Page:Life and prophecies of Mr Donald Cargill.pdf/21

21 in the land, whose names, and places where they dwelt, I could instance.

These unheard-of manifold judgements continued for seven years, not always alike but the seasons, summer and winter, so cold and barren, and the wonted heat of the sun so much with-holden, that it was discernable on the cattle, flying fowls and insects decaying, that seldom a fly or gleg was to be seen: our harvests not in the ordinary months many shearing in November and December yea, some in January and February; and the names of the places I can instruct; many contracting their deaths, and losing the use of their feet and hands, shearing and working amongst it in frost and snow; and, after all, some of it standing still, and rotting on the ground, and much of it for little use either to man or beast, and which had no taste or colour of meal.

Meal became so scarce, that it was sold at Two Shillings a-peck, and many could not get it. It was not then with many, "Where will we get silver?" But. "Where will we get meal for silver?" I have seen, when the meal was all sold in the markets, woman clapping their hands, and tearing the clothes off their heads, crying "How shall we go home and see our children die with hunger? They have got no meat these two days, and we have nothing to give them."

Through the long continuance of these manifold judgements, deaths and burials were so many and common, that the living were wearied in the burying of the dead. I have seen corpses drawn in sleds, and many neither got coffin nor winding-sheet. I was one of four who carried the corpse of a young woman a mile of way; and when we came to the grave, an honest poor man came and said, Ye must go and help me to bury my son, he has lien dead these two days; otherwise I will be obliged to bury him in my own yard. We went, and there were eight of us had two miles to carry the corpse of that young man, many neighbours looking on us, but none to help us. I was credibly informed, that, in the north,