APRIL.
APRIL 1.
168 B. C. Emylius Paulus passed from Brundusium to Corcyra (the modern Corfu) on his famous Macedonian expedition, and on the 6th, sacrificed at the shrine of Delphi.
1386. James Audley, an English warrior, died. He distinguished himself under Edward III in the wars with France, and on their return was liberally rewarded by his sovereign for the deeds of heroism he had displayed in the service.
1405. Tamerlane, chan of the Tartars, died. He is supposed to have been the son of a shepherd, and raised himself by his courage and prudence to the sovereignty of nearly three quarters of the world. He was preparing for the invasion of China when death put a stop to his career at the early age of 36.
1506. Erasmus was entertained at London by the great and learned men of the day.
1614. Henry de Montmorency, constable of France, died. He distinguished himself in several famous battles. Catharine de Medici found means to disgrace him, when he retired to Savoy, and made successful war upon his country. He lived to be promoted to the highest office under the king.
1672. Archibald Armstrong, privileged jester or fool of Charles V, died. There is a little book high priced and of little worth entitled Archibald's Jests.
1696. Père Gerbillon, the Jesuit missionary (see [May 30th]), accompanied the imperial Chinese army into Tartary, in the suite of the emperor, being his fifth journey into that country.
1696. John Bigg, an English hermit, died, aged 97. He begged pieces of leather, which he nailed to his clothes, till he became a truly grotesque figure. One of his shoes is preserved in the Bodleian museum, and is made up of about a thousand patches of leather.