An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

betwixt five and six of the Clock in the Evening, the Wind Westerly, at Ashley in North-Hamptonshire, happened a formidable Hurricane, scarce bearing sixty yards in […] breadth, and spending it self in about seven minutes of time. Its first discerned assault was upon a MilkMaid, taking her Pail and Hat from off her Head; and carrying it many scores of yards from her, where it lay undiscovered some days. Next, it stormed the Yard of one Sprig, dwelling in Westthorp (a name of one part of the Town) where it blew a Wagon body off of the Axle-trees, breaking the Wheels and Axle-trees in pieces, and blowing three of the Wheels so shattered over a Wall. The Wagon stood somewhat cross to the passage of the Wind. Another Wagon of Mr. Salisbury's marched with great speed upon its Wheels against the side of his House to the astonishment of the Inhabitants. A branch of an Ash-tree of that bigness that two lusty Men could scarce lift it, blew over ⟨p. 321⟩Mr. Salisbury's House without hurting it, and yet this Branch was torn from a Tree, an hundred yards distant from that House. A Slate was found upon a Window of the house of Samuel Templer Esqr. which very much bent an Iron Bar in it; and yet tis certain, that the nearest place, the slate was at first forced from, was near two hundred yards: Not to take notice of its stripping of several Houses; one thing is remarkable, which is, that at Mr. Maidwell's Senior, it forced open a Door, breaking the Latch, and thence marching through the Entry, and forcing open the Dairy Door, it overturned the Milk vessels, and blew out three Panes or Lights in the Window; next it mounted the Chambers, and blew out nine Lights more: from thence it proceeded to the Parsonage, whos• Roof it more than Decimated; thence crosseth the narrow Street, and forcibly drives […] Man headlong into the Doors of Tho. Brigs. Then it passed with a cursory salute at Thomas Marston's, down to Mr. George Wignil's, at least a Furlongs distance from Marston's, and two Furlongs from Sprigs, where it plaid notorious Exploits, blowing a large Hovel of Peas from its Supporters, and settling in cleverly upon the ground, without any considerable damage to the Thatch. Here it ⟨p. 322⟩blew a Gate Post, fixed two foot and an half in the ground, out of the Earth, and carried it into the Fields, many yards from its first abode.