from his official website: "William tells this story as an aside to a description of the appearance of the comet that was later known as Halley's. Eilmer had the distinction of seeing it twice in his lifetime. He first saw it as a boy in 989, and the belief that it heralded doom was soon fulfilled when a wave of Danish attacks led to the destruction of many settlements, including the monastic establishment at Malmesbury. The second time was in 1066, and the event was swiftly followed by the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror." -- [The stained glass window of Eilmer in Malmesbury Abbey (photo by Shaun Martin)]
Interesting story. And it is so cool that the stained glass window is still extant.
Ooog of Stonehenge tried it first. He, well, he broke more than his legs.