1583. The printing of the Vandalie Bible commenced at Wittemberg, by Samuel Seelfish, at the expense of the state of Carniola, which paid 8,000 florins for 1,500 copies.
1661. The marquis of Argyle beheaded at Edinburgh and his head set upon the Tolbooth.
1672. Battle of Southwold bay, in which the Dutch admiral De Ruyter with 91 ships of the line and 44 frigates and fireships, engaged the combined fleets of France and England, consisting of 130 sail, under the command of the duke of York, afterwards James II, and the admiral count d'Estrees. The conflict was terrible. The allies had a trifling advantage, and the Dutch retired to the coast of Holland.
1672. Edward Montague, earl of Sandwich, drowned in the confusion of the battle of Southwold bay. He was distinguished as a statesman, general, admiral, and writer.
1672. War declared in Boston against the Dutch; the first declaration of war in the colonies.
1673. Action between the English and French fleets, under prince Rupert, and the Dutch under De Ruyter, at Schonvelt; both sides claimed the victory.
1701. Anne Hilarion de Costentin de Tourville, a French admiral, died. He distinguished himself against the Algerines and the Spaniards, but the battle of La Hogue was fatal to his glory.
1708. Com. Wager attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet near Carthagena.
1736. Madamoiselle Salle, a famous danseuse at Paris, who piqued herself upon her reputation, instituted an order there, of which she was president, by the name of the Indifferents. Both sexes were indiscriminately admitted, after a nice scrutiny into their qualifications. They had rites, which no one was to disclose. The badge of the order was a ribbon, striped black, white and yellow, and the device something like an icicle. They took an oath to fight against love, and if any of the members were particular in their regards, they were excluded the order with ignominy.
1745. Jonathan Richardson died; a celebrated English painter of heads, and an author.