A full and certain ACCOUNT Of the last great Wind& Storms, Being a NARRATIVE OF THE Several Accidents, Hurts and Damages caused thereby, both by Sea and Land, at home and abroad.  
Collected out of domestic and foreign Letters with a great deal of care and diligence, and faithfully published.  
London, Printed by J. B. for Dorman Newman, at the Kings-Arms in the poultry, next to Grocers-Alley.   

AN ACCOUNT Of the last great Winds and Storms, On Tuesday February 18. The like not in the memory of man before.  
THere have been many discourses on a book lately published, called the Prodigies, with what Treasonable reflections, we list not to mention, therefore to secure the Reader from any such danger or infection, we shall insist of this great last wind, which happened on Tuesday last, February, 18. as deduced from natural causes which cannot but portend as now we are settled great and lasting prosperity.  
That the overruling Government of the Heavens, should be any argument of unruliness in the people, or that Stargazers or such like Spawn of the Tribe, should have such powerful influences of Rebellion, by Prognosticating, and such almanac stories, is no new matter, though in which the Contrivers and Authors of new mischiefs, have so long and lately laboured, that there is no pity for such conjurers.  
First, then( not to say that if there were any Diabolical power in this tempest, as he is the Prince of the air, some Luciferian haughty Rebelling spirits as formerly were abroad) we shall describe the nature of Winds, their originals and ends, for unprejudiced satisfaction to the honest countrymen, whom this storm will most directly concern,( leaving the Citizens to look to their Tiles, and chimneys, the Bricklayers Harvest) as which will afford him not onely advice for the future, but some past memorable observations.  
That these winds have usually forerun great alterations and changes is no untruth; that they have also signified nothing or presaged any turn is truth, but without some damage both at Sea and Land they never happened. We will therefore take a short view of the nature of the several Winds, and then proceed to the strange effects of this.  
The beginning of Winds which requires a deep search and inquiry( as the Scripture saith, the winds blows where in listeth) seeing that the whence and the whither are things hidden from us, I shall not undertake positively to affirm. This is certain that Winds are either imbred, that is to say of the place where they most usually blow, or foreign that is strangers, which continue not, but vary and alter into all points of the compass, but these which are strangers here, are Natives in other Countries.  
There beginnings are threefold. First, they breath or spring out of the ground. Secondly, they come down from the upper Region. Or, Thirdly, are made up in the body of the Air, which last I pitch upon as the surest, Wind being nothing else but the air moved, which being violently troubled, causeth those storms and Tempests that affright the World, being as inundations of Waters, through their vehemency.  
Histories are the best explainers of such whirlwinds, being taken from observations, such as these.  
1. Sudden blasts never come in clear weather, but always when the Sky is Cloudy, and the Weather Rainy. 2. Storms which come with a fog and Mist, are very violent and most dreadful to Seamen. All of them have a most sudden motion, and most commonly so expire, but generally near the eclipse of the Moon, you must look for them, as also at the Conjunction of the Planets.  
Having thus far premised, I need not tell you of those Hurricans which the Ships meet withal towards the Southern most parts of the world, whereby so many hard adventures have been lost; or that at home in our Meadows, Haycocks have been carried on high and spread abroad there like Canopies, by the same force; or that Trees have been torn up by the roots, and thrown to the ground, or that in fine, through this very cause, those frequenter Earth-quakes abroad, and falling of ground here, have happened through these tumultuous and boisterous outrages of the wind.  
To our purpose, nothing could have proved more natural,( howsoever destructive to Houses and Edifices) to the earth then this late tempest for the air, being filled and foggd with many vapours, not usual, for the heat in this season of the year, neither Frost nor Snow clearing and purifying the air, or binding the earth wherein the hopes of life and sustenance are laid for the ensuing year( the poor infinitely suffering for want of bread, and through the raised prise of all manner of victuals) nothing could more seasonably disperse those gathered Exhaltation and free the air to the exercise of that bounty and plenty, which it has for many years together, before this, showered down upon this Land and Nation, so that we who formerly were supplied from abroad with all manner of grain, as from Dantzick Queen-burgh and the Eastern parts of the world, have been able to help others at as equal prizes as those Corn Countries usually afforded.  
This famous wind happened on February, 18. some days before which deceased that most Noble Royal Lady the Queen of Bohemia, his Majesties onely Aunt, who had for so many years been absent from this kingdom, and was driven and tossed through a Sea of troubles, so that it may be thought these winds gave notice that she was gone to her rest.  
But omitting all Notes upon the matter, we will descend to a particular Naration of those disasters, and sad accidents, which fell out and were occasioned by this tempest, the damages whereof amount( to what is yet known though more losses will I I fear be reckoned hereafter) to an incredible sum, but as the Proverb is, It is an ill wind that blows no body good; so as before is said, no doubt much advantage will hereby acrew to us in our hopes of a plentiful year; and to be sure in the City, the Bricklayers very much rejoice, and are like to be merry.  
We begin in order and dignity, with his Majesties Palace at Whitehal, and his Park of S. James, where the force of the Wind driven the water of the new River( cut there lately by his Majesties order) threescore yards from its boundary bank, up to the Cock-pit stairs, and the Court of Guard there kept, in the manner of showers, so that the guards could not stand there; and also threw up on dry land many hundred of the fishes of all sorts, then swimming in the said River: At the same time also, some Chambers near His Majesties Royal person were a fire, but it pleased God the wind had not the same violent effect, the flamme with diligence being happily put out, and hindered from spreading itself any further.  
In the next place, the Mews where the Kings stables are, was most lamentably shattered, the great barn being unraftered, and the upper part of it tottering, and all quiter blown down, to the great terror of the horses, who in fear broken from their halters, and run up and down the yard as if bewitched, and could hardly be caught again, or made quiet, till the dreadfulness of the storm was past and spent.  
Another more sad and lamentable accident happened at the new Buildings in Pickadilly, where one Mr. blithe an Attorney of Lincolnshire, passing by with his man, he observed a brick house to totter and reel, and therefore desired his Master, that he would not venture to go under that way, but would across over to the other side of the street; which he not regarding, ventured to run through that danger, and in the middle of his passage, it pleased God the house fell down, and butted him in its ruins; he was taken up with much ado alive, and continued so for half an hour, or thereabouts; during which time, he spoken something concerning his rashness and folly in tempting God, desiring him to forgive him, and receive him into mercy, and then quietly expired.  
In Covent-Garden, near the Fleece Tavern, there the Lady Saltenstone, her maid being dressing her in her lodging, was by the fall of a chimney which fell forward into her chamber, covered over with the load of bricks, and bruised, wounded and stisted to death, before any help or remedy could be had, being afterwards drawn out quiter dead, to the great grief of all her relations and other persons acquainted with her rare virtues and endowments. Her maid who was dressing her was hurt, but is in the way of recovery.  
Likewise a Gentleman in the Parish of S. Andrwse Holborn, as he was venturing to go along the streets, which no rational man durst do, by the fall of a chimney, had his brains beat out, and all his body so bruised and broken, that it looked in a very ghastly and terrible manner: His fate and death is the more to be pitied, because of his presumptuous unpreparation for his end.  
At Greys-Inn gate in Holborn at the same time, a Coach with two horses standing there, another chimney fell and killed one of the horses, at which the other was so terrified, that he broken his harness, and got free, and galloped away as fast as he could drive, the apprehension of the danger being so great even in those irrational and brute creatures.  
I had almost omitted the Tragedy and Catastrophe of those stately Triumphal Arches, built against the Solemnity, and for the Grandeur of his Majesties Coronation last year, at Fleetstreet and Leadenhal-street, where the tops of them were wholly reversed and beaten down; that in Fleet-street falling on the neighbouring houses, and bringing down the uppermost rooms and attorneys, to a very great detriment.  
At Brooks Warf near Queen-hithe, a Western Barge laden with cheese, was by the stress of the Wind overset, and her keel turned topsy turvy, though there were other barges about that seemed to shelter her; the cheese was all sunk, some part whereof is since recovered, and sold to loss, the other is driven away, and lodged as Provision for the Fish and their Fry.  
Several Hay-carts coming to London, were likewise overblown in the high-way, where they lay, it being a folly to rear up that which the next puff would throw down again, and leave in the same condition; neither could a man himself, either on foot or on horseback keep his way, but was forced either backward or sidewards, as the gusts blowed; some men were constrained to quit their saddles, being blown off their horses backs.  
Several Hay-reeks, Barns and Stables, by the vehemence of this Hurricane, have been driven about the fields uncovered, and gabel ends of them quiter carried off; many stocks of attorneys have been carried twenty foot from the place they were built on, and have been thrown upon houses far distant, and not adjoining thereto.  
The Thames flowed not in sixteen hours together, nor was there any the least sign of an alteration in the tide, so that the River was fordable in many places, just as it happened before the death of Oliver: A certain Waterman venturing to pass the bridge, it being the time of the tides turning, had his boat overset, and set right again, whereunto he got, and persisting in the humour of getting through, was overturned again, and again he recovered the career of his boat, and had doubtless then perished, but that some men compassionate, of his trade, ventured from S. Olaves stairs, and brought him safely off to shore.  
In the High-ways about London, several trees are blown down, and lye so athwart the road, that it is very difficult and troublesone for Wagons and Carts to pass too and fro. Several Mills have been blown down, to the very great damage of the Brewers, and loss of corn, in this time of scarcity and necessity. At Greenwich a miserly Farmer having a barn of corn, which he refused to sell even when the price was risen to twelve shillings the bushel, by a fire that began in a place adjacent, and violently driven towards the said barn, had all his grain totally consumed; Divine Providence frustrating him, as well as he pitilesly deprived the poor of sustenance.  
In the Right honourable the Earl of Essexes Park in Hertfordshire, no less then five hundred trees are blown down; such like mischief hath been done in a multitude of other places, and herein London in Lincolns-Inn Walks, and Moorfields, where there seemed to be good shelter.  
Divers Vessels have been wracked at Sea, the wherries of the River of Thames grievously shattered and dashed one against another, and against the stairs where they lay. For the Sea particularly, a Vessel of 200 tun, bound from Waterwick in Suffolk, to London, laden with cheese and butter, having lain wind-bound for twelve days before, taking the advantage of that gale, put out to Sea, and three hours after was surprised with the tempest, in sight of Harwich, into which Harbour, the Master being a skilful Seaman, endeavoured to get( while another Vessel despairing of doing it, ran herself ashore, and saved the lives of the men, and her goods) but the wind beating directly off that shore, he was put so to Leeward, that he could recover neither the one nor the other; and his ship was so bruised, that having rid out the storm from morning till four in the afternoon, he at last sunk down in sight of Harwich aforesaid, ship, men and goods, being utterly lost, to the great loss of the Traders in those Commodities.  
At S. needs and Eynsbury in Huntingtonshire, the wind hath unript the led from off both those Parish Churches, and folded it up almost to the very ends, and done very near a thousand pound damage in those places: The like hath been done in the County round about, beyond all example.  
At Portsmouth in Hampshire, a ship bound for New-found-land, being rigged, victualled, and equipaged for Voyage, with her nets and other necessaries for the Trade of Fishing, being meared at Anchor within the Haven, was by the extreme violence of the wind, driven from her Anchor, and one man onely being then aboard her, who seeing her drive, wisely withdrew himself into her boat that lay at the stern, and with much ado having cut her away from the ship, rowed himself to shore: The ship was carried away by the storm, and was lost, no man knowing what became of her, to the very great damage of the owners and traders concerned in her.  
In Surrey a countryman walking in his grounds, was upon his return home, aside whereof somewhat distant stood a Pond, was by this Hurrican constrained and forced thither, not being able to withstand it, or to keep himself in his right way: Being thus driven till he came to the very brink of the Pond, and seeing there was no way but that he must in, which was dangerous, by reason of the depth thereof, he wisely threw himself flat on his belly, and so crawled round to the opposite part of the Pond, where rising, the wind took him, and blew him into his house, where he was glad to find a shelter, though not quiter out of danger, by the fall of his attorneys.  
In Cambridgeshire, a Gentleman going to help and mend his pales which the wind had overturned, while he was at work with his Servants, the same storm blew down his barn. O, quoth he, hath the Devil no where to go but over my barn? In speaking whereof, down next came the stables too: So, saith he, now Devil do thy worst, better stand still, then across your will; and so gave over working, till he see an end of what he was to repair, and what entire and standing, would be the Fiends leavings, as he merrily added.  
In Kent, most of the Gentlemens houses are shattered and torn, part of them carried away, and born down with out-houses, stacks of Hay, and such like, that some particular persons of account there, will hardly repair their ruins caused by the Tempest, about their manors, for a thousand pounds apiece.  
At Weston in Cambridgeshire, a man being upon a barn, intending to secure and fasten his thatch, the wind lifted him up into the air, and there sported with him as with a feather, and then set him down upon the ground at a good distance from the barn safely and easily, upright on his feet, to the wonder and amazement of himself and spectators.  
At the Piazza's in Covent Garden, two Bricklayers seeing the havoc made by the storm, and were standing and viewing upward the bare places from whence the tiles fell, one of them said frolically to his companion, Come, let's be merry, we have work now for fourteen days; whereupon instantly a tile fell, and took him on the head with such a force, that it wounded him, and struck him to the ground; at which accident his fellow presently replied, Come, let's be merry, I will warrant you work for fourteen days; but it is supposed his cure will not be effected, if then, within fourteen weeks.  
At Abington, the steeple of the Church having for some while rocked and nodded backward and forward, being a very well and strong built fabric, came at last down with such a powder and rubbish, and with such a great noise, that the beholders, though they expected its fall, were affrighted when it tumbled, and astonished at its ruins.  
In Westminster, on that part of the Hall which looks towards Lambeth, on the frontispiece Battlement, where the Head of Cook the solicitor of that infamous High Court of Injustice stood, it blew so outrageously, that at last the aforesaid head was blown down, but was soon after set up again on the same place, where it now stands.  
Divers little Rivers have been so driven with the Tempest, that they were left dry for a while, the waters being blown out faster then the springs could supply them, the fish being left in holes, and upon the gravel, till a recruit came and covered them.  
A Coachman coming from Windsor, as he sate in the box driving the horses, who were scarce able to keep the road, and the Coach several times near overborne, was at last himself quiter blown off the box into the high-way, where by the fall he broken his neck, and dyed immediately.  
At Charing-Cross, in the back way that leads to the Tennis-Court, some horses in the adjoining stables having for fear got out from thence, and running for shelter under the brickwal that goes up to the houses, the said brickwal having made two or three totters, at last fell down upon the said horses, killed and bruised many of them, being some of them Horses for service, and for the race.  
At Greenwich, where we have observed some other losses, a wall likewise fell down, to the length of thirty rod, together, but it pleased God, without any hurt or mischief to any body.  
From several Houses in London, and the country, the led( as hath been shewed before) hath been forced from their tops, and rolled up, and in some places ponderous weights of it, to a thousand pound and upwards, hath been blown thirty, forty, and fifty foot from the places it covered; and in one place twenty five foot level upon another house, and there broken down the rafters, and sunk into the lower rooms.  
In other places of the country, as in Derbyshire, hath been a kind of Earthquake with the wind, so that the Inhabitants ran out of their houses, fearing they would sink, and be swallowed up in the earth, observing the timber to settle, and the ground floors to move.  
Most of pales of the London Bridge were blown down, where a Woman venturing to look through some that stood, into the River, had her Coats blown about her ears, and could by no means bring them down again, but was exposed to the view and laughter of wiser people, who would not trust themselves to the danger of passing over.  
Neither hath this Wind been more favourable or less boisterous in other parts of the World, as far as yet we can receive intelligence, not knowing by the Post, from distant places, what harm it hath don there; but in Holland it hath been outrageous and violent, as here; for in the Texel, of fifty ships that lay near one another, above forty of them are wrecked, sunk, and run ashore, who they soon after bulyed, many mens lives being lost therein, besides other inestimable worth of merchandise.  
In France likewise abundance of hurt hath been done in the same nature and manner as here, by beating down houses, rooting up of trees, throwing down barns and hay-stacks, and lesser mischief of attorneys and tops of houses: But that which more nearly concerns us, is, that several Vineyards have been spoiled, the Vines torn up, and leveled with the ground; so that there is great fear of scarcity of Wine, and a bad Vintage there: All the hope is, this Wind hath not reached the Canary Islands, and then there is some comfort left to cheer up our hearts after this devastation and spoil.  
In the Kingdom of Ireland it hath also done a great deal of hurt, in the Towns, and in the fields.  
But amid all this fury, the ruinous Cathedrals of England, which most men feared would be utterly overturned, are by special Providence, as it were, untouched, no material or great hurt being done them, especial that of S. Pauls, London, whose venerable Head weathered out all the violence of the Tempest; so we have seen sacrilege to be stronger and more forcible then age and storms, it having endured years and gusts with more easy patience, then the fingers of covetous and Church-robbing Sectaries. It is now resettled upon its ancient pillars and foundation, Episcopal Authority and Regiment, and no doubt will stand fast, till the speedy piety and bounty of its Restorers, shall repair it to its first glorious Magnificence.  
Quod faxit Deus.  
FINIS.