Leicester and Nottinghamshire, England — 1659
Flying coffin
Starting at 1 P.M. people observed an object “in the perfect figure and form of a black coffin, with a fiery dart and a flaming sword flying to and again, backwards and forwards the head of the said coffin, which was with great wonder and admiration beheld by man hundreds of people.” This was seen until 3:15 P.M., when it broke up with great brilliance. Fig. 22: Wonders in England
Source: The five strange wonders, in the north and west of England as they were communicated to divers honourable members of Parliament, from several countrey gentlemen and ministers, concerning the strange and prodigious flying in the air of a black coffin betwixt Leicester and Nottingham, on Sabbath day last a fortnight, with a flaming arrow, and a bloody sword, casting forth firearms of fire… (London: W. Thomas, 1659). Case: W208