502 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



given in astronomical works appear to have been taken from 

 his copy of the tapestry, and so this error has been perpetuated. 

 Mirantur would doubtless be more classical than mirant; but 

 on consulting the Lexicon of Facciolatus one finds authority 

 for the use of "miro" in place of the more usual " miror," and 

 it may have been customary in Normandy in the eleventh 

 century. Thierry, in dealing with this matter, makes a curious 

 mistake; he speaks not only of the mark of abbreviation over 

 the a of stella, but also of a similar mark over the t of mirant 

 (signifying an abbreviation for " mirantur "), which does not 

 exist in the original. A correct reproduction of the legend on 

 this part of the tapestry is to be found in Mr. Fowke's book. 



This representation of the comet in the Bayeux tapestry is 

 the earliest pictorial representation of Halley's comet. 



For the purposes of the conclusion there now remains the 

 statement of the fact that the battle of Hastings was a hard- 

 fought fight. All the records show that the success on either 

 side was nearly balanced, and that the issue was in doubt 

 practically throughout the day. It was no easy victory for 

 William. Wace says : 



" From nine o'oclock in the morning till three in the 

 afternoon the battle was up and down, this way and that, and 

 no one knew who would conquer and win the land. Both 

 sides stood firm and fought so well that no one could guess 

 which would prevail." 



III. Conclusion — Partly Speculative 



Summing up the foregoing facts and inferences we find — 



(i) that the appearance of this comet at a critical period of 

 William's preparations for the invasion of England 

 was probably responsible for a welcome addition to 

 his force in point of numbers ; 

 (ii) that 'the comet certainly inspired the Normans with 

 confidence and courage, while 



(iii) there is evidence that it struck terror into the hearts of 

 the English ; and 



(iv) that William's victory was gained by only a narrow 

 margin. 



Some modern writers are good enough to allow that the 

 comet may not have been without its influence ; but surely we 



