Now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,
Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood
That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Miller’s Tale. Nicholas tells John that God has revealed to him in a vision that the town is to be hit by a flood even larger than Noah’s flood in the Bible. He instructs John to fasten three boat-like tubs to the rafters and fill them with provisions. The evening before the flood they and Alison are to sleep in the tubs, so when the flood comes they can lower the tubs into the water and float until the waters subside. It is all a big lie by Nicholas to get to spend the night with Alison.