Thomas Stowe, Sr

Sources: 1. English Origins of N E Families Vol II series 2

1. P 370 

Two centuries after this, Thomas Stowe, tallow-chandler, dwelt in St Michael's parish, Cornhill, London. In his day a great prodigy occurred which excited the wonderment of the good citizens. The steeple of St Michael's church was famous for its superior chime of bells; and on St James's day, as the ringers were ringing, there came up a dreadful tempest of thunder and lightning, and suddenly there rushed in at the south window an ugly shapen sight, and lit on the north side; and presently the terrified ringers let go the bells, and lay as dead for fright. When they came to themselves, they found the stone sill of the north window razed, and scratched and marked with a lion's claw, as if (says the narrative) it had been a lump of butter. Stowe himself measured the depth of the print with a stick, and found it to be between two and three inches. 

Thomas Stowe died in 1526 and his will, which is recorded in the Bishop's London Register.