40. Petronius, in his account of Trimalchio, has preserved a Roman newspaper, (diurna acta) for this day. "On the 26th July 30 boys and 40 girls were born at Trimalchio's estate at Cuma. At the same time a slave was put to death for uttering disrespectful words of his master. The same day a fire broke out in Pompey's gardens, which began in the night, in the steward's apartments."
1346. The English under Edward III, captured the opulent city of Caen, in France, and pillaged the country around.
1469. Battle of Banbury (or Hedgecote), in which the royalists under Pembroke were defeated by the Yorkshire rebels. Pembroke was taken and put to death, and earl Rivers beheaded.
1470. Post office first established in Paris.
1471. Paul II (Peter Barbo), pope of Rome, died. He was a Venetian noble, and on coming to the throne gratified the cardinals with the purple habit, the red silk cap, and the mitre, which had hitherto
been worn only by the sovereign pontiff.
1546. Emperor Charles V and pope Paul III secretly leagued against the protestants.
1560. James Bonfadius, a polite writer of Italy, executed. He incurred the enmity of some powerful families at Geneva by the freedom of his remarks in his writings, who wrought his ruin.
1581. Philip excluded by edict from all sovereignty over the united provinces of the Netherlands.
1592. Armand Gonrault de Biron, marechal of France, killed. From the humble rank of a page he rose through all the gradations of the army, to the highest dignity under the sovereign. He distinguished himself in the service, and was killed by a cannon ball at the siege of Epernai.