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 and a kersey stocking, should talk thus of the change of season and the mutability of the world: yet, Sir, know, I beseech you, that my education was finer than my russet outside; and that my parents did not only provide to leave me something, but took care, above that transitory blessing, that I should taste a little of the fruit of learning and knowledge.

Cit. It will be a pleasing and profitable journey to our countrymen though a laborious voyage for you.

Coun. I have read how in the reign of King WILLIAM Rufus, in the fifth year [1091-92 A.D.] as I remember, that rivers ot this kingdom were so frozen over that carts and wains laden did without danger pass over them.

In the sixth year of the reign of King JOHN, a frost began upon the 13th of January [1205 A.D.] and continued till the 22nd of March following: the earth by means of it being so hardened that the plough lay still and the ground could not be tilled. The wounds that this frost gave the commonwealth were for that present scarce felt; they were not deep, they were not thought dangerous: but the summer following did they freshly begin to bleed; for then a quarter of wheat was sold for a mark [13s. 4d. = £10 10s. in present value], which in the reign of HENRY the SECOND (before him) was sold for no more than twelve pence.

There was likewise so great a frost in the 53rd year of the reign of HENRY the THIRD, that being at Saint Andrew's tide [30 November 1268 A.D.]; it continued till Candlemas [2 February 1269 A.D.]: so that men and beasts went over the Thames from Lambeth to Westminster; and the goods of merchants not being able to be transported by water, were carried from Sandwich and other havens, and so brought to London by land. But no extraordinary or memorable accident following or going before this frost I will pass over it, and come to that frost season in the tenth year [1281-82 A.D.] of EDWARD the FIRST, whose violent working was so cruel, and did build such castles of ice upon the Thames and other rivers, that five arches of London bridge were borne down, and all Rochester bridge was carried clean away, with divers others.

In the seven and thirtieth year of EDWARD the THIRD