1109. The Festival of Fools was instituted at Paris, and continued prosperous for 240 years. This, with the Lords of Misrule, and the Abbots of Unreason, was doubtless designed to ridicule the Druidic saturnalia.
1308. William Tell, the Swiss patriot, associated himself on this day with a band of his countrymen against the tyranny of their oppressors.
1349. Edward III, king of England, defeated the French before Calais with great slaughter.
1504. Birthday of Casper Cruciger, an extensive and multifarious scholar, and a follower of Luther. He died 1548.
1515. Louis XII of France, surnamed the father of the people, died. Notwithstanding the faults of his education, which had been purposely neglected, he became a wise and politic monarch, who had the welfare and improvement of his country in mind. Though extensively engaged in wars, he avoided burdening the people with taxes—was economical, just and magnanimous.
1513. Juan Diaz de Solis, coasting the southern continent, discovered the mouth of a river on this day, which in consequence he called Rio Janeiro.
1516. Juan Diaz de Solis again entered the Rio de Solis which he had discovered three years previous. In attempting a descent on the country he was slain by the natives, who in sight of the ship cut his body in pieces, and roasted and devoured it. He was reputed the ablest navigator in the world.
1523. Knights of Malta driven from the island of Rhodes by the Turks.
1537. James V of Scotland married Magdalen, daughter of Francis I of France.
1617. Henry Goltzius, a distinguished Dutch painter and engraver, died. His father was a painter on glass, and gave his son instructions in the art; but it was his own genius and application that raised him to the rank he ultimately held among the best artists of the time.