George Fox and comet of 1664
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Because of my rising interest in Quakerism, I have recently been reading the Journal of the founder, George Fox, and have noticed a possible reference to the comet of 1664 (less likely, that of 1665).
Fox was severely persecuted by the Establishment of the day and was in and put of prison for most of his life and during late 1664/early 1665 he was imprisoned? in Lancaster Castle, in a room open to the weather (and, presumably, to the night sky). During this time he wrote "I saw an? angel of the Lord with a glittering sword stretched southward, as though the court had been all on fire. Not long after, the wars broke out with Holland, the sickness broke forth and after the Fire of London. So the Lord's sword was drawn indeed."
Fox was certainly a seer of visions, but maybe this one had an objective component? We are reminded of the record in Josephus that a "star like a sword" hung over Jerusalem in AD 66, almost certainly a reference to Halley's Comet of that year. No proof of course, but an interesting thought. Regards,
David
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