these Remarks counted Eleven or Thirteen Stacks of

Chimneys, either wholly thrown in, or the greatest Parts of them at

least, what was expos'd to the Wind, blown off. I have heard Persons,

who pretended to observe the Desolation of that terrible Night very

nicely; and who, by what they had seen and enquired into, thought

themselves capable of making some Calculations, affirm, They could give

an Account of above Two Thousand Stacks of Chimneys blown down in and

about _London_; besides Gable Ends of Houses, some whole Roofs, and

Sixteen or Twenty whole Houses in the Out-Parts.

Under the Disaster of this Article, it seems most proper to place the

Loss of the Peoples Lives, who fell in this Calamity; since most of

those, who had the Misfortune to be killed, were buried, or beaten to

Pieces with the Rubbish of the several Stacks of Chimneys that fell.

Of these, our Weekly Bills of Mortality gave us an Account of Twenty

One; besides such as were drown'd in the River, and never found: and

besides above Two Hundred People very much wounded and maim'd.

One Woman was kill'd by the Fall of a Chimney in or near the Palace of

St. _James_'s, and a Stack of Chimneys falling in the new unfinish'd

Building there, and carried away a Piece of the Coin of the House.

Nine Souldiers were hurt, with the Fall of the Roof of the Guard-house

at _Whitehall_, but none of them died.

A Distiller in _Duke-Street_, with his Wife, and Maid-servant, were all

buried in the Rubbish of a Stack of Chimneys, which forced all the

Floors, and broke down to the Bottom of the House; the Wife was taken

out alive, though very much bruised, but her Husband and the Maid lost

their Lives.

One Mr. _Dyer_, a Plaisterer in _Fetter-Lane_, finding the Danger he was

in by the shaking of the House, jumpt out of Bed to save himself; and

had, in all Probability, Time enough to have got out of the House, but

staying to strike a Light, a Stack of Chimneys fell in upon him, kill'd

him, and wounded his Wife.

Two Boys at one Mr. _Purefoy's_, in _Cross-Street Hatton-Garden_, were

both kill'd, and buried in the Rubbish of a Stack of Chimneys; and a

third very much wounded.

A Woman in _Jewin-Street_, and Two Persons more near _Aldersgate-Street_,

were kill'd; the first, as it is reported, by venturing to run out of

the House into the Street; and the other Two by the Fall of a House.

In _Threadneedle-Street_, one Mr. _Simpson_, a Scrivener being in Bed

and fast a-sleep, heard nothing of the Storm; but the rest of the Family

being more sensible of Danger, some of them went up, and wak'd him; and

telling him their own Apprehensions, press'd him to rise; but he too

fatally sleepy, and consequently unconcern'd at the Danger, told them,

he did not apprehend any Thing; and so, notwithstanding all their

Persuasions, could not be prevailed with to rise: they had not been gone

many Minutes out of his Chamber, before the Chimneys fell in, broke

through the Roof over him, and kill'd him in his Bed.

A Carpenter in _White-Cross-Street_ was kill'd almost in the same

Manner, by a Stack of Chimneys of the _Swan_ Tavern, which fell into his

House; it was reported, That his Wife earnestly desir'd him not to go to

Bed; and had prevail'd upon him to sit up till near two a Clock, but

then finding himself very heavy, he would go to Bed against all his

Wife's Intreaties; after which she wak'd him, and desir'd him to rise,

which he refus'd, being something angry for being disturb'd; and going

to sleep again, was kill'd in his Bed: and his Wife, who would not go to

Bed, escap'd.

In this Manner, our Weekly Bills gave us an Account of Twenty One

Persons kill'd in the City of _London_, and Parts adjacent.

Some of our printed Accounts give us larger and plainer Accounts of the

Loss of Lives, than I will venture to affirm for Truth; as of several

Houses near _Moor-Fields_ levell'd with the Ground: Fourteen People

drowned in a Wherry going to _Gravesend_, and Five in a Wherry from

_Chelsey_. Not that it is not very probable to be true; but as I resolve

not to hand any thing to Posterity, but what comes very well attested, I

omit such Relations as I have not extraordinary Assurance as to the

Fact.

The Fall of Brick-Walls, by the Fury of this Tempest, in and about

_London_, would make a little Book of it self; and as this affects the

Out-Parts chiefly, where the Gardens and Yards are wall'd in, so few

such have escap'd; at St. _James_'s a considerable part of the Garden

Wall; at _Greenwich Park_ there are several pieces of the Wall down for

an Hundred Rods in a Place; and some much more, at _Battersey_,

_Chelsey_, _Putney_, at _Clapham_, at _Deptford_, at _Hackney_,

_Islington_, _Hogsden_, _Wood's Close_ by St. _John's Street_, and on

every side the City, the Walls of the Gardens have generally felt the

Shock, and lie flat on the Ground twenty, thirty Rod of walling in a

Place.

The publick Edifices of the City come next under our Consideration; and

these have had their Share in the Fury of this terrible Night.

A part of her Majesty's Palace, as is before observ'd, with a Stack of

Chimneys in the Centre of the new Buildings, then not quite finished,

fell with such a terrible Noise as very much alarm'd the whole Houshold.

The Roof of the Guard-house at _Whitehall_, as is also observ'd before,

was quite blown off; and the great Vane, or Weather-Cock at _Whitehall_

blown down.

The Lead, on the Tops of the Churches and other Buildings, was in many

Places roll'd up like a Roll of Parchment, and blown in some Places

clear off from the Buildings; as at _Westminster Abby_, St. _Andrews

Holbourn_, _Christ-Church Hospital_, and abundance of other Places.

Two of the new built Turrets, on the Top of St. _Mary Aldermary

Church_, were blown off, whereof One fell upon the Roof of the Church;

of Eight Pinnacles on the Top of St. _Albans Woodstreet_, Five of them

were blown down; Part of One of the Spires of St. _Mary Overies_ blown

off; Four Pinnacles on the Steeple of St. _Michael Crooked Lane_ blown

quite off: The Vanes and Spindles of the Weather-Cocks, in many places,

bent quite down; as on St. _Michael Cornhil_, St. _Sepulchres_, the

_Tower_, and divers other Places.

It was very remarkable, that the Bridge over the _Thames_ received but

little Damage, and not in Proportion to what in common Reason might be

expected; since the Buildings there stand high, and are not sheltered,

as they are in the Streets, one by another.

If I may be allow'd to give this Philosophical Account of it, I hope it

may not be absurd; that the Indraft of the Arches underneath the Houses

giving Vent to the Air, it past there with a more than common Current;

and consequently relieved the Buildings, by diverting the Force of the

Storm: I ask Pardon of the ingenious Reader for this Opinion, if it be

not regular, and only present it to the World for Want of a better; if

those better furnished _that Way_ will supply us with a truer Account, I

shall withdraw mine, and submit to theirs. The Fact however is certain,

that the Houses on the _Bridge_ did not suffer in Proportion to the

other Places; though all must allow, they do not seem to be stronger

built, than other Streets of the same sort.

Another Observation I cannot but make; to which, as I have Hundreds of

Instances, so I have many more Witnesses to the Truth of Fact, and the

uncommon Experiment has made it the more observ'd.

The Wind blew, during the whole Storm, between the Points of S.W. and

N.W., not that I mean it blew at all these Points, but I take a

Latitude of Eight Points to avoid Exceptions, and to confirm my

Argument; since what I am insisting upon, could not be a natural Cause

from the Winds blowing in any of those particular Points.

If a Building stood North and South, it must be a Consequence that the

East-side Slope of the Roof must be the Lee-side, lie out of the Wind,

be weather'd by the Ridge, and consequently receive no Damage in a

direct Line.

But against this rational way of arguing, we are convinced by

Demonstration and Experiment, after which Argument must be silent. It

was not in one Place or Two, but in many Places; that where a Building

stood ranging North and South, the Sides or Slopes of the Roof to the

East and the West, the East-side of the Roof would be stript and untiled

by the Violence of the Wind; and the West Side, which lay open to the

Wind, be sound and untouch'd.

This, I conceive, must happen either where the Building had some open

Part, as Windows or Doors to receive the Wind in the Inside, which being

pusht forward by the succeeding Particles of the Air, must force its Way

forward, and so lift off the Tiling on the Leeward side of the Building;

or it must happen from the Position of such Building near some other

higher Place or Building, where the Wind being repuls'd, must be forc'd

back again in Eddies; and consequently taking the Tiles from the lower

Side of the Roof, rip them up with the more Ease.

However it was, it appear'd in many Places, the Windward Side of the

Roof would be whole, and the Leeward Side, or the Side from the Wind, be

untiled; in other Places, a high Building next the Wind has been not

much hurt, and a lower Building on the Leeward Side of the high One

clean ript, and hardly a Tile left upon it: this is plain in the

Building of _Christ Church Hospital_ in _London_, where the Building on

the West and South Side of the Cloyster was at least Twenty Five Foot

higher than the East Side, and yet the Roof of the lower Side on the

East was quite untiled by the Storm; and remains at the Writing of This

covered with Deal Boards above an Hundred Foot in Length.

The blowing down of Trees may come in for another Article in this Part;

of which, in Proportion to the Quantity, here was as much as in any Part

of _England_: Some printed Accounts tell us of Seventy Trees in

_Moorfields_ blown down, which may be true; but that some of them were

Three Yards about, as is affirmed by the Authors, I cannot allow: above

a Hundred Elms in St. _James's Park_, some whereof were of such Growth,

as they tell us they were planted by Cardinal _Woolsey_; whether that

Part of it be true or not, is little to the Matter, but only to imply

that they were very great Trees: about _Baums_, commonly call'd

_Whitmore house_, there were above Two Hundred Trees blown down, and

some of them of extraordinary Size broken off in the middle.

And 'twas observ'd, that in the Morning after the Storm was abated, it

blew so hard, the Women, who usually go for Milk to the Cow-keepers in

the Villages round the City, were not able to go along with their Pails

on their Heads; and One, that was more hardy than the rest, was blown

away by the Fury of the Storm, and forced into a Pond, but by strugling

hard got out, and avoided being drowned; and some that ventured out with

Milk the Evening after, had their Pails and Milk blown off from their

Heads.

'Tis impossible to enumerate the Particulars of the Damage suffered, and

of the Accidents which happened under these several Heads, in and about

the City of _London_: The Houses looked like Skeletons, and an universal

Air of Horror seem'd to sit on the Countenances of the People; all

Business seem'd to be laid aside for the Time, and People were generally

intent upon getting Help to repair their Habitations.

It pleased God so to direct things, that there fell no Rain in any

considerable Quantity, except what fell the same Night or the ensuing

Day, for near Three Weeks after the Storm, though it was a Time of the

Year that is generally dripping. Had a wet Rainy Season followed the

Storm, the Damage which would have been suffered in and about this City

to Houshold Goods, Furniture and Merchandise, would have been

incredible, and might have equall'd all the the rest of the Calamity:

but the Weather prov'd fair and temperate for near a Month after the

Storm, which gave People a great deal of Leisure in providing themselves

Shelter, and fortifying their Houses against the Accidents of Weather by

Deal Boards, old Tiles, Pieces of Sail-Cloth, Tarpaulin, and the like.

_II. Of the Damages in the Country_

As the Author of this was an Eye-witness and Sharer of the Particulars

in the former Chapter; so, to furnish the Reader with Accounts as

authentick, and which he has as much cause to depend upon as if he had

seen them, he has the several Particulars following from like

Eye-witnesses; and that in such a manner, as I think their Testimony is

not to be question'd, most of the Gentlemen being of Piety and

Reputation.

And as a Publication was made to desire all Persons who were willing to

contribute to the forwarding this Work, and to transmit the Memory of so

signal a Judgment to Posterity, that they would be pleas'd to send up

such authentick Accounts of the Mischiefs, Damages, and Disasters in

their respective Counties that the World might rely on; it cannot,

without a great breach of Charity, be suppos'd that Men mov'd by such

Principles, without any private Interest or Advantage, would forge any

thing to impose upon the World, and abuse Mankind in Ages to come.

Interest, Parties, Strife, Faction, and particular Malice, with all the

scurvy Circumstances attending such things, may prompt Men to strain a

Tale beyond its real Extent; but, that Men shou'd invent a Story to

amuse Posterity, in a case where they have no manner of Motive, where

the only Design is to preserve the Remembrance of Divine Vengeance, and

put our Children in mind of God's Judgments upon their sinful Fathers,

this would be telling a Lye for God's sake, and doing Evil for the sake

of it self, which is a step beyond the Devil.

Besides, as most of our Relators have not only given us their Names, and

sign'd the Accounts they have sent, but have also given us Leave to hand

their Names down to Posterity with the Record of the Relation they give,

we would hope no Man will be so uncharitable to believe that Men would

be forward to set their Names to a voluntary Untruth, and have

themselves recorded to Posterity for having, without Motion, Hope,

Reward, or any other reason, impos'd a Falsity upon the World, and

dishonour'd our Relation with the useless Banter of an Untruth.

We cannot therefore but think, that as the Author believes himself

sufficiently back'd by the Authority of the Vouchers he presents, so

after what has been here premis'd, no Man will have any room to suspect

us of Forgery.

The ensuing Relation therefore, as to Damages in the Country, shall

consist chiefly of Letters from the respective Places where such things

have happen'd; only that as all our Letters are not concise enough to be

printed as they are, where it is otherwise the Letter is digested into a

Relation only; in which the Reader is assur'd we have always kept close

to the matter of fact.

And first, I shall present such Accounts as are entire, and related by

Men of Letters, principally by the Clergy; which shall be given you in

their own Words.

The first is from _Stowmarket_ in _Suffolk_, where, by the Violence of

the Storm, the finest Spire in that County, and but new built, _viz._

within thirty Years, was overthrown, and fell upon the Church. The

Letter is sign'd by the reverend Minister of the Place, and vouched by

two of the principal Inhabitants, as follows.

_SIR_,

Having seen an Advertisement of a Design to perpetuate the

Remembrance of the late dreadful Storm, by publishing a Collection

of all the remarkable Accidents occasion'd by it, and supposing the

Damage done to our Church to be none of the least, we were willing

to contribute something to your Design, by sending you an Account

thereof as follows.

We had formerly a Spire of Timber covered with Lead, of the height

of 77 Foot; which being in danger of falling, was taken down: and in

the Year 1674, with the Addition of 10 Loads of new Timber, 21

thousand and 8 hundred weight of Lead, a new one was erected, 100

Foot high from the Steeple, with a Gallery at the height of 40 Foot

all open, wherein hung a Clock-Bell of between 2 and 3 hundred

Weight. The Spire stood but 8 Yards above the Roof of the Church;

and yet by the extreme Violence of the Storm, a little before 6 in

the Morning the Spire was thrown down; and carrying with it all the

Battlements on the East side, it fell upon the Church at the

distance of 28 Foot; for so much is the distance between the Steeple

and the first Breach, which is on the North-side of the middle Roof,

of the length of 17 Foot, where it brake down 9 Spars clean, each 23

Foot long, and severally supported with very strong Braces. The

Spire inclining to the North, fell cross the middle Wall, and broke

off at the Gallery, the lower part falling in at the aforesaid

Breach, and the upper upon the North Isle, which is 24 Foot wide,

with a flat Roof lately built, all new and very strong: It carried

all before it from side to side, making a Breach 37 Foot long,

breaking in sunder two large Beams that went a-cross, which were 12

Inches broad and 15 deep, besides several other smaller. Besides

these two Breaches, there is a great deal of Damage done by the Fall

of great Stones upon other parts of the Roof, as well as by the

Wind's riving up the Lead, and a third part of the Pews broken all

in pieces, every thing falling into the Church, except the

Weather-cock, which was found in the Church-yard, at a considerable

distance, in the great Path that goes cross by the East End of the

Church. It will cost above 400 _l._ to make all good as it was

before. There were 3 single Chimneys blown down, and a Stack of 4

more together, all about the same time; and some others so shaken,

that they were forc'd to be pull'd down; but, we thank God, no body

hurt, tho' one Bed was broken in pieces that was very oft lain in:

no body lay in it that Night. Most Houses suffered something in

their Tiling, and generally all round the Country, there is

incredible Damage done to Churches, Houses, and Barns.

_Samuel Farr_, Vicar.

_John Gaudy._

_William Garrard._

From _Oxfordshire_ we have an Account very authentick, and yet

unaccountably strange: but the reverend Author of the Story being a

Gentleman whose Credit we cannot dispute, in acknowledgment to his

Civility, and for the Advantage of our true Design, we give his Letter

also _verbatim_.

_SIR_,

Meeting with an Advertisement of yours in the _Gazette_ of _Monday_

last, I very much approved of the Design, thinking it might be a

great Motive towards making People, when they hear the Fate of

others, return Thanks to Almighty God for his Providence in

preserving them. I accordingly was resolved to send you all I knew.

The Place where I have for some time lived is _Besselsleigh_, in

_Barkshire_, about four Miles S.W. of _Oxon_. The Wind began with

us much about One of the Clock in the Morning, and did not do much

harm, only in untiling Houses, blowing down a Chimney or two,

without any Person hurt, and a few Trees: but what was the only

thing that was strange, and to be observed, was a very tall Elm,

which was found the next Morning standing, but perfectly twisted

round; the Root a little loosen'd, but not torn up. But what

happened the Afternoon preceding, is abundantly more surprizing, and

is indeed the Intent of this Letter.

On _Friday_ the 26th of _November_, in the Afternoon, about Four of

the Clock, a Country Fellow came running to me in a great Fright,

and very earnestly entreated me to go and see a Pillar, as he call'd

it, in the Air, in a Field hard by. I went with the Fellow; and when

I came, found it to be a Spout marching directly with the Wind: and

I can think of nothing I can compare it to better than the Trunk of

an Elephant, which it resembled, only much bigger. It was extended

to a great Length, and swept the Ground as it went, leaving a Mark

behind. It crossed a Field; and what was very strange (and which I

should scarce have been induced to believe had I not my self seen

it, besides several Country-men who were astonish'd at it) meeting

with an Oak that stood towards the middle of the Field snapped the

Body of it asunder. Afterwards crossing a Road, it sucked up the

Water that was in the Cart-ruts: then coming to an old Barn, it

tumbled it down, and the Thatch that was on the Top was carried

about by the Wind, which was then very high, in great confusion.

After this I followed it no farther, and therefore saw no more of

it. But a Parishoner of mine going from hence to _Hinksey_, in a

Field about a quarter of a Mile off of this Place, was on the sudden

knock'd down, and lay upon the Place till some People came by and

brought him home; and he is not yet quite recovered. Having

examined him, by all I can collect both from the Time, and Place,

and Manner of his being knock'd down, I must conclude it was done by

the Spout, which, if its Force had not been much abated, had

certainly kill'd him: and indeed I attribute his Illness more to the

Fright, than the sudden Force with which he was struck down.

I will not now enter into a Dissertation on the Cause of Spouts, but

by what I can understand they are caused by nothing but the

Circumgyration of the Clouds, made by two contrary Winds meeting in

a Point, and condensing the Cloud till it falls in the Shape we see

it; which by the twisting Motion sucks up Water, and doth much

Mischief to Ships at Sea, where they happen oftner than at Land.

Whichever of the two Winds prevails, as in the above-mentioned was

the S.W. at last dissolves and dissipates the Cloud, and then the

Spout disappears.

This is all I have to communicate to you, wishing you all imaginable

Success in your Collection. Whether you insert this Account, I leave

wholly to your own Discretion; but can assure you, that to most of

these things, tho' very surprizing, I was my self an Eye-witness. I

am,

SIR,

_Your humble Servant_,

_Dec._ 12. 1703. Joseph Ralton.

The judicious Reader will observe here, that this strange Spout, or

Cloud, or what else it may be call'd, was seen the Evening before the

great Storm: from whence is confirm'd what I have said before of the

violent Agitation of the Air for some time before the Tempest.

A short, but very regular Account, from _Northampton_, the Reader may

take in the following Letter; the Person being of undoubted Credit and

Reputation in the Town, and the Particulars very well worth remark.

_SIR_,

Having seen in the _Gazette_ an Intimation, that there would be a

Memorial drawn up of the late terrible Wind, and the Effects of it,

and that the Composer desired Informations from credible Persons,

the better to enable him to do the same, I thought good to intimate

what happen'd in this Town, and its Neighbourhood. 1. The

Weather-cock of _All-Saints_ Church being placed on a mighty Spindle

of Iron, was bowed together, and made useless. Many Sheets of Lead

on that Church, as also on St. _Giles_'s and St. _Sepulchres_,

rowled up like a Scroll. Three Windmills belonging to the Town blown

down, to the Amazement of all Beholders; the mighty upright Post

below the Floor of the Mills being snapt in two like a Reed. Two

entire Stacks of Chimneys in a House uninhabited fell on two several

Roofs, and made a most amazing Ruin in the Chambers, Floors, and

even to the lower Windows and Wainscot, splitting and tearing it as

if a Blow by Gun-powder had happen'd. The Floods at this instant

about the South Bridge, from a violent S.W. Wind, rose to a great

and amazing height; the Wind coming over or a-thwart large open

Meadows, did exceeding damage in that part of the Town, by blowing

down some whole Houses, carrying whole Roofs at once into the

Streets, and very many lesser Buildings of Tanners, Fell-mongers,

Dyers, Glue-makers, _&c._ yet, through the Goodness of God, no

Person killed or maimed: the mighty Doors of the Sessions-house,

barr'd and lock'd, forced open, whereby the Wind entring, made a

miserable Havock of the large and lofty Windows: a Pinnacle on the

_Guild-hall_, with the Fane, was also blown down. To speak of Houses

shatter'd, Corn-ricks and Hovels blown from their Standings, would

be endless. In Sir _Thomas Samwell_'s Park a very great headed Elm

was blown over the Park-Wall into the Road, and yet never touched

the Wall, being carried some Yards. I have confined my self to this

Town. If the Composer finds any thing agreeable to his Design, he

may use it or dismiss it at his Discretion. Such Works of Providence

are worth recording. I am

_Your loving Friend,_

_Northampton_,

Dec. 12. 1703. Ben. Bullivant.

The following Account from _Berkly_ and other Places in

_Gloucestershire_ and _Somersetshire_, &c. are the sad Effects of the

prodigious Tide in the _Severn_. The Wind blowing directly into the

Mouth of that Channel we call the _Severn_ Sea, forced the Waters up in

such quantity, that 'tis allow'd the Flood was eight Foot higher than

ever was known in the Memory of Man; and at one Place, near _Huntspill_,

it drove several Vessels a long way upon the Land; from whence, no

succeeding Tide rising to near that height, they can never be gotten

off: as will appear in the two following Letters.

_SIR_,

This Parish is a very large one in the County of _Gloucester_, on

one Side whereof runneth the River _Severn_, which by Reason of the

Violence of the late Storm beat down and tore to pieces the Sea Wall

(which is made of great Stones, and Sticks which they call Rouses; a

Yard and half long, about the Bigness of ones Thigh rammed into the

Ground as firm as possible) in many Places, and levell'd it almost

with the Ground, forcing vast Quantities of Earth a great Distance

from the Shore, and Stones, many of which were above a Hundred

Weight: and hereby the _Severn_ was let in above a Mile over one

part of the Parish, and did great Damage to the Land; it carried

away one House which was by the Sea-side, and a Gentleman's Stable,

wherein was a Horse, into the next Ground; and then the Stable fell

to pieces, and so the Horse came out. There is one thing more

remarkable in this Parish, and 'tis this: Twenty Six Sheets of Lead,

hanging all together, were blown off from the middle Isle of our

Church, and were carried over the North Isle, which is a very large

one, without touching it; and into the Church-yard ten Yards distant

from the Church; and they were took up all joyned together as they

were on the Roof; the Plummer told me that the Sheets weighed each

Three Hundred and a half one with another. This is what is most

observable in our Parish; but I shall give you an Account of one

thing (which perhaps you may have from other Hands) that happen'd in

another, call'd _Kingscote_, a little Village about Three Miles from

_Tedbury_, and Seven from us; where _William Kingscote_ Esq; has

many Woods; among which was one Grove of very tall Trees, being each

near Eighty Foot high; the which he greatly valued for the Tallness

and Prospect of them, and therefore resolv'd never to cut them down:

But it so happen'd, that Six Hundred of them, within the Compass of

Five Acres were wholly blown down; (and suppos'd to be much at the

same time) each Tree tearing up the Ground with its Root; so that

the Roots of most of the Trees, with the Turf and Earth about them,

stood up at least Fifteen or Sixteen Foot high; the lying down of

which Trees is an amazing Sight to all Beholders. This Account was

given by the Gentleman himself, whom I know very well. I have no

more to add, but that I am, _Your humble Servant_, wishing you good

Success in your Undertaking,

_Henry Head_, Vicar of _Berkly_.

Jan. 24.

The Damage of the Sea-wall may amount to about five Hundred Pounds.

_SIR_,

I Received a printed Paper sometime since, wherein I was desired to

send you an Account of what happen'd in the late Storm: and I should

have answered it sooner, but was willing to make some Enquiry first

about this County; and by what I can hear or learn, the dismal

Accident of our late Bishop and Lady was most remarkable; who was

killed by the Fall of two Chimney Stacks, which fell on the Roof,

and drove it in upon my Lord's Bed, forced it quite through the next

Flower down into the Hall, and buried them both in the Rubbish; and

'tis suppos'd my Lord was getting up, for he was found some Distance

from my Lady, who was found in her Bed; but my Lord had his Morning

Gown on, so that 'tis suppos'd he was coming from the Bed just as it

fell. We had likewise two small Houses blown flat down just as the

People were gone out to a Neighbour's House; and several other

Chimney Stacks fell down, and some through the Roof, but no other

Accident as to Death in this Town or near it: abundance of Tiles are

blown off, and likewise Thatch in and about this Town, and several

Houses uncover'd, in the Country all about us, abundance of Apple

and Elm Trees are rooted up by the Ground; and also abundance of

Wheat and Hay-mows blown down: at _Huntspil_, about twelve Miles

from this Town, there was Four or Five small Vessels drove a-shoar

which remain there still, and 'tis suppos'd cannot be got off; and

in the same Parish, the Tide broke in Breast high; but all the

People escap'd only one Woman, who was drowned. These are all the

remarkable Things that happen'd near us, as I can hear of; and is

all, but my humble Service; and beg Leave to subscribe my self,

SIR,

_Your most humble Servant_,

_Wells_ in _Somersetshire_,

Feb. 9. 1703. Edith. Conyers.

_SIR_,

The Dreadful Storm did this Church but little Damage, but our Houses

were terribly shaken hereabouts, and the Tide drowned the greatest

part of the Sheep on our Common; as it likewise did, besides many

Cows, between this Place and _Bristol_; on the opposite Shore of

_Glamorganshire_, as (I suppose you may also know) it brake down

part of _Chepstow_ Bridge, o'er the _Wye_. In the midst of this

Church-yard grew a vast Tree, thought to be the most large and

flourishing Elm in the Land which was torn up by the Roots, some of

which are really bigger than ones Middle, and several than a Man's

Thigh; the Compass of them curiously interwoven with the Earth,

being from the Surface (or Turf) to the Basis, full an Ell in Depth,

and Eighteen Foot and half in the Diameter, and yet thrown up near

Perpendicular; the Trunk, together with the loaden Roots, is well

judg'd to be Thirteen Tun at least, and the Limbs to make Six Load

of Billets with Faggots; and, about Two Years since, our Minister

observ'd, that the circumambient Boughs dropt round above Two

Hundred Yards: He hath given it for a SINGERS SEAT in our said

Church, with this Inscription thereon; _Nov. 27. A.D._ 1703.

_Miserere_, &c.

_Slimbrige near Severn_

Dec. 28. 1703. _William Frith_ Church-Warden.

_SIR_,

By the late Dreadful Storm a considerable Breach was made in our

Town Wall, and Part of the Church Steeple blown down; besides most

of the Inhabitants suffered very much by untiling their Houses,

_&c._ and abundance of Trees unrooted: at the same time our River

overflowed, and drowned the low Grounds of both Sides the Town,

whereby several Hundreds of Sheep were lost, and some Cattle; and

one of our Market Boats lifted upon our Key. This is a true Account

of most of our Damages. I am,

_Your humble Servant_,

_Cardiff_,

Jan. 10. 1703. William Jones.

_Honour'd Sir_,

In Obedience to your Request I have here sent you a particular

Account of the damages sustain'd in our Parish by the late Violent

Storm; and because that of our Church is the most material which I

have to impart to you, I shall therefore begin with it. It is the

fineness of our Church which magnifies our present loss, for in the

whole it is a large and noble structure, compos'd within and without

of Ashler curiously wrought, and consisting of a stately Roof in the

middle, and two Isles runing a considerable length from one end of

it to the other, makes a very beautiful Figure. It is also adorn'd

with 28 admired and Celebrated Windows, which, for the variety and

fineness of the Painted Glass that was in them, do justly attract

the Eyes of all curious Travellers to inspect and behold them; nor

is it more famous for its Glass, than newly renown'd for the Beauty

of its Seats and Paving, both being chiefly the noble Gift of that

pious and worthy Gentleman _Andrew Barker_, Esq; the late Deceas'd

Lord of the Mannor. So that all things consider'd, it does equal, at

least, if not exceed, any Parochial Church in _England_. Now that

part of it which most of all felt the fury of the Winds, was, a

large middle West Window, in Dimension about 15 Foot wide, and 25

Foot high: it represents the general Judgment, and is so fine a

piece of Art, that 1500 _l._ has formerly been bidden for it, a

price, though very tempting, yet were the Parishoners so just and

honest as to refuse it. The upper part of this Window, just above

the place where our Saviour's Picture is drawn sitting on a Rainbow,

and the Earth his Foot-stool, is entirely ruin'd, and both sides are

so shatter'd and torn, especially the left, that upon a general

Computation, a fourth part, at least, is blown down and destroy'd.

The like Fate has another West Window on the left side of the

former, in Dimension about 10 Foot broad, and 15 Foot high,

sustain'd; the upper half of which is totally broke, excepting one

Stone Munnel. Now if this were but ordinary Glass, we might quickly

compute what our repairs would Cost, but we the more lament our

misfortune herein, because the Paint of these two, as of all the

other Windows in our Church, is stain'd thro' the Body of the Glass;

so that if that be true which is generally said, that this Art is

lost, then have we an irretrievable loss. There are other damages

about our Church, which, tho' not so great as the former, do yet as

much testify how strong and boisterous the Winds were, for they

unbedded 3 Sheets of Lead upon the uppermost Roof, and roll'd them

up like so much Paper. Over the Church-porch, a large Pinnacle and

two Battlements were blown down upon the leads of it, but resting

there, and their fall being short, these will be repair'd with

little Cost. This is all I have to say concerning our Church: Our

Houses come next to be considered, and here I may tell you, that

(thanks be to God) the effects of the Storm were not so great as

they have been in many other places; several Chimneys, and Tiles,

and Slats, were thrown down, but no body kill'd or wounded. Some of

the Poor, because their Houses were Thatch'd, were the greatest

sufferers; but to be particular herein, would be very frivolous, as

well as vexatious. One Instance of Note ought not to omitted; on

_Saturday_ the 26th, being the day after the Storm, about 2-a-Clock

in the Afternoon, without any previous warning, a sudden flash of

Lightning, with a short, but violent clap of Thunder, immediately

following it like the Discharge of Ordnance, fell upon a new and

strong built House in the middle of our Town, and at the same time

disjointed two Chimneys, melted some of the Lead of an upper Window,

and struck the Mistress of the House into a Swoon, but this, as

appear'd afterwards, prov'd the effect more of fear, than of any

real considerable hurt to be found about her. I have nothing more

to add, unless it be the fall of several Trees and Ricks of Hay

amongst us, but these being so common every where, and not very many

in number here, I shall Conclude this tedious Scrible, and Subscribe

my self,

_SIR_,

_Your most Obedient and Humble Servant_,

Fairford, Gloucest.

_January_ 1703/4. Edw. Shipton, _Vic._

_The following Letters, tho' in a homely stile, are written by very

honest, plain and observing Persons, to whom entire Credit may be

given._

_BREWTON._

_SIR_,

Some time since I received a Letter from you, to give you an Account

of the most particular Things that hapned in the late dreadful

Tempest of Wind, and in the first Place is the Copy of a Letter from

a Brother of mine, that was an Exciseman of _Axbridge_, in the West

of our County of _Somerset_; these are his Words,

What I know of the Winds in these Parts, are, that it broke down

many Trees, and that the House of one _Richard Henden_; of

_Charter-House_ on _Mendip_, call'd _Piney_, was almost blown down,

and in saving their House, they, and the Servants, and others, heard

grievous Cries and Scrieches in the Air. The Tower of _Compton

Bishop_ was much shatter'd, and the Leads that cover'd it were taken

clean away, and laid flat in the Church-Yard: The House of _John

Cray_ of that place, received much and strange Damages, which

together with his part in the Sea-wall, amounted to 500 _l._ Near

the Salt-works in the Parish of _Burnham_, was driven five trading

Vessels, as Colliers and Corn-dealers, betwixt _Wales_ and

_Bridgwater_, at least 100 Yards on Pasture Ground. In the North

Marsh, on the sides of _Bristol_ River, near _Ken_ at _Walton

Woodspring_, the Waters broke with such Violence, that it came six

Miles into the Country drowning much Cattel, carrying away several

Hay-ricks and Stacks of Corn: And at a Farm at _Churchill_ near

_Wrington_, it blew down 150 Elms that grew most in Rows, and were

laid as Uniform as Soldiers lodge their Arms.

At _Cheddar_ near _Axbridge_, was much harm done in Apple-trees,

Houses, and such like; but what's worth remark, tho' not the very

Night of the Tempest, a Company of wicked People being at a Wedding

of one _Thomas Marshall_, _John_, the Father of the said _Thomas_,

being as most of the Company was very Drunk, after much filthy

Discourse while he was eating, a strange Cat pulling something from

his Trenchard, he Cursing her, stoopt to take it up, and died

immediately.

At _Brewton_ what was most Remarkable, was this, that one _John

Dicer_ of that Town, lay the Night as the Tempest was, in the Barn

of one _John Seller_, the Violence of the Wind broke down the Roof

of the Barn, but fortunately for him there was a Ladder which staid

up a Rafter, which would have fell upon the said _John Dicer_; but

he narrowly escaping being killed, did slide himself thro' the

broken Roof, and so got over the Wall without any great hurt. What

hurt was done more about that Town is not so considerable as in

other Places; Such as blowing off the Thatch from a great many back

Houses of the Town; for the Town is most tiled with a sort of heavy

Tile, that the Wind had no power to move; there was some hurt done

to the Church, which was not above 40_s._ besides the Windows, where

was a considerable damage, the Lady _Fitzharding_'s House standing

by the Church, the Battlement with part of the Wall of the House was

blown down, which 'tis said, above 20 Men with all their strength

could not have thrown down; besides, a great many Trees in the Park

torn up by the Roots, and laid in very good Order one after another;

it was taken notice that the Wind did not come in a full Body at

once, but it came in several Gusts, as my self have taken Notice as

I rid the Country, that in half a Miles riding I could not see a

Tree down, nor much hurt to Houses, then again I might for some

space see the Trees down, and all the Houses shattred: and I have

taken Notice that it run so all up the Country in such a Line as the

Wind sat; about One of the Clock it turn'd to the North West, but at

the beginning was at South West; I my self was up until One and then

I went to Bed, but the highest of the Wind was after that, so that

my Bed did shake with me.

* * * * *

What was about _Wincanton_, was, that one Mrs. _Gapper_ had 36

Elm-trees growing together in a Row, 35 of them was blown down; and

one _Edgehill_ of the same Town, and his Family being a Bed did

arise, hearing the House begin to Crak, and got out of the Doors

with his whole Family, and as soon as they were out the Roof of the

House fell in, and the Violence of the Wind took of the Children's

Head-cloaths, that they never saw them afterwards.

* * * * *

At _Evercreech_, three Miles from _Brewton_, there were a poor Woman

beg'd for Lodging in the Barn of one _Edmond Peny_ that same Night

that the Storm was, she was wet the Day before in Travelling, so she

hung up her Cloaths in the Barn, and lay in the Straw; but when the

Storm came it blew down the Roof of the Barn where she lay, and she

narrowly escaped with her Life, being much bruised, and got out

almost naked through the Roof where it was broken most, and went to

the dwelling House of the said _Edmond Peny_, and they did arise,

and did help her to something to cover her, till they could get out

her Cloaths; that place of _Evercreech_ received a great deal of

hurt in their Houses, which is too large to put here.

* * * * *

At _Batcomb_ Easterly of _Evercreech_, they had a great deal of

Damage done as I said before, it lay exactly with the Wind from

_Evercreech_, and both places received a great deal of Damage; there

was one Widow _Walter_ lived in a House by it self, the Wind carried

away the Roof, and the Woman's pair of Bodice, that was never heard

of again, and the whole Family escaped narrowly with their Lives;

all the Battlements of the Church on that side of the Tower next to

the Wind was blown in, and a great deal of Damage done to the

Church.

At _Shipton Mallet_ was great Damages done, as I was told by the

Post that comes to _Brewton_, that the Tiles of the Meeting House

was blown off, and being a sort of light Tiles they flew against the

Neighbouring Windows, and broke them to pieces: And at _Chalton_

near _Shepton Mallet_ at one _Abbot_'s, the Roof was carried from

the Walls of the House and the House mightily shaken, and seemingly

the Foundation removed, and in the Morning they found a Foundation

Stone of the House upon the top of the Wall, where was a shew in the

Ground of its being driven out. At _Dinder_ within two Miles of

_Shepton_, there was one _John Allen_, and his Son, being out of

Doors in the midst of the Tempest, they saw a great Body of Fire

flying on the side of a Hill, call'd _Dinder-hill_, about half a

Mile from them, with a Shew of black in the midst of it, and another

Body of Fire following it, something smaller than the former.

There has been a strange thing at _Butly_, eight Miles from

_Brewton_, which was thought to be Witchcraft, where a great many

unusual Things happened to one _Pope_, and his Family, especially to

a Boy, that was his Son, that having lain several Hours Dead, when

he came to himself, he told his Father, and several of his

Neighbours, Strange Stories of his being carried away by some of his

Neighbours that have been counted wicked Persons; the Things have

been so strangely related that Thousands of People have gone to see

and hear it; it lasted about a Year or more: But since the Storm I

have inquired of the Neighbours how it was, and they tell me, that

since the late Tempest of Wind the House and People have been quiet;

for its generally said, that there was some Conjuration in quieting

of that House. If you have a desire to hear any farther Account of

it, I will make it my Business to inquire farther of it, for there

were such. Things happened in that time which is seldom heard of,

_Your humble Servant_

Hu. Ash.

_Our Town of_ Butly _lyes in such a place, that no Post-House is in

a great many Miles of it, or you should hear oftner._

_SIR_,

I received yours, desiring an Account of the Damage done by the late

great Wind about us. At _Wilsnorton_, three Miles from _Wittney_,

the Lead of the Church was rouled, and great Damage done to the

Church, many great Elms were tore up by the Roots: At _Helford_, two

Miles from us, a Rookery of Elms, was most of it tore up by the

Roots: At _Cockeup_, two Miles from us, was a Barn blown down, and

several Elms blown down a Cross the High-way, so that there was no

passage; a great Oak of about nine or ten Loads was blown down,

having a Raven sitting in it, his Wing-feathers got between two

Bows, and held him fast; but the Raven received no hurt: At

_Duckelton_, a little thatch't House was taken off the

Ground-pening, and removed a distance from the place, the covering

not damaged. Hay-recks abundance are torn to pieces: At _Wittney_,

six Stacks of Chimneys blown down, one House had a sheet of Lead

taken from one side and blown over to the other, and many Houses

were quite torn to pieces; several Hundred Trees blown down, some

broke in the middle, and some torn up by the Roots. Blessed be God,

I hear neither Man, Woman nor Child that received any harm about us.

_Your Servant_,

_Wittney, Oxfordsh._ Richard Abenell.

_ILMISTER, Somerset_

_Brief but exact Remarks on the late Dreadful Storms of Wind, as it

affected the Town, and the Parts adjacent._

_Imprimus._ At _Ashil_-Parish 3 Miles West from this Town, the

Stable belonging to the Hare and Hounds Inn was blown down, in which

were three Horses, one kill'd, another very much bruised.

2. At _Jurdans_, a Gentleman's Seat in the same Parish, there was a

Brick Stable, whose Roof, one Back, and one End Wall, were all

thrown down, and four foot in depth of the Fore Wall; in this Stable

were 4 Horses, which by reason of the Hay-loft that bore up the

Roof, were all preserv'd.

3. At _Sevington_ Parish, three Miles East from this Town, _John_

Hutkens had the Roof of a new built House heaved clean off the

Walls. _Note_, the House was not glazed, and the Roof was thatch'd.

4. In _White Larkington_ Park, a Mile East from this Town, besides

four or five hundred tall Trees broken and blown down, (admirable to

behold, what great Roots was turned up) there were three very large

Beaches, two of them that were near five Foot thick in the Stem were

broken off, one of them near the Root, the other was broken off

twelve Foot above, and from that place down home to the Root was

shattered and flown; the other that was not broken, cannot have less

than forty Waggon Loads in it; a very fine Walk of Trees before the

House all blown down, and broke down the Roof of a Pidgeon House,

the Rookery carried away in Lanes, the Lodg-House damaged in the

Roof, and one End by the fall of Trees. In the Garden belonging to

the House, was a very fine Walk of tall Firrs, twenty of which were

broken down.

5. The damage in the Thatch of Houses, (which is the usual Covering

in these Parts) is so great and general, that the price of Reed

arose from twenty Shillings to fifty or three Pounds a Hundred;

insomuch that to shelter themselves from the open Air, many poor

People were glad to use Bean, Helm and Furse, to thatch their Houses

with, Things never known to be put to such Use before.

6. At _Kingston_, a Mile distance from this Town, the Church was

very much shattered in its Roof, and Walls too, and all our Country

Churches much shattered, so that Churches and Gentlemen's Houses

which were tiled, were so shatter'd in their Roofs, that at present,

they are generally patch'd with Reed, not in Compliance with the

Mode, but the Necessity of the Times.

7. At _Broadway_, two Miles West of this Town, _Hugh Betty_, his

Wife, and four Children being in his House, it was by the violence

of the Storm blown down, one of his Children killed, his Wife

wounded, but recovered, the rest escaped with their Lives. A large

Alms-house had most of the Tile blown off, and other Houses much

shattered; a very large Brick Barn blown down, Walls and Roof to the

Ground.

8. Many large Stacks of Wheat were broken, some of the Sheaves

carried two or three Hundred Yards from the Place, many Stacks of

Hay turned over, some Stacks of Corn heaved off the Stadle, and set

down on the Ground, and not broken.

9. _Dowlish Walk_, two Miles South East, the Church was very much

shattered, several Load of Stones fell down, not as yet repair'd,

therefore can't express the damage. A very large Barn broken down

that stood near the Church, much damage was done to Orchards, not

only in this Place, but in all places round, some very fine Orchards

quite destroyed: some to their great Cost had the Trees set up right

again, but a Storm of Wind came after, which threw down many of the

Trees again; as to Timber Trees, almost all our high Trees were

broken down in that violent Storm.

10. In this Town _Henry Dunster_, his Wife and 2 Children, was in

their House when it was blown down, but they all escaped with their

Lives, only one of them had a small Bruise with a piece of Timber,

as she was going out of the Chamber when the Roof broke in.

The Church, in this Place, scap'd very well, as to its Roof, being

cover'd with Lead only on the Chancel; the Lead was at the top of

the Roof heaved up, and roll'd together, more than ten Men could

turn back again, without cutting the Sheets of Lead, which was done

to put it in its place again: But in general the Houses much broken

and shatter'd, besides the fall of some.

This is a short, but true Account. I have heard of several other

things which I have not mentioned, because I could not be positive

in the truth of them, unless I had seen it. This is what I have been

to see the truth of. You may enlarge on these short Heads, and

methodize 'em as you see good.

At _Henton St. George_, at the Lord _Pawlet_'s, a new Brick Wall was

broken down by the Wind for above 100 foot, the Wall being built not

above 2 years since, as also above 60 Trees near 100 foot high.

At _Barrington_, about 2 miles North of this Town, there was blown

down above eight-score Trees, being of an extraordinary height, at

the Lady _Strouds._

_As we shall not crow'd our Relation with many Letters from the same

places, so it cannot be amiss to let the World have, at least, one

Authentick Account from most of those Places where any Capital Damages

have been sustain'd and to summ up the rest in a general Head at the end

of this Chapter._

_From_ Wiltshire _we have the following Account from the Reverend the

Minister of Upper_ Donhead _near_ Shaftsbury; _to which the Reader is

referr'd as follows._

_SIR_,

As the Undertaking you are engag'd in, to preserve the Remembrance

of the late dreadful Tempest, is very commendable in it self, and

may in several respects be serviceable not only to the present Age,

but also to Posterity; so it merits a suitable Encouragement, and,

'tis hop'd, it will meet with such, from all that have either a true

sense of Religion, or have had any sensible share of the care of

Providence over them, or of the goodness of God unto them in the

Land of the Living, upon that occasion. There are doubtless vast

numbers of People in all Parts (where the Tempest raged) that have

the greatest reason (as the Author of this Paper for one hath) to

bless God for their wonderful preservation, and to tell it to the

Generation following. But to detain you no longer with Preliminaries,

I shall give you a faithful Account of what occurr'd in my

Neighbourhood (according to the Conditions mention'd in the

Advertisement in the _Gazette_) worthy, at least, of my notice, if

not of the Undertakers; and I can assure you, that the several

Particulars were either such as I can vouch-for on my own certain

Knowledge and Observation, or else such as I am satisfy'd of the

truth of by the Testimony of others, whose Integrity I have no

reason to suspect. I will say no more than this in general,

concerning the Storm, that, at its height, it seem'd, for some

hours, to be a perfect Hurrican, the Wind raging from every Quarter,

especially from all the Points of the Compass, from _N.E._ to the

_N.W._ as the dismal Effects of it in these Parts do evidently

demonstrate, in the demolishing of Buildings (or impairing 'em at

best) and in the throwing up vast numbers of Trees by the Roots, or

snapping them off in their Bodies, or larger Limbs. But as to some

remarkable Particulars, you may take these following, _viz._

1. The Parish-Church receiv'd little damage, tho' it stands high,

the chief was in some of the Windows on the N. side, and in the fall

of the Top-stone of one of the Pinnacles, which fell on a House

adjoining to the Tower with little hurt to the Roof, from which

glancing it rested on the Leads of the South-Isle of the Church. At

the fall of it an aged Woman living in the said House on which the

Stone fell, heard horrible Scrieches (as she constantly averrs) in

the Air, but none before nor afterwards.

2. Two stone Chimney-tops were thrown down, and 2 broad Stones of

each of them lay at even poize on the respective ridges of both the

Houses, and tho' the Wind sat full against one of them to have

thrown it off, (and then it had fallen over a Door, in and out at

which several People were passing during the Storm) and tho' the

other fell against the Wind, yet neither of the said Stones stirr'd.

3. A Stone of near 400 Weight, having lain about 7 Years under a

Bank, defended from the Wind as it then sat, tho' it lay so long as

to be fix'd in the ground, and was as much out of the Wind, as could

be, being fenced by the Bank, and a low Stone-wall upon the Bank,

none of which was demolish'd, tho' 2 small Holms standing in the

Bank between the Wall, and the Stone, at the foot of the Bank were

blown up by the roots; I say, this Stone, tho' thus fenced from the

Storm, was carried from the place where it lay, into an hollow-way

beneath, at least seven Yards from the place, where it was known to

have lain for 7 Years before.

4. A Widdow-woman living in one part of an House by her self, kept

her Bed till the House over her was uncover'd, and she expected the

fall of the Timber and Walls; but getting below Stairs in the dark,

and opening the Door to fly for shelter, the Wind was so strong in

the Door, that she could neither get out at it, tho' she attempted

to go out on her knees and hands, nor could she shut the Door again

with all her strength, but was forced to sit alone for several hours

('till the Storm slacken'd), fearing every Gust would have buried

her in the Ruins; and yet it pleas'd God to preserve her, for the

House (tho' a feeble one) stood over the Storm.

5. Another, who made Malt in his Barn, had been turning his Malt

sometime before the Storm was at its height, and another of the

Family being desirous to go again into the said Barn sometime after,

was disswaded from it, and immediately thereupon the said Barn was

thrown down by the Storm.

6. But a much narrower Escape had one, for whose safety the

Collector of these Passages has the greatest reason to bless and

praise the great Preserver of Men, who was twice in his Bed that

dismal Night (tho' he had warning sufficient to deter him the first

time by the falling of some of the Seiling on his Back and

Shoulders, as he was preparing to go to Bed) and was altogether

insensible of the great danger he was in, 'till the next morning

after the Day-light appear'd, when he found the Tiles, on the side

of the House opposite to the main Stress of the Weather, blown up in

two places, one of which was over his Beds-head (about 9 foot above

it) in which 2 or 3 Laths being broken, let down a Square of 8 or 10

Stone Tiles upon one single Lath, where they hung dropping inward a

little, and bended the Lath like a Bow, but fell not: What the

consequence of their Fall had been, was obvious to as many as saw

it, and none has more reason to magnify God's great Goodness, in

this rescue of his Providence, than the Relater.

7. A young Man of the same Parish, who was sent abroad to look after

some black Cattle and Sheep that fed in an Inclosure, in, or near to

which there were some Stacks of Corn blown down, reports, That tho'

he had much difficulty to find the Inclosure in the dark, and to get

thither by reason of the Tempest then raging in the height of its

fury; yet being there, he saw a mighty Body of Fire on an high ridge

of Hills, about 3 parts of a Mile from the said Inclosure, which

gave so clear a Light into the Valley below, as that by it the said

young Man could distinctly descry all the Sheep and Cattle in the

said Pasture, so as to perceive there was not one wanting.

8. At _Ashegrove_, in the same Parish (where many tall Trees were

standing on the steep side of an Hill) there were two Trees of

considerable bigness blown up against the side of the Hill, which

seems somewhat strange, to such as have seen how many are blown, at

the same place, a quite contrary way, _i.e._ down the Hill; and to

fall downwards was to fall with the Wind, as upward, was to fall

against it.

9. One in this Neighbourhood had a Poplar in his Back-side of near

16 Yards high blown down, which standing near a small Current of

Water, the Roots brought up near a Tun of Earth with them, and

there the Tree lay for some days after the Storm; but when the Top

or Head of the Tree was saw'd off from the Body (tho' the Boughs

were nothing to the weight of the But End, yet) the Tree mounted,

and fell back into it's place, and stood as upright without its Head,

as ever it had done with it. And the same happen'd at the Lady

_Banks_ her House near _Shaftsbury_, where a Wall-nut-Tree was

thrown down in a place that declin'd somewhat, and after the greater

Limbs had been cut off in the day time, went back in the Night

following, of it self, and now stands in the same place and posture

it stood in before it was blown down. I saw it standing the 14th of

this Instant, and could hardly perceive any Token of its having been

Down, so very exactly it fell back into its place. This is somewhat

the more remarkable, because the Ground (as I said) was declining,

and consequently the Tree raised against the Hill. To this I shall

only add, at present, that

10. This Relator lately riding thro' a neighbouring Parish, saw two

Trees near two Houses thrown besides the said Houses, and very near

each House, which yet did little or no harm, when if they had fallen

with the Wind, they must needs have fallen directly upon the said

Houses. And

11. That this Relator had two very tall Elms thrown up by the Roots,

which fell in among five young Walnut Trees, without injuring a Twig

or Bud of either of them, as rais'd the admiration of such as saw

it.

12. In the same place, the Top of another Elm yet standing, was

carry'd of from the Body of the Tree, a good part of 20 Yards.

* * * * *

_SIR_; I shall trouble you no further at present, you may perhaps

think this enough, and too much; but however that may be, you, or

your ingenious Undertakers are left at liberty to publish so much,

or so little of this Narrative, as shall be thought fit for the

Service of the Publick. I must confess the particular Deliverances

were what chiefly induced me to set Pen to Paper, tho' the other

Matters are Considerable, but whatever regard you shew to the

latter, in Justice you should publish the former to the World, as

the Glory of God is therein concern'd more immediately, to promote

which, is the only aim of this Paper. And the more effectually to

induce you to do me Right, (for contributing a slender Mite towards

your very laudable Undertaking) I make no manner of Scruple to

subscribe my self,

_Upper Donhead,_ _Sir, Yours,_ &c.

_Decemb._ 18_th_ 1703. Rice Adams.

_Rector of_ Upper Donhead Wilts near _Shaftsbury_.

_From_ Littleton _in_ Worcestershire, _and_ Middleton _in_ Oxfordshire,

_the following Letters may be a Specimen of what those whole Counties

felt, and of which we have several other particular Accounts._

_SIR_,

Publick notice being given of a designed Collection of the most

Prodigious, as well as lamentable Effects of the last dreadful

Tempest of Wind. There are many Persons hereabouts, and I suppose in

many other places, wish all speedy furtherance and good Success to

that so useful and pious Undertaking, for it may very well be

thought to have a good Influence both upon the present Age, and

succeeding Generation, to beget in them a holy admiration and fear

of that tremendous Power and Majesty, which as one Prophet tells us,

_Causeth the Vapours to ascend from the Ends of the Earth, and

bringeth the Wind out of his Treasures, and as the Priest Saith,

hath so done his marvellous Works, that they ought to be had in

remembrance_. As to these Villages of _Littleton_ in

_Worcestershire_, I can only give this Information, that this

violent Hurricane visited us also in its passage to the great Terror

of the Inhabitants, who although by the gracious Providence of God

all escaped with their Lives and Limbs, and the main Fabrick of

their Houses stood; tho' with much shaking, and some damage in the

Roofs of many of them: Yet when the Morning Light appeared after

that dismal Night, they were surpris'd with fresh apprehensions of

the Dangers escaped, when they discover'd the sad Havock that was

made among the Trees of their Orchards and Closes, very many Fruit

Trees, and many mighty Elms being torn up, and one Elm above the

rest, of very great Bulk and ancient Growth I observed, which might

have defied the Strength of all the Men and Teams in the Parish,

(tho' assaulted in every Branch with Roaps and Chains) was found

torn up by the Roots, all sound, and of vast Strength and Thickness,

and with its fall (as was thought) by the help of the same impetuous

Gusts, broke off in the middle of the Timber another great Elm its

Fellow, and next Neighbour. And that which may exercise the Thoughts

of the Curious, some little Houses and Out-houses that seemed to

stand in the same Current, and without any visible Burrough or

Shelter, escaped in their Roofs, without any, or very little Damage:

What Accidents of Note hapned in our Neighbouring Parishes, I

suppose you may receive from other Hands. This, (I thank God) is all

that I have to transmit unto you from this place, but that I am a

Well-wisher to your Work in Hand, _And your Humble Servant_,

_Littleton, Decem._ 20. _Ralph Norris_.