England: Another wheel-shaped object — Winter 1394
According to Raphael Holinshed’s landmark chronicle of British history, a wheel- or
barrel-shaped object appeared in several areas of England: “A certain thing appeared in the likeness of fire in many parts of England every night. This fiery apparition, oftentimes when anybody went alone, it would go with him, and would stand still when he stood still… To some it appeared in the likeness of a turning wheel burning; to others as round in the likeness of a barrel, flashing out flames of fire at the head; to others in the likeness of a long burning lance. ” Whatever it was that caused such an impression on the people of England, it does not seem meteoritic in nature.
Source: Raphael Holinshed, Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (London: J. Johnson, 1808) vol. II, 829. Raphael Holinshed, though not the book’s sole author, is thought to have helped inspire William Shakespeare to write at least two of his plays. Both Macbeth and King Lear were based on material contained in Holinshed’s book. Case: W086