THE RETURN OF HALLEY’S Comet IN 1910. 25 
Josephus, appeared suspended over Jerusalem shortly before 
its fall. At least we have no certain record of any other comet 
nearer the time of the fall. Then follow returns on a.p. 141 
March 25th, a.p. 218 April 6th (described as a terrifying 
spectacle, preceding the death of the Emperor Macrinus), A.D. 
295 April 7th, a.p. 373 November 7th, A.pD, 451 July 3rd. This 
comet came about the time of the defeat of Attila by AXtius ; 
it is referred to by Idatius, who says it was seen as a morning 
star in June, and an evening star in July. The Chinese annals 
accurately describe its course from the Pleiades through Leo, 
ending near Beta Leonis. A.D. 530 November, when it was 
described as very grand and terrifying, resembling a burning 
torch; A.D. 607 March, A.D. 684 October. This appearance is 
interesting, from a rough sketch in the Nuremberg Chronicle, 
that purports to represent it; there is however no proof that 
it is really contemporary; A.D. 760 June, very full vee 
record, enabling Laugier to confidently identify the comet : 
Halley’ 8; A.D. 837 F ebruary 25th, taken by Louis le Mabon 
as a sign of his approaching death. A.D. 912 July, a return 
which tili lately rested on computation only, no observation 
being known. <A Japanese astronomer, Hirayama, has now 
found a record of its visitility in Japan from July 19th to 28th. 
A.D. 989 September 2nd ; A.D. 1066 March 25th ; this is the appari- 
tion that is associated with the Norman Conquest. The terror 
that it caused in England is illustrated by the manner in which it 
was apostrophised by Elmer, a monk of Malmesbury ; “ Venisti, 
multis matribus lugende ; dudum est quod te vidi, sed nune 
multo terribiliorem te intueor, patriae hujus excidium 
vibrantem.” It is perhaps permissible to note of this same 
Elmer that he invented a flying machine, the wings being 
operated by his hands and legs, and launching himself from a, 
high tower, ‘flew for a furlong ; “but caught in a ‘sudden cust and 
becoming panic-stricken, he fell headlong, and was lamed for 
life, a disaster which he ascribed to his having omitted to give 
his machine a tail. 
On the other side of the Channel William of Normandy took 
the comet as of good omen for himself, and one of his courtiers 
wrote the following doggerel lines upon it :— 
Caesariem, Caesar, tibi si natura negavit 
Hane, W illel me, tibi stella comata dedit. 
As is well known, the comet is portrayed on the Bayeux 
tapestry, and this is the oldest representation of it that is certainly 
authentic. Crude as it is, there are two features that are con- 
o 2 
