[1] [2] [3] But now that there was a peace thus concluded betwixt the two kings,134 [...] it seemed to the English peo|ple that the sunne brake foorth after a long cloudie season, by reason both of the great plentie of althings, Thom. [...] and remembrance of the late glorious victories: for there were few women that were housekéepers within this land, but they had some furniture of hous|hold that had béene brought to them out of France, as part of the spoile got in Caen, Calis, Carenien, or some other good towne. And beside houshold stuffe, the English maides and matrones were bedecked and trimmed vp in French womens iewels and ap|parell, so that as the French women lamented for the losse of those things, so our women reioised of the gaine. In this 22 yeare, Anno Reg [...]. Great [...] from Midsummer to Christ|masse for the more part it continuallie rained, so that there was not one day and night drie togither, by reason whereof great flouds insued, and the ground therewith was sore corrupted, and manie inconueni|ences insued, as great sickenes, and other, in somuch that in the yeare following in France the people di|ed woonderfullie in diuerse places. In Italie also, and in manie other countries,1349 Anno Reg. 13. as well in the lands of the infidels, as in christendome,A great mor|talitie. this grieuous mor|talitie reigned to the great destruction of people. ¶A|bout the end of August, the like death began in di|uerse places of England, and especiallie in London, continuing so for the space of twelue moneths fol|lowing. And vpon that insued great barrennesse, as well of the sea, as the land,Dearth. neither of them yéelding such plentie of things as before they had doone. Wher|vpon vittels and corne became scant and hard to come by.