( 5 ) 



a great eclipse about three of the clock in the afternoon, 

 insomuch that the earth seemed to be covered with a 

 black and horrible penthouse (Hollnshed). 



The sun was eclipsed, and all the sun's disc was like a 

 black shield (A. S. C. ; M. of W.). 

 734 On the second day before the calends of February, the 

 moon was covered with a redness like blood for nearly a 

 whole hour at about the time of cock crow ; a darkness 

 then coming on, she returned to her usual brightness 

 {Roger de Hovederi). 



In this year the moon was as if it had been sprinkled 

 with blood (A. S. C. ; Roger de Hovederi}. 



738 Great inundation at Glasgow ; more than 400 families 

 drowned (Fordun). 



739 Dreadful famine (Farmer's Almanack). 



743 January i. Aurora borealis brilliant in England (Lowe). 



744 Stars went shooting rapidly (A. S. C.). 



745 Fiery strokes were beheld in the air, such as no men of 

 that generation had ever seen before, and were visible 

 throughout almost all the night of the calends of January 

 (Roger de Hovederi). 



747 There were seen stars falling from heaven, so that all 

 who beheld them thought that the end of the world was 

 at hand (M. of W.). 



752 July 31. An eclipse of the moon (M. of W. ; Roger de 

 Hovederi). 



756 On the eighth day before the calends of December, the 

 moon on her fifteenth day, being about her full, appeared 

 to be covered with the colour of blood, and then the dark- 

 ness decreasing, she returned to her usual brightness ; 

 but in a wondrous manner a bright star followed the 

 moon, and passing across her, preceded her when shining 

 at the same distance at which it had followed her before 

 she was darkened (Roger de Hovederi). 



759 Greatest frost on record, from October ist to February 

 26th (F. A.}. 



