Concerning Comets, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of Comets which appeared between the Year 500 and 1000, with some remarkable Events.
A D. 519. A Bearded Comet appeared 26 dayes, in the East, pointing westward. uCalvisius ex Cedreno, Alsted.After which there was a wonderful Earth quake, whereby many (not only persons but) whole Cities perished.
A. D. 533. A formidal…e Comet appeared in the MonethMonth of December, in the sign of Sagittarius. wCalvisius Praetorius, Alsted.This was followed with an Earthquake. A popular tumult in Constantinople. A Plague at Antioch and in other places. The Huns cause troubles in Europe.
A. D. 541. A notable Comet appeared on Easter Day. xLycosthenes, Rockenbachius.There followed an universal Earth quake in the which Epidamon, Corinth and Anazerbum, did above other places suffer damage. Totilas overcame Demetrius in a Sea-fight, took several Cities and Countries. The memorable changes wherein Belisarius was concerned, hapned about this time. Totila the King of the Goths was called Flagellum dei Gods Scourge. He raised a cruel Persecution against the Christians which were at this time in Italy.
A. D. 555. A Comet in the form of a Lance or Spear was seen in the North, pointing Westward. yFunccius. Praetorius. Alstedius babet Annum 550.After which Rome was taken by Totila. The H…ins wasted Francia and Thuringia.
A. D. 586. A Comet appeared for a MonethMonth. zLavater. Rockenbachius. Fascic temporum. Alstedius & alii habent annum. 589It is observed, that this Comet was attended with the death of many Princes. And the War between Mauritius and the Persians. Also, a fearful inundation, and the Plague in Italy hapned not long after.
A. D. 594. A formidable Blazing Star appeared in January, for a MonethMonth together, and was seen both in the morning and in the evening. aDiac. L. 4. C. 4. Lavater Alstedius.After this, Italy was afflicted with Armies of Locusts. A sore Drought. Famine, and the Sword were the woful attendants of this Prodigie.
A. D. 600. (circiter) A Comet Horrendous to behold, appeared six Moneths together. bNicephorus, L. 18. C. 35. Rockenbachius. Alstedius.Mauritius (the Emperour) was by the Bishop of Romes instigation Murdered by Phocas. Great contentions were kindled between the Bishops of Rome and Constantinople. The former, was now declared to be the universal head of the Church. Ever since this time the Bishops of Rome have been no better then Blazing Stars. Four Years after cLycosthenes.this, another Comet was seen in the Moneths of April and May, & again in November & December, †viz. Anno. 610. ut habet Alsted. in Chronol. Cap. 28.Not long after which Cosroes the King of Persia grievously infested the Roman Empire, He delivered ninety thousand Christians into the hands of the Jews, to be by them with wicked hands slain and murdered.
A. D. 620. Another Comet appeared. About this time †Calvisius, Hevelius, & alii in annum 615. bunc Cometam transponere videntur.Mahomet began to diffuse his pest…erous Doctrine. He had an apostate Monk to help him in composing his diab…lical Religion, whereby much of that part of the World, which had been enlightned with the Sun of Righteousness, was overwhelmed again with the darkness of Infidelity. He is therefore fitly set forth in the Apocalypse, by the type of a Star falling to the Earth, & a smoke a rising there from, whereby the Sun & the Air was darkened; And it is not to be wondred at, if so great a Plague to the World as Mahometism, is, was preceded and attended with Blazing Stars, as in the after Relations will appear. Never was the dominion of any Nation spread so far, and in so short a time as that of the Sarazens. In the space of about fourscore Years there was added to the Diabolical Kingdome of Mahomet, Palestina, Syria, both Armenias, almost all the lesser Asia, Persia, India, Egypt, Numidia, all Barbary, Portugal, Spain, a great part of Italy, as also Sicily, Candy, Cyprus, &c. Though many of these places were not subjugated to Mahomet, until the next Century. In a word, the Sarazens are not without reason thought to be intended by the first wo Trumpet, dv. Mede in locum.Prophesied of in the Revelation. Those tormenting Scorpions proved a bitter Plague to the Christian World, more especially for the space of five prophetical Moneths (h. e. 150 Years;) and the times were then so woful, as that men did in those dayes seek Death, but could not find it, Rev. 9. 6.
A. D. 633. A Blazing Star in form of a Sword standing towards the South appeared for a MonethMonth. eFunccius, Lavater, Alsted, Sigebert.This was attended with an Earthquake for thirty dayes together. About this time the Sarazens subjugated Jerusalem, Damascus, and all Syria.
A. D. 676. (Circiter) A Comet was seen diverstimes. fSigebert, Hist. Eccles… Cent. 7. C. 13.Once it appeared for three Moneths together, being seen in the Morning in August, rising in the East. In appearance like unto a flaming Pillar. The Plague and Famine followed, also a great Drought, so that it rained not gBellarmine Chronol. in Anno 678. Alstedius Chron. Cap. 49. & in Encycloped. P. 2171.in some places for the space of three years together. The Sarazens came with a great fleet into Sicily, and brake in upon the Roman Empire like a flood. Pope Donas died this year.
A. D. 684. A Comet was seen in the Moneths of December, January, and February. It was observed in the day time as well as in the night, near the seven Stars, shining with a dim light not unlike to that of the Moon when covered with a thin Cloud. hPlatina in vita Benedicti. Lavater, Alsted, Ricciolus.After this, most horrible Thunder storms, Plagues, Famine, and Floods followed, to the amazing ruine of mortals. Also the direful flames of Vesuvius, brake forth to the no small terrour and confusion of the Countrey adjacent.
A. D. 729. Some iLycosthenes, Lavater Palmerius, Alstedius.write of two Comets appearing this year at the same time, viz. in the MonethMonth of January. The one in the Morning before the Sun, the other in the evening after Sun set. But others do more probably conceive that by reason of its great declination, the same Comet appeared both in the morning and in the evening. kRicciolus, Appianus, & alii.A terrible Plague followed in many places, especially at Constantinople in which City three hundred thousand were swept away by that Besom of Destruction. The Sarazens invaded Spain. The Longobards fell upon Italy, besieged Rome it self. †Hospinian de Origine imaginum F. 59. v. Mordens Geography, P. 33.Woful Tumults and Schisms were amongst professed Christians about the worshipping of Images. Not long after this the Christians under the conduct of Charles Marell slew above three hundred thousand Sarazens.
A D 745. A Comet appeared in the latter end of this year. lFunccius, Hevelius, Alsted, Praetorius.Various Diseases and much Sickness was observed to follow, in special a Plague of three years continuance miserably depopulated Sicily, the Mediteranean Islands, and all Greece.
A. D 763. A Blazing Star appeared for the space of ten dayes in the East. mHist. Eccles. Cent. 8. Cap. 23.After that in the West twenty one dayes. Another Comet was seen about two years after this. Remarkable Events attending these Prodigies, were, the Turks breaking in upon Armenia; an intollerable cold Winter, and after that as fiery a Summer, and a very afflictive Drought.
A D 814. A most strange kind of Comet was observed in the MonethMonth of November. nCamerarius Append. Chronol. Niceph. P. 54. Alsted.Both the Light and the Figure of it was amazing to behold. It appeared like two Moons meeting and departing, and sometimes like a Man without an Head. The principal Event attending this Prodigy was the death of Charles the Great. The Emperour himself was astonished at this Comet, (if we may call it a Comet) supposing it to portend his own Death, and great changes to follow in his Dominions.
A. D. 837. A Comet oCalvisius, Hevelius.appeared in April in the sign of Virgo, and in the space of 25 dayes passed through Leo, Cancer, and Gemini, until it came into the head of Taurus, and there disappeared under the feet of Auriga. The next year another (or the same again) Comet appeared in Autumn, in Libra, it was seen in the morning before Sun rise, and of an horrendous aspect. The Spring following another (or the same Comet) appeared in Aries, it was seen in the Evening.
A. D. 842. A Comet was observed in Aquarius.pFunccius, Eckstormius. Cardande subtil. L. 4.
A. D. 844. A Comet was observed by Albumasar to be above Venus. As for the remarkable Events attending these Comets, thus frequently appearing in so short a space, there are many memorable passages noted by Historians as hapning about this time. e. g. The death of the Emperour Ludovicus Pius, and of Pipin King of France. The Sarazens came upon Italy like a flood, not leaving Rome it self untouched; many of them perished in the waters as they returned into Africa. qImperial History.An unhappy War brake out between Lotharius and his two Brethren Lewis and Charles. A mighty Army was brought into the Field, Lotharius was worsted. The greatest part of the Nobility and Flower of the French Nation was slain. *Alsted Chronol. Cap 25.Not long after this in Germany, Famine prevailed so as that the Parents did eat their own Children, and sometimes Children their Parents.
A. D. 868. A Comet appeared rLavater. Alsted & alii.which was attended with a great Earth-quake. The next year the Emperour Lotharius died. The Danes cruelly wasted England, so did the Slavi do in Batavia at the same time. Michael the Emperour of the East, was deprived of the use of his reason, one of the meanest of his Servants killed him, and became an Emperour, between whom and the Sarazens there were great conflicts. The Greek and Latine Churches were at variance, and the Patriarch of Constantinople was deposed.
A D. 874. A Blazing Star with long and fiery Beams appeared in the beginning of April, continuing for a MonethMonth, being seen in the day as well as in the night sHector Boethius L. 10. Fol. 208. Alstedius, Rockenbachius & alii habent Annum 876.The next year a Comet whose colour was more red then useth to be, the tail very long was seen in the MonethMonth of June. Tho Plague and Famine followed. The cruel Danes made more fearful slaughters in England, until they got the Land into their possession. Ethus the King of Scotland, and the Emperour Lewis the second died this year. The Germans invade France with an Army. Italy was again sorely afflicted with the Sarazens.
A D. 882. A Comet with a long tail was seen in the MonethMonth of January tCalvisius, Lycosthenes, Alstedius.within a few dayes after which Lewis the King of Germany died, also the King of France died that year. The Normans fell upon Germany, and burned the famous City of Trevirs. There was this year an attempt to poyson the Pope (John the 8th.) but the poyson not being strong enough, one took an hammer and knocked out his brains.
A. D. 902, A Comet appeared in the monethmonth of May, for forty dayes. uAlstedius habe… annum 900, alii vero annum 904. Calvisius.The Hungarians fell with a great Army upon Italy, destroying famous Cities. And in Lombardy they laid all waste before them. The Sarazens spoiled Greece, and the Islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Lewis the King of the Longobards being taken Prisoner by Berengerius (the Popes Emperour) had his eyes put out. Soon after this Donaldus the King of Scotland died.
A. D. 912. A red fiery Comet appeared in the sign of Capricorn. wLycosthenes, Hermannus. Quidam habent annum 908. Mizaldus habet annum 913.After this the Hungarians caused woful Desolations in Germany. There was also a great inundation of Waters in Saxony. The Emperour Lewis the second having ill success in his Wars, died with grief, Alexander the Emperour of the East, was taken ill as he was playing at Ball; the next day Blood issuing out of all parts of his Body died. Anastasius the Pope, and Abdal the Sarazens King died this year also.
A. D. 942: A Comet appeared in the MonethMonth of November continuing for about fourteen dayes. xEckstormius, Alstedius, Calvisius.There followed Civil Wars in Italy. A great Se…ition and Rebellion in France. The Turks invaded Thrace. Constantine the King of Scotland betook himself to a Monastary. There was great Mortality of all sorts of living Creatures, and some parts of the World were afflicted with a sore Famine.
A. D. 944. A Comet appeared which was of marvellous magnitude near Cassiopaea, with fiery Beams issuing from it. yLycosthenes, Lavater, &c.The Plague, Floods, and Famine followed.
A. D. 975. A fiery Blazing Star was seen in the MonethMonth of August, continuing for eight Moneths together. zCalvisius.The Emperour Otto, grievously wasted Bohemia, which injuries were revenged by the Duke of Bavaria. Zimiscas the Emperour was poysoned. Culinus the King of Scotland, Alhaca the King of Corduba in Spain died.
A. D. 984. A Blazing Star was seen. aLycosthenes, Alstedius.An Earth quake, Wars, Plague, Famine followed, The Emperour and the Pope died.