The anxiety and general fear of an impending apocalyptic war had been prominent in Augsburg, another of the great imperial cities, since at least 1615. Here, as elsewhere, the comet of 1618, which appeared in the sky with a long tail of fire behind it is December added to the eschatological expectations and speculations (Plate 3.31) The Augsburg's brewer Jerg Siedeler noted the event in detail in his diary and quoted the interpretation provided by Elias Ehinger, teacher at the high school and the city’s librarian, in his Astrological judgement published that year. Here Ehinger pointed out that the comet signified ‘a great change of government within some years accompanied by terrible wars and rebellions by the common man and great persecutions. The whole world would be affected by misery and wretchedness, through war, bloodshed, robbery, murder and conflagration, great death, hunger and plague. ~ Page 182
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Dinesh said: