1208. Philip, duke of Swabia, assassinated. He was elected emperor of Germany, but was obliged to give room to Otho, who had the most powerful supporters. His memory is still respected in Germany.
1520. The assaults of the Mexicans upon the Spaniards in the centre of their capital, which had continued without intermission since the massacre of the [13th May], (q.v.) was made with increased fury on this day. The Spaniards defended themselves with 12 pieces of artillery, which made terrible havoc upon their enemy; but as the number of them was infinite, they covered the sight of their dead with fresh numbers. The Spaniards with Cortez at their head made a sally into one of the principal streets, carrying fire and sword among the dense mass, destroying men and houses before them.
1526. An imperial diet assembled at Spires, and observed the rites of the reformed church. It was at this sitting that Charles V proposed the meeting of a general council for reforming the abuses of the church.
1634. John Marston died; an English dramatic author. He was a chaste and pure writer, avoiding the ribaldry and obscenity of the age.
1644. Thomas Westfield died; a learned English divine, whose eloquence and pathos procured him the appellation of the weeping prophet.
1663. John Bramhall, lord primate of Ireland, died. He was highly serviceable to the royal cause during the English civil wars.
1667. John Harman with 16 ships defeated a French fleet of 30, near Martinico.
1672. The king of France at the head of 120,000 choice troops, commanded by the ablest generals in the world, entered Utrecht in triumph, and advanced within 9 miles of Amsterdam. At this crisis the inhabitants of Amsterdam opened the sluices and laid the country under water. Fertile fields, numerous villas and flourishing villages were overwhelmed by the inundation. They even formed the design of migrating to their settlements in the East Indies, and erecting a new empire in the southern extremity of Asia. It was found that there were vessels in the harbor sufficient to transport 150 families, but a favorable turn in their affairs, prevented the necessity of having recourse to that desperate expedient.
1689. William Thomas, an English bishop, died; author of an Apology for the Church of England, and other works.
1695. Namur in Belgium taken from the French after a long and bloody siege.