Final answer:
Historical accounts reveal that during times of extreme famine in the past, people resorted to desperate measures for food, such as eating vermin, leather, and in some cases, cannibalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage from Johannes de Trokelowe's Annales depicts a dark and desperate time during the year 1315, where starvation and famine led people to consume dire alternatives for sustenance, such as horse meat, dogs, and according to reports, even resorting to cannibalism. Similarly, in George Percy's 'A True Relation', the settlers of James Town also faced extreme hunger, leading them to eat anything available, including vermin and leather, and in worst cases, the dead. This level of desperation reflects a historical period of scarcity, illustrating the lengths to which humans will go when faced with survival.