132 Comets. 



941. On September 18 (or perhaps on November 17; it 

 is not possible to say which) a comet went out from the W. ; 

 it swept the walls of Tien-che, and was 10° long. — (Ma-tuoan- 

 lin.) It was seen in October for three weeks. — (Chronicon 

 S. Florentii.) 



942. In October a comet appeared for three weeks in the 

 W. It had a long tail, and advanced gradually eastwards to 

 the meridian. — (Chronicon Andegavense.) Several authorities 

 say that the comet appeared only for two weeks, from October 

 18 to November 1. — (Witichiudi. Annates, etc.) All remark 

 that a great mortality amongst oxen occurred in the follow- 

 ing year in consequence [?] 



943. On November 5 a comet appeared in the E. country. 

 Its R.A. was greater than that of a Virginis by 9°. Its tail 

 was 1° long aud pointed to the W. — (Ma-tuoan-lin.) Comets 

 were seen for fourteen nights. — (Anncdista Saxo.) 



945. Tkeotilon, Bishop of Tours, set out from Laon to 

 return to his diocese, but was overtaken on the road by the 

 malady of which he died. He had just partaken of the holy 

 sacrament when a luminous sign was seen traversing the sky. 

 This sign was a cubit long. Its brilliancy was such that it 

 gave light in the middle of the night to those who were 

 charged to conduct to Tours the body of the prelate, by a 

 journey of 200 miles."' — (Frocloard Chronicon.) Pingre con- 

 siders that, apart from other testimony, the duration deter- 

 mines this to have been " une veritable comete." — (Hist. 

 i. 356.) 



956. On March 13 a comet was seen in the Cross of Orion. 

 It tail pointed to the S.W. — (Ma-tuoan-lin.) 



959. At the time of the death of the Emperor Constantine 

 Porphyrogenetus, a gloomy and obscure star appeared for some 

 time. — (Constant. Porph. Incerti Continuatoris, p. 289.) Con- 

 stantine died on November 9. It was seen from October 17 

 to November 1. — (Tackius.) 



975. A bearded comet was visible from August to October. 

 — (Cedrenus Compendium Historiarum, p. 683.) It was first 

 seen on August 3 in the head of Hydra, between seven and 

 nine hours of the morning ; the tail was 40* long. The comet 

 traversed Cancer, and came to the square of Pegasus, and 

 lasted altogether twelve weeks. — (Gaubil.) It became visible 

 on the 5th moon, which terminated on July 11. — (Do Mailla, 

 viii. 58.) There .is much reason to believe that this comet is 

 identical with the celebrated ones of 1264 and 1556. Pre- 

 suming the P. P. to have taken place at the end of July, the 

 above accounts will all harmonize extremely well. — (Pingre, 

 i. 357.) 



981. A comet appeared in the Autumn. — (Burkhardus, 

 Monachus S. Galli, Uistorla, i.) 



