_Comets of Bloodshed._ 1282—An immense Comet over Italy. Disastrous earthquake in southern Italy. On March 30, a fortnight after the first appearance of the Comet followed the massacre of all Frenchmen in Sicily on the evening of Easter Monday, known in history as the “Sicilian Vespers.” 1298—Because of the appearance of a Comet over middle Germany, there were riots in Nuremberg and other neighbouring cities followed by a general massacre of the Jews in those cities. 1300—A brilliant Comet preceded the Jubilee of Pope Boniface the VIII. The Pope interpreted the Comet as a happy omen, but because of the popular dread of the Comet there were riots and blood shed in Rome and elsewhere in Italy. The chroniclers of the times pointed out the significant fact that shortly after his jubilee Pope Boniface was made a prisoner by King Philip of France, causing him to die of rage. _Plague Comets._ 1305—A Comet “of horrible aspect” burning all through Passion Week preceded the outbreak of the terrible black plague which swept from the Orient all over Europe and Asia. 1333—Chinese and Arab astronomers record a bright Comet over China, Turkestan and Persia. Birth of Tamerlane, the “Scourge of the Nations” at Samarkand, in Turkestan. 1347—A Comet precedes the “Black Death,” a terrible pestilence followed by famine all over the world. One-fourth of all the people of Europe died. Fifteen million deaths in China,—twenty-five million in Europe. 1363—A Comet of immense size shone for three months over northern Europe. Pestilence and famine in England, Poland and Russia. 1378—Halley’s Comet. Pestilence in Germany. Holy Church is rent by the great schism, with rival popes at Rome and Avignon. _Tamerlane’s Star._ 1382—Arab astronomers and Chinese report a very bright Comet which shone a fortnight. Tamerlane and his hordes overrun Central Asia. Pestilence breaks out there and spreads all over the world. 1402—Arab astronomers report another Comet seen all over the East. Tamerlane carries war into Europe and takes Constantinople by storm. Sultan Bayezid is taken prisoner by Tamerlane and is carried to Asia in a cage. 1405—Chinese astronomers record a spear-shaped Comet over China. Tamerlane dies while invading China. 1456—Halley’s Comet. Bloody war between the Christians and the Turks. Battle of Belgrade. 1492—Arab astronomers record a Comet over northern Africa and Spain. Final conquest of Granada from the Moors by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Discovery of the New World.