1520. Cortez secretly evacuated the city of Mexico with the remains of his army. The Spaniards commenced their retreat a little before midnight, which was soon discovered by the Mexicans, who assailed them on all sides, so that it was with the utmost hazard of entire destruction that they effected their escape, with the loss of 600 Spaniards and 4,000 allies. All their artillery, all the riches they had amassed, the manuscripts of Cortez, were lost; together with 40 horses, most of their prisoners, and the men and women in the service of the Spaniards, were killed. It was one of the most horrible and disastrous scenes on record, and acquired the name among the Spaniards of the noche triste.
1555. John Bradford, an English martyr in the reign of queen Mary, and an eloquent preacher, burnt at Smithfield for heresy.
1582. James Crichton (the admirable) assassinated at Mantua. He was a native of Scotland, and altogether a most extraordinary character, about whom authors differ also most extraordinarily, some even treating his existence as fabulous. Urquhart places his death on the 27th February, at the carnival.
1614. Isaac Casaubon, a celebrated Swiss critic and theologian, died at London. Nearly all the ancient classics are indebted to his valuable researches.
1626. Chaplains first appointed to each ship in the British navy.
1627. King Charles I of England dismissed his queen's French servants, which occasioned a war with France.
1643. The great assembly of divines met at Westminster in the Jerusalem chamber; 118 preachers and 26 laymen.
1676. New Jersey divided into East and West Jersey; the former granted to George Carteret, the latter to William Penn and others.
1681. Oliver Plunket, primate of Ireland, executed at Tyburn. It was afterwards discovered that he was guiltless of the crimes imputed to him, and that he fell a sacrifice to the intrigues of some of his priesthood.
1690. Battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, which decided the fate of James II and the Stuart dynasty, and established William III on the British throne. The duke of Schomberg, one of the ablest generals of the time, was killed, at the age of 82. Also the Irish rector, George Walker, famous for his heroism. The forces of James were but 27,000, opposed to 36,000 strong.