1500—Sword-shaped Comet over northern Europe, followed by Tartar invasion into Russia and Poland. 1528—A Comet noted by Ambroise Paré, who recorded that many people fell sick and died of fright. War between Emperor Charles V. of Germany and Francis I. of France, with fighting in France, Germany and Italy. 1531—Halley’s Comet. Plague in Italy. Great schism in the Church. Defection of German Protestants from Rome. Henry VIII. of England declares English Church independent of Rome. Sultan Soleyman ravaged Hungary. Disastrous floods in Holland, where 400,000 people were drowned. 1556—Emperor Charles V. of Germany and Spain, on account of his fear of the Comet that appeared in that year, abdicated his throne and became a monk. Wide-spread wars all over Europe. The Turks ravaged Hungary. Persecutions of English Protestants under “Bloody Mary.” Many Protestants burned at the stake, beheaded or broken on the rack. 1572—St. Bartholomew’s Comet. Massacre of St. Bartholomew, when 30,000 Huguenots were slaughtered in France. 1577—General persecution of Huguenots in France, followed by Civil War in France. 1607—A Comet seen over Constantinople for several weeks. Wide-spread war on the part of the Turks against the Persians on one side, the Poles on another, and against Venice on the third. 1618—A blood-coloured Comet observed just before the execution of Sir Walter Raleigh in England. A bloody rising of the Protestants in Bohemia, followed by the outbreak of the terrible Thirty Years’ War in Germany and the Netherlands. This was the Comet which gave rise to the German school rhyme: “Eight things a Comet always brings, Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings, War, Earthquake, Floods and Dire Things.” _Louis XIV.’s Star._ 1661—Inspired by the appearance of a Comet, a horde of fanatics under Venner, a cooper, preached the coming of the “Fifth Monarchy” in England, and proclaimed Jesus Christ as their only King. The fanatics were routed and put to death. Death of Mazarin, the “Master of France.” Rise of Louis XIV., the most powerful ruler of France. French war against the Pope. 1680—This Comet was studied by Halley, in Paris, and by Newton, in England. It was called “Heaven’s Chariot.” Plague in Europe. The French overrun Alsace and carried war into Germany. War between Venice and the Turks. 1682—Halley’s Comet. War in Italy. War in Hungary against the Turks.