near Brussels, Belgium — 1 March 1564
Aerial bombardment
In Gilbert’s Annalen for 1806 is an account of a fearful phenomenon seen between Mechel and Brussels. The sky was clear at first, but about 9 o’clock became fiery, throwing down a reflection upon the earth so that everything became yellowish. In the meantime there appeared in the sky figures of three men in royal robes with crowns upon their heads, remaining visible for nearly three-fourths of an hour, when they gradually drew near together and in the course of another 15 minutes disappeared. Then frightful stones fell, large and small, some of which were five or six pounds in weight. So far as known none of this material has found its way into collections.
Source: George P. Merrill and William F. Foshag, Minerals from earth and sky; Volume 3 (New York: Smithsonian Institution Series, Inc., 1938), 12-13. Case: W148