996. Hugh Capet, king of France, died. He acquired the throne by his merits and courage, and became the head of the third race of the French monarchy.
1553. John Wayland, queen Mary's "allowed printer," received his charter; yet Thomas Green, a journeyman of his, was imprisoned and whipped, for printing a book entitled Antichrist.
1601. Tycho Brahe, the Danish astronomer, died. He chose the study of astronomy when it was a science of small repute; and though he immortalized his name, yet
it is to be regretted that he should have been led into so visionary a scheme as his system exhibits, from a mere spirit of opposition to Copernicus.
1612. Sir Pecksael Brocas, for his adulteries, was compelled to stand at St. Paul's cross, in London, arrayed in a white sheet with a stick in his hand.
1644. The English parliament issued an ordinance, that no quarter should be given to any Irish papist, who should be found in hostility to the parliament.
1648. German thirty years' war concluded by the treaty of Westphalia. It commenced 1618, having grown out of the reformation. It spread from one end of Germany to the other, and left the country a scene of desolation and disorder, wasted by fire, sword and plague, which was followed by a great scarcity, owing to a deficiency of laborers. The art of war was the only one that had gained any thing, and that principally by the genius of Gustavus Adolphus, who made an era in military tactics, and was the first who had a train of artillery in his army.
1655. Peter Gassendi, a celebrated French philosopher, died. He was at once a theologian, metaphysician, philosopher, astronomer, naturalist and mathematician; eminent in some, and above mediocrity in all those sciences.
1678. Desperate action between the English ship, Concord, captain Grantham, and the Algerine admiral ship, Rose, commanded by Canary, a Spanish renegado, who was beat off.
1682. William Penn first arrived in America, and landed at New Castle, Delaware, with 100 passengers. Next day possession of the country was given him.