wasatokenofDivinewrathprovokedbytheSt。Bartholomewmassacre。
AstotheStuartperiod，ArchbishopSpottiswoodeseemstohavebeenactiveincarryingthesuperstitionfromthesixteenthcenturytotheseventeenth，andArchbishopBramhallcitesScriptureinsupportofit。Rathercuriously，whilethediaryofArchbishopLaudshowssomuchsuperstitionregardingdreamsasportents，itshowslittleornoneregardingcomets；butBishopJeremyTaylor，strongashewas，evidentlyfavouredtheusualview。JohnHowe，theeminentNonconformistdivineinthelatterpartofthecentury，seemstohaveregardedthecometsuperstitionasalmostafundamentalarticleofbelief；helamentsthetotalneglectofcometsandportentsgenerally，declaringthatthisneglectbetokenswantofreverencefortheRuleroftheworld；heexpressescontemptforscientificinquiryregardingcomets，insiststhattheymaybenaturalbodiesandyetsupernaturalportents，andendsbysaying，“Iconceiveitverysafetosupposethatsomeveryconsiderablething，eitherinthewayofjudgmentormercy，mayensue，accordingasthecryofperseveringwickednessorofpenitentialprayerismoreorlessloudatthattime。”[99]
[99]ForLiturgicalServicesoftheReignofQueenElizabeth，seeParkerSocietyPublications，pp。569，570。ForStrype，seehisEcclesiasticalMemorials，vol。iii，parti，p。472；alsoseehisAnnalsofthereformation，vol。ii，partii，p。151；andhisLifeofSirThomasSmith，pp。161，162。ForSpottiswoode，seeHistoryoftheChurchofScotlandEdinburghreprint，1851，vol。i，pp。
185，186。ForBramhall，seehisWorks，Oxford，1844，vol。iv，pp。60，307，etc。ForJeremyTaylor，seehisSermonsontheLifeofChrist。ForJohnHowe，seehisWorks，London，1862，vol。iv，pp。140，141。
TheReformedChurchofScotlandsupportedthesuperstitionjustasstrongly。JohnKnoxsawincometstokensofthewrathofHeaven；otherauthoritiesconsideredthem“awarningtothekingtoextirpatethePapists“；andaslateas1680，afterHalleyhadwonhisvictory，cometswereannouncedonhighauthorityintheScottishChurchtobe“prodigiesofgreatjudgmentontheselandsforoursins，forneverwastheLordmoreprovokedbyapeople。”