WEDNESDAY, 10th.
1212 London Bridge was nearly consumed by a fire, which broke out at both ends at the same time. In this conflagration near 3000 persons perished, the sides of the bridge being occupied by rows of houses, there was, consequently, no escape for the unfortunate inhabitants, thus hemmed in by the fire on two sides, and the water behind.
1472 The Town of Beauvais saved from falling into the hands of the Burgundians by the courage and zeal of the women, who, when the garrison, exhausted by a long resistance, were on the point of giving way, came to their assistance, led by one Jeanne de Hachette. This heroine herself threw down from the walls the Burgundian officer, who was about to plant his standard on them. Louis XI. made an honourable marriage for her, and commanded that the event should be annually commemorated by a procession, in which the females should walk first; a custom which prevails to this day.
1559 Henry II. of France died of a wound in the eye, received in a tournament from the Count de Montgomery. In his last moments the monarch commanded that the unfortunate, but innocent, cause of his death should not be molested; but, fifteen years after, he was arraigned for the fact, and sacrificed to the revengeful feelings of Catherine de Medicis.