The ferocity of storms at sea has always left a heavy impress on men's minds. Not long after the founding of the borough of Scarborough, one of the greatest tempests ever known in Yorkshire came from inland towards the town.
They described it as looking like they imagined the Devil. The month was August 1165. They had already seen two comets. Perhaps this was a whirlwind. The chronicler of Melrose Abbey, in Scotland, recorded the event.
"There was a great tempest in the province of York during the same month. Many people saw the old enemy taking the lead in that tempest. He was in the form of a black horse of large size and always kept hurrying towards the sea, while he was followed by thunder and lightening and fearful noises and a destructive hail.
The footprints of this accursed horse were of avery enormous size, especially on the hill near the town of Scardeburch, from which he gave a leap into the sea, and here, for a whole year afterwards, they were plainly visible, the impression of each foot being deeply graven into the earth."