1483. Accession of the usurper Richard III.
1527. Niccolo Machiavelli, a Florentine writer, died. His works are numerous, but that called The Prince is the most famous, and has generally given him a bad character, though defended by Bacon and Clarendon.
1535. John Fisher, an English prelate, beheaded at the age of 77. He pertinaciously opposed the measures of the king, in relation to his wives. He was the opponent of Erasmus, who, however, gives him a superior character.
1596. The combined English and Dutch fleets under lord Effingham and admiral Van Duvenwoord, attacked the Spanish fleet in Cadiz bay, burnt 3 galleons, captured two, and drove a great number on shore. To save the latter the Spaniards agreed to pay 2,500,000 ducats.
1602. "Lent unto Benjamy Johnsone, at the apoyntment of E. Allen and William Birde, in earnest of a booke [play] called Richard Crook-back, and for new adycions of Jeronimo, the sum of xlb."—Henslowe Manuscripts.
1632. Galileo and his books condemned by the inquisition.
1664. Catharine Philips, an English poetess, died.
1679. Battle of Bothwell bridge; the Scottish covenanters defeated by the English under the duke of Monmouth.
1691. Mahomet IV, of Turkey, assassinated in prison. In the beginning of his reign he was eminently successful in war; but the resistless valor of John Sobieski drove the Turks within their own dominions. These calamities were attributed to the sultan, and the janizaries deposed him.
1691. Solyman III, of Turkey, brother of the preceding, died. He was taken from prison and placed on the throne, on the deposition of his brother, Mahomet, 1687. He was indolent and superstitious.