(418)
nifeſt that this Phænomenon appeared in our Neighbourhood three ſeveral Times, and that with conſiderable Intervals, within the Campaſs of one Year; though our Engliſh Hiſtorians have not recorded the two latter; nor did Gemma ſee that of November 1574, as ‘tis moſt likely by reaſon of Clouds. After this, in the Year 1580. we have the Authority of Michael Mæſtlin,[1] (himſelf a good Aſtronomer, and ſtill more famous for having had the honour to be the great Kepler’s Tutor in the Sciences) that at Baknang in the Country of Wirtemburg in Germany, theſe Chaſmata, as he likewife ſtiles them, were ſeen by himſelf no leſs than ſeven times within the Space of twelve Months. The firſt of theſe, and moft conſiderable, fell out on the very ſame Day of the Month with ours, viz. on Sunday the ſixth of March, and was attended with much the ſame Circumſtances, which, for Brevity's ſake, I omit. And again the ſame things were ſeen in a very extraordinary manner on the 9th of April and 10th of September following: but in a leſs degree, on the 6th of April, 21ſt of September, 26th of December and 16th of February, 1581: the laſt of which, and that of the 21ſt of September muſt needs have been more conſiderable than they then appeared, becauſe the Moon being near the Full, neceſſarily effaced all the fainter Lights. Of all theſe however no one is mentioned in our Annals to have been ſeen in England, nor in any other place that I can find; ſuch was the neglect of curious matters in thoſe Days.
The next in order that we hear of, was that of the Year 1621, on September the 2d. ſt. vet. ſeen all over France, and well deſcribed by Gaſſendus in his Phyſcks, who gives it the Name of Aurora Borealis. This, tho’ little inferiour to what we lately ſaw, and appearing to the Northwards both of Reuen and Paris, is no where ſaid to have been obſerved in England, over which the Light ſeemed to lie. And ſince then for above 80 Years, we have no Accountof
- ↑ M. Mæſtlin. lib, de Cometa; 1580.
