1848. The emperor of Austria issued a proclamation against Vienna, and appointed count Windischgratz to command his armies in Austria.
OCTOBER 17.
940. Athelstan, king of England, died. He was bountiful, wise and affable; ascended the throne at the age of 30; became distinguished by the titles of conqueror and faithful, and left behind him a name of great renown, respected at home and abroad.
1346. Battle of Nevil's Cross; the Scots under king David Bruce signally defeated by the English under Philippa and lord Percy. Bruce was taken prisoner and 15,000 of his men slain.
1492. Columbus named the more civilized island Fernandino, now Largo. The men wore cotton mantles, and the women a band of that manufacture round the waist.
1509. Philip de Comines, an excellent French historian, died, leaving behind him Memoirs of his Own Times.
1552. Andrew Osiander died; a Bavarian, one of Luther's first disciples; a professor at Konigsburg, and a voluminous writer.
1616. John Pits, an English biographer, died. He collected the lives of the kings, bishops, apostolical men and writers of England in four large volumes.
1662. The seaport Dunkirk, in France, sold to the English for five million livres. The annual charge of the place (£120,000) far exceeded its intrinsic importance.
1678. Edmundbury Godfrey, before whom Oates gave evidence of the popish plot against the king of England, was found in a field with his sword through his body; verdict of the jury was, that he had been strangled.