Wonders in the Sky (39 page)

200.

20 September 1571, Lepanto, Italy
A flaming column guides the fleet

On the night of September 20th 1571 a fiery object was seen over Lepanto. The official historian of the papal fleet of Rome, Alberto Guglielmotti, recorded the event in a report based on statements given by two witnesses, Sereno and Caracciolo. In his summary, Father Guglielmotti wrote that the “sign in the sky…was considered by everyone to be a miracle.”

“It was a clear, starry night with a cool wind coming from the north. Suddenly, a colossal fire in the shape of a shining, flaming column was seen by everyone to cross the sky over a long period of time, filling all the witnesses with great admiration…All the witnesses regarded this as a good omen and sensed they were on the verge of a great victory. They believed this column of fire was showing them the way, guiding the Christian fleet in the sea in the same way the people of Israel were guided across the desert in biblical times.

On October 7th, Selim II, the Sultan of Turkey, was defeated at sea by the Christian fleet, just off the shore of Lepanto.

 

Source: Padre Alberto Guglielmotti,
La Guerra dei pirati e la marina pontificia dal 1500 al 1560
(Florence: Le Monnier, 1876).

201.

16 February 1572, Constantinople, Turkey
Crosses in the air

The people of Constantinople were amazed to see cross-shaped objects flying above their city.

It was said that for the consolation of the miserable Christians held captive in Constantinople, and for the confusion of the Turks and Jews living in that city, God placed three crosses in the sky above three Turkish mosques (Piali Baja, Capassi and Saint Sophia). These appeared three days in a row, from Thursday to Saturday.

The crosses were seen by everyone in the area. They floated in the air, high above the roofs of the mosques. Their color changed continuously. The Christians rejoiced and gazed at the objects in wonder, while among the Turks there was only confusion and uproar.

Finally, the Turks met with the Jews and asked them what they thought was happening. The Jews replied that the Christians were great magicians, and were trying to frighten them with their magic arts. The Turkish soldiers decided to retaliate more violently than ever, crushing the Christian troops in armed combat. They even started to shoot at the crosses. However, whenever a missile was about to hit them, the crosses vanished momentarily, only to reappear immediately afterwards.

 

Source: W
arhaffte Zeitung vnd beschreibung der Stadt Constantinopel dreyer Creutz gesicht. Auff S. Sophia / Patriarcha / vnd Andrea Kirchen gesehen worden seind / Dreytag auff jeder besonder / vnd allmal von einer Kirchen auff die ander sich erzeigt / geschehen den 16. Februarij des 72. jars. Auch ist warhafftig vnden hernach gesetztes schreiben von Constantinopel aus / von einem Ritter Grio Malluj genandt / Bebstlicher Heiligkeit für warhafftige zeitung zugeschrieben worden / den 10. Martij. im 72. Jar
(Augsburg: Hans Rogel, 1572), SUB Göttingen 4° H TURC. 712.

202.

15 November 1572, Romerswil, Switzerland
A farmer's abduction

Hans Buchmann, a 50-year-old Swiss farmer from Romerswil, had gone to Sempach, a nearby village. When he failed to return, his wife sent out their two sons to look for him. The boys found their father's hat, coat and gloves. They also found his saber and its sheath, lying on the path. This frightened them and they suspected that Klaus Buchmann, their father's cousin, who had for years been an enemy to the family, could have murdered him. The authorities had Buchmann's property searched, in vain.

Four weeks later, the family received news about Hans Buchmann's whereabouts: he was in Milan! On 2 February 1573, two and a half months after he disappeared, he came back. His wife and children were astonished to see that he did not have a single hair on his head, his face or his chin. His face was so swollen that they didn't recognize him at first. When the authorities learnt that the man had returned they interrogated him, as so much trouble had been caused to cousin Klaus. The town chronicler, Renward Cysat (1545-1614), was present at the interrogation.

Buchmann explained that on the day he disappeared he carried money to pay Hans Schürmann, the owner of the Romerswil inn, to whom he owed sixteen florins. Schürmann was not at home so he decided to go to Sempach on other business matters. There he stayed until dawn, drinking something but very little, and then set off for home. As he was passing through the forest he suddenly heard a strange noise. At first he thought it was the buzz of a swarm of bees, but then he realized it sounded more like music. He felt afraid, and was no longer sure where he was nor what was happening. He unsheathed his sword and swiped at the air around him, losing his hat, gloves and coat in the process. Before losing consciousness he could feel that he was being lifted up into the air. He was taken to another country. He was disoriented and confused, with no idea where he was. He felt pain and swellings in his face and around his head.

Two weeks after his abduction he found himself in Milan, with no idea how he had got there. He was weak because he had not eaten or drunk anything in days, but he was determined to find his way home. Hans Buchmann neither knew the city nor spoke the language, and had no way of communicating his situation to anyone until he came across a guard of German origin who took pity on him.

 

Source: Cysat, who knew Buchmann personally, was sure the man had been kidnapped by a fairy of some kind. In his
Collectanea Chronica und Denkwürdige Sachen pro Chronica Lucernensi et Helvetiae
, where the story is described in detail, he mentions several other cases of fairy abduction.

203.

29 January 1574, Japan, exact location unknown
Flying umbrella

A large object shaped like an umbrella flew over, illuminating the sky and the ground. It was seen twice.

 

Source:
Brothers
I, 1. We lack any earlier reference.

204.

21 December 1576, Mount Kasuga, Japan
Wheel in the sky

A wheel-shaped object flew for an hour over the castle on Mount Kasuga. No historical source is given for this tantalizing case, which would deserve further study by researchers familiar with Japanese chronicles.