1493. The pope issued a great bull, by which the infidel world was divided between Ferdinand and Isabella on the one hand, and the Portuguese on the other. That is, the Spanish were granted the full right to all countries inhabited by infidels which they should discover west of an imaginary line drawn from pole to pole, at a distance of 100 leagues westward of the Azores, while the Portuguese were to have all east of that line.
1568. Dominique de Gourges, having destroyed the Spanish settlements in Florida, embarked for France. The Spaniards had seized the French settlements in the same places, and murdered the inhabitants. Gourges fitted out three vessels and 150 soldiers at his own expense to revenge their death, and repair the honor of his nation. The Spaniards were well fortified to the number of 400 in their forts; but de Gourges resolutely pressed forward, and after a desperate assault carried the forts. Those who escaped the massacre were hung upon the same trees on which the Frenchmen had previously been hung. The Spaniards had placed over their victims a label, signifying, "I do not this as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans." De Gourges replaced it with a tablet of fir wood, on which was graven the following: "I do not this as to Spaniards, nor as to mariners, but as to traitors, robbers and murderers."
1573. A border feud at Reedsquair, between the English and Scottish marchmen, in which the former were completely beaten. This skirmish was the last of any note between the two nations.
1621. Sentence of fine and imprisonment passed upon lord Bacon in the house of peers for bribery.
1649. Isaac Dorislaus assassinated; a Dutchman who went from Leyden to England and read lectures on history at Cambridge. He was alternately royalist and republican during the civil wars; and was stabbed to the heart by some enthusiastic royalist while on an embassy to Holland.
1655. The English took the island of Jamaica from the Spanish.
1664. The earl of Tiviot, governor of Tangier, surprised and defeated by the Moors.
1697. Kaldan, khan of the Eleuts, who had for several years eluded the formidable armies sent against him annually from
China, accompanied by the emperor himself, being finally reduced to the last extremity, and abandoned by his best subjects, put an end to his life by poison.
1702. Lord Cornbury commenced his administration of the government of New York.