Hier begynneth the book callid the myrrour of the worlde ...

Wherfor and how the erthe quaueth & trembleth. ca. xxij^o

NOw vnderstande ye thenne / what it is of the me••uyng of the erthe / and how the erthe quaueth and shaketh that somme peple calle an erthe quaue / by cause they fele therthe meue and quaue vnder their feet / And oftymes it quaueth so terrybly and meueth that somtyme Cytees ben sonken in to therthe that neuer after be scen / And this cometh of the grete waters that come within therthe / so that by the puttyng out of the grete floodes & waters growe somme tyme cauernes vnder therthe / And the ayer that is shette fast within / the whiche is enclosed in grete distresse / yf therthe be there feble so that it may not reteyne it all within / thenne is it constrayned to opene & cleue / ffor the ayer enforceth to yssue out / wherof it happeth ofte that townes cytees and castellys ben sonken doun in to the abisme / And yf therthe be of suche force & strengthe that it openeth not ne cleueth by the shouyng or heuyng of the wyndes that ben within / Thenne therthe meueth & quaueth so meruayllously / that the grete walles and hye towres that ben theron falle doun so sodenly in therthe that it destroyeth & sleeth the peple that ben therin whiche

ben not aduysed ne pourueyed of suche daungers / whiche is a grete sorow for the pour peple that dwelle where suche meschief happeth / whan they be not aduertysed at what ty∣me suche tempeste shal come for teschewe it / but wyse men that doubte for to deye arme them and make them redy ayenst the deth / and gyue alle diligence for to seche to ha∣ue accordaunce vnto the souerayn iuge / of their synnes & defaultes after their lawe and byleue that they haue / as they that haue none houre ne space to lyue where as they ben hool and weel at case / thus the water and the wynde maken the right meuyng and quauyng by whiche the erthe cleueth and quaueth /