1468. The first book printed in England bears this date at Oxford, and contains 41 quarto leaves.
1500. Columbus was introduced at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella at Grenada.
1538. Luther notes in his Table Talk, that he invited the singers and musicians to supper. "I always loved music; who so has skill in this art, the same is of good kind, and fitted for all things,"—a divine saying.
1593. Henry May, an English mariner, returning from the East Indies, was wrecked on the islands of Bermudas, and was
the first Englishman, who set foot on those islands. The carpenter's tools having been saved, they built a cedar bark of about 18 tons, payed the seams with lime and turtle's fat, procured some rigging from the ship, and put in thirteen live turtles for provisions, when, having remained there nearly five months, they sailed for Newfoundland.
1615. Jacob le Maire, in his voyage to the straits, reports that he found this day at Port Desire, a skeleton of nearly 11 feet in length, entombed.
1657. James Naylor, a quaker, accused of blasphemy, convicted and ordered to be whipped and pilloried and his tongue bored through with a red hot iron.
1719. Aurora borealis first noticed in this country, and filled the people with alarm and consternation. It was of course viewed as a sign of the last judgment.
1724. Thomas Guy, founder of a hospital which bears his name, died in London, aged 81. He acquired great wealth as a bookseller, and left more than a million of dollars to one hospital, besides aiding others, and leaving nearly $400,000 to be divided among such as could prove themselves in any way related to him.
1731. Robert Bolton died; an English puritan, distinguished for his learning and eloquence, and whose high reputation is sustained by his numerous writings.