followers at Blackheath, amounting to 100,000 men.
1520. A grand tournament between Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France, at Guines. "At the houre assigned," says Holinshed, "the two kings, armed at all peeces, mounted on horssebacke, and with their companies, entered the field; the French king on a courser barbed, covered with purple sattin, broched with gold, and embroidered with corbin's feathers. All the parteners of the French king's chalenge were in like apparell, everie thing correspondent in cloath of silke embrodered. On his person were attendant on horssebacke noble persons, and on foot foure persons, all apparelled in purple sattin."
1526. Holy league against the emperor Charles V.
1543. Nicholas Copernicus, the astronomer, died on this day, according to Lalande, who says, in his History of Astronomy for 1798, "The death of the great Copernicus was, till lately, a problem. I resolved it in my tour. Copernicus died on the 11th of June, 1543, although Gassendi and Weidler date this circumstance on the 24th May, and Planche the 11th of July." (See [May 24].)
1567. Flight of Mary, queen of Scots, and her husband, Bothwell, from Borthwick castle to Dunbar.
1576. Anthony Cooke, preceptor of Edward VI, died. He also educated his own daughters, who were "learned above their sex in Greek and Latin."
1576. Martin Frobisher was despatched with three pinnaces to discover a northwest passage, but compelled by the ice to return. He was the first navigator who attempted to find a northwest passage to China.
1578. Queen Elizabeth granted letters patent to Humphrey Gilbert for the discovery and settlement of "barbarous lands in America, undiscovered by any Christian prince or people." This was the first charter granted by the crown of England to a colony.
1665. Kenelm Digby, an eminent English philosopher, died. He was also in the employ of the government as a soldier and a statesman. He was brave, learned and eloquent, but somewhat visionary.
1685. The duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme, Dorsetshire with men and arms in opposition to James II.