Chronology: or, a concise view of the annals of England: Where every particular occurrence, ... is accurately and alphabetically recorded, with the date affixed: ... By John Trusler, Cler.

Remarkable Occurrences, Not inserted in the Body of this Work.

WILLIAM II.'s REIGN.

• 1090. A Dreadful earthquake throughout the whole kingdom, which was follow∣ed by a great scarcity of fruit, and so late a harvest, that corn was not full ripe at the end of November. Sir J. Haywood's History, Will. II.
• ...

  1091. On the 5th of October, there fell a violent storm in several parts of England, especially at Winchelscomb, in Glocestershire, where the steeple of the church was thrown down by thunder and lightening, and the crucifix, with the image of the Virgin, was broken to pieces. The hurricane was followed by a noisome stink. Holingshed.

  During the above, there was also a thick smoke which darkened the sky. Sir J. Hayw.

  On the 17th of the same month, there hap∣pened a storm of wind at S. W. the same that blew in the late tempest, so dreadful to the whole nation. In London, it threw down above 500 houses, and unroofed Bow-church. At Old Sarum, the steeple and many houses were blown down. Holing.

• ...

  1094, was remarkable for the number of gliding stars, that seemed to dash together, in manner of a conflict. Sir J. Hayw.

  Also for a great mortality of men and beasts, so that the ground lay untilled in many places, which caused a severe dearth. Holing.

HENRY I.'s REIGN.

• 1104. A comet appeared, and four circles were seen about the sun. Sir J. Hayw. Hist. Hen. I.
• 1107. Another comet was seen, and, on the Thurs∣day night before, two full moons appeared, one in the east, the other in the west. Ditto.
• 1110. A third comet was seen, and an earthquake happened in Shropshire.
• ...

  1111. The river Trent, near Nottingham, ceased to run its course for twenty-four hours, so that the channel was dried up. Holing.

  There was, this year, a great mortality among men, cattle, and fowls. Sir J. Hayw.

• ...

  1113. The water of the river Medway failed so much, that the smallest boats could not float in the channel; also, the Thames was so low between the Tower and the bridge, that wo∣men and children waded it over; owing to so great an ebb in the ocean, that laid the sands bare several miles from the shore, which con∣tinued a whole day. Sir J. Hayw.

  In December, the air appeared red, as though it burned, Holing.

• 1114. During this year, almost all the bridges in England, being then of timber, were broken down by the ice when it thawed, after a severe frost. Holing.
• 1116. In December a great earthquake happened, and the colour of the moon was that of blood. Ditto.
• 1120. In September, an earthquake.
• ...

  1134. On the 2d of August, just as King Henry was about to take ship, and sail for Normandy, an eclipse of the sun and moon appeared; at which time, William of Malmsbury, who was then living, writes, he saw the stars plainly about the sun. This eclipse was followed by a most terrible earthquake.

• ...

  During the earthquake, flames of fire burst out of certain riffs of the earth with great violence. Holing.

HENRY II.'s REIGN.

• 1160. Thirty German heretics came to England, to propagate their opinions. They said they were Christians, but denied baptism, the Lord's supper, and matrimony; for which they were condemned by a council of bishops at Oxford, and delivered over to the secular arm. Accordingly, they were marked in the fore∣head with a red hot iron, whipped, and thrust out of doors naked, in the midst of winter•• where, none daring to relieve them, an order having been published to the contrary, they died of hunger and cold.
• ...

  1171. A great tempest happened in Scotland, Eng∣land, and Ireland. Holing.

  As King Henry was about to take horse at Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, an apparition ap∣peared to him, and, having threatened him with some dreadful plagues, if he did not amend his life, it vanished. Holing.

• 1172. The following infamous collect was ordered to be used in all churches in the province of Canterbury, to expiate the guilt of Becket's murder:

  Be favourable, good Lord, to our supplication and prayer, that we, which ac∣knowledge ourselves guilty of iniquity, may be delivered by the intercession of Thomas, thy blessed martyr and bishop.

  Holing.
• ...

  1179. On the 18th of June, after sun-set, the new moon then shining out fair, with her horns to the east, on a sudden, seemed to be divided in two, out of which there appeared to rise a burning brand, casting forth sparks and flames, as if it had been on fire. The body of the moon seemed to wriggle like an adder that is beaten; it did so above twelve times, and then turned black. Holing.

• ...

  At Christmas, at a place called Oxen-hall, near Darlington, in the bishoprick of Durham, the earth raised itself up like a lofty tower, and remained several hours in that posture; on a sudden, it funk down again, with a horrid noise, and the earth so sucked it in, that it made there a deep pit, which continues to this day. Mr. Camden supposes it to be the wells that are now called Hell-kettles. Rog. Hov.

• 1185. There was so great an earthquake as to over∣throw the church of Lincoln, and others.

RICHARD I.'s REIGN.

• 1189. The fish leaped out of a pool in Normandy, and fought together on dry land, with such noise, as drew the neighbouring people to behold this wonder, which was in the night∣time.
• 1190. On Midsummer-eve, the sun was eclipsed for three hours, at ten in the morning, and the stars appeared.
• 1193. 1194. 1195. There was so great a dearth in England and France, that a quarter of wheat was sold for almost twenty shillings, as much as six pounds now, which was followed by a pestilential fever, that carried off multitudes of people; during which time, the dead were buried in a great many at once, people died so fast. About Whitsunday, two suns appeared, so like each other, that they could not be distinguished without instruments. Com. Hist. Eng. p. 156.

HENRY III.'s REIGN.

• 1221. Two impostors were crucified, for giving out, that they were both of them the Mes∣siah, or Christ; and two women were ex∣ecuted, the one for pretending the Virgin Ma∣ry, and the other, Mary Magdalen.
• 1222. There was a dreadful tempest of thunder, lightening, and rain, in February, which

• threw down several churches. This was followed by extraordinary rains, and that by a dearth, another violent tempest, an earth∣quake, a prodigious storm of wind, inunda∣tions, and a comet. Holing.
• ...

  1233. It thundered for fifteen days together. The next year began with terrible tempests of thun∣der, rain, and floods, which spoiled the fruits of the earth.

  In April, at seven in the morning, there ap∣peared four false suns, in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The true sun was of a red co∣lour, with a great circle, of chrystaline colour, whose circuit seemed as large as the kingdom of England; from its sides went forth certain half circles, in whose sections the four false suns appeared. Holing.

• 1239. On the 16th of June, Prince Edward, Hen∣ry III.'s eldest son was born. Before his birth there appeared a new star in the heavens for se∣veral days together; it was carried with a swift course through a long circuit of air; it seemed sometimes to bear fire along with it, and some∣times to leave smoak behind it. Holing.
• 1240. There was a great battle of fish at sea, so that eleven whales were cast ashore, and ap∣peared to be dead, from some wounds they had received. Not long after, a great sound was heard at one time, in all parts of England, as if it had been the noise of mountains falling in∣to the sea. Mat. Paris.
• 1242. The sun was eclipsed in a terrible manner, and, two years afterwards, so many stars seem∣ed to fall from heaven, that, had they really fallen, none would have been left. Holing.
• 1248. On the 14th of February, there happened a dreadful earthquake, and the sea, for a long tract, near the coast of England, ceased to ebb and flow for near three months together. Ho∣ling.
• 1249. Several steeples and houses were thrown

• down in Somersetshire by an earthquake. Holing.
• 1250. On the 1st of October, the moon appeared red and bloated, the presage of a storm of wind, so violent, that the sea flowed twice without ebbing, and, in the night, seemed to burn. Soon after, an earthquake was felt at St. Al∣ban's. Holing.
• ...

  1251. The chimney of the chamber where the Queen and her children lay, was blown down by a terrible storm, and her whole apartment at Windsor shaken and torn. Oaks in the park were rent asunder, and turned up by the roots, and all was accompanied with such thunders and lightnings as had not been known in the memory of man. Holing.

  In May, the new moon appeared three days before her time, and the sun, moon, and stars, for fifteen days successively, seemed of a red colour. A dearth, and a murrain among cattle followed this prodigy. Holing.

• 1254. In February, the new moon was seen four days before her time. Holing.
• 1256. A comet appeared, and the King and Queen of Scots visited England.
• 1262. The two companies of goldsmiths and tay∣lors of London fought, and several were killed on both sides. The sheriffs appeased the tu∣mult, and thirteen of the most mutinous of them were hanged, as were thirty citizens of Norwich, for quarrelling, and fighting with the monks of that city. Holing.

EDWARD I.'s REIGN.

• 1274. A general earthquake happened in Eng∣land. It threw down St. Michael's church on the hill, without Glastonbury. Mat. Westminster.
• 1278. Two hundred and eighty Jews, besides many of their Christian accomplices, and those who

• suffered in other parts of England, were exe∣cuted in London, for clipping, Guthrie.
• 1285. As the King and Queen were talking to∣gether, in their bed-chamber, a flash of light∣ning struck in at the window, passed by them, killed two of their servants, who were waiting upon them, but did them no prejudice. Ditto.
• 1286. Wheat sold in some places at twelve pence a quarter, and not many years after, for twenty shillings a bushel, as much as four pounds now.
• 1293. Fifteen days after Michaelmas, Baliol, King of Scotland, appeared in Westminster-hall, in person, by summons, to answer a complaint against him, of the Earl of Fife, where he pleaded his own cause. Guthrie.

EDWARD II.'s REIGN.

• 1315. Some time before Christmas, a blazing star, or comet, appeared in the north, was seen for a month together, and was the fore∣runner of a famine or mortality. Wheat was sold for forty shillings a quarter, as much as eight pounds now; and a murrain destroyed the cattle.
• 1316. The famine continuing, the poor were forced to eat horse-flesh, dogs, and there was not suf∣ficient even of that vile food to keep them alive. Wheat was sold for near three pounds a bushel, and the mortality raged as violently as in the preceding year. Holing.
• 1318. Nov. 14, happened the greatest earthquake that had ever been seen in England.
• 1326. The Bishop of Exeter, Walter de Stapleton, founder of Exeter college, and Hart-hall, in Oxford, was murdered in an insurrection of the people of London. He was a minister of state in Edward II.'s reign, and sided with the court.

EDWARD III.'s REIGN.

• 1330. July 16, there happened a great eclipse of the sun, and the rains were so violent this year, that the harvest did not begin till Mi∣chaelmas. At Christmas, a mighty westerly wind overthrew several private houses and pub∣lic edifices, tore up trees by the root, and did a vast deal of mischief.
• 1335. The rains were so fatal, that the corn was spoiled; a dearth ensued, wheat being sold at forty shillings a quarter, as much as twenty shillings a bushel now; and the cattle was de∣stroyed by a murrain.
• 1338. It rained almost continually, from the be∣ginning of October, to the beginning of De∣cember, and then came a frost upon it, which lasted twelve weeks; yet, though the corn was destroyed by it in a great measure, the war with Scotland made money so scarce, that all sorts of grain were sold at a reasonable rate.
• 1339. A hundred and twenty laymen, and several priests, besides women, were drowned by an inundation, at Newcastle upon Tyne.
• ...

  1346. While the battle of Crecy was fighting, there fell a violent storm of hail, accompanied with an eclipse, and terrible thunder; at which time, prodigious flights of crows hovered over the English and French armies.

  This was also the time when Edward, the black Prince, first adopted, in memorial of this victory, the Bohemian crest and motto, viz. three ostrich feathers, and Ich dien (i. e.) I serve, the King of Bohemia being slain in the action. Succeeding Princes of Wales have continued it ever since.

• 1348. It rained from Midsummer to Christmas, so that there was not one day or night d••y toge∣ther. This wet season caused great floods, and a pestilence, which raged for a whole year. The earth was at the same time barren, and

• even the sea did not produce such plenty of fish as formerly. The mortality was so great, that, in the city of London, two hundred bodies were buried every day in the Charter-house yard, be∣sides those interred in other common burying∣places; and this lasted from Candlemas to Easter.
• 1353, was remarkable for the scarcity of corn and provisions in England and France, occasioned by a great drought. It was called the dear summer. Rye was brought out of Zealand, to support the poor, who otherwise must have pe∣rished for want of sustenance.
• 1359. When King Edward was on his march, within two leagues of Chartres, there happen∣ed a most dreadful hurricane of deadly piercing wind, that swelled a tempest of rain, light∣ning, and hail-stones, so prodigious, as to kill instantly six thousand of his horses, and a thou∣sand of his best troops.
• 1360. Men and beasts were destroyed in several parts of England, by thunder and lightening; many houses were burnt and ruined by it, and strange sights were also seen.
• 1362. A new plague broke out in France, which cut off upwards of thirty thousand inhabitants in Paris, and spreading into England, raged with equal violence in London.
• 1364. On the 8th of April died, at the Savoy, in London, John, King of France.
• 1365. The rains were again violent, and a great dearth and pestilence followed. Flights of sparrows fought in the air, and many of them dropped dead to the ground.
• ...

  1371. On the 22d of February, died at London, David, King of Scotland.

  In March, a comet appeared between the north and west; the beams were darted to∣wards France, and were thought to presage new troubles to that kingdom the year fol∣lowing.

• ...

  The western parts of England, particularly Oxford, were greatly afflicted with a pestilence.

RICHARD II.'s REIGN.

• 1379. This summer there was a pestilence, that laid waste a great part of the north of Eng∣land.
• 1381. When Richard II.'s first wife, Queen Anne, came from Bohemia, she had no sooner set foot on shore, but such a tempest immediately arose, as had not been seen in many years. Several ships were dashed in pieces in the har∣bour, and the ship, in which the Queen came over, was shattered and broken; which was the more observable, because his second wife brought a storm with her to the English coasts, in which the King's baggage was lost, and many ships of his fleet cast away. Sir J. Hayw.
• ...

  1382. May 21, several churches were thrown down by an earthquake. Holing.

  This year the use of guns came in, and Sir Hugh Calverly, governor of Calais, was the first that employed them in the English ser∣vice.

• ...

  1386. Wine was so cheap, that the best was sold at twenty shillings the ton, and the second sort at thirteen and four pence.

  Sir John Montacute, a follower of Wick∣liffe, ordered all the images to be taken out of his church at Shenley, in Buckinghamshire. Holing.

• 1388. While the King was at Richmond, in the month of July, there appeared on a sudden such innumerable swarms of gnats, that they darkened the air. They skirmished and fought in parties. The slain fell to the ground by heaps at a time, and, being swept together with brooms, were found to be many bushels full. About a third part of the whole came off conquerors, and flew away.
• ...

• 1389. A hurricane threw down many houses, de∣stroyed cattle, and rooted up trees. This pre∣ceded a great mortality, especially among youth, and that, a famine. Holing.
• 1391. July 9, the sun appeared to be obscured by certain thick and dreary clouds between that and the earth; its beams seemed of the colour of blood, and gave little or no light from noon till it sat. These clouds rose daily for almost six weeks together. The north and east parts of England were, at the same time, sore af∣flicted with a pestilence. In a few weeks there died eleven thousand persons in the city of York. Holing.
• 1392. A dolphin was taken near London-bridge, ten feet long.
• ...

  1394. An apparition of fire was seen in divers pla∣ces in England, in several forms; sometimes like a turning wheel, burning; sometimes like a barrel, with flames gushing out of the head; and sometimes like a long burning lance. When it appeared to any persons, it would go as they went, and stop as they stopped.

  In April, a fiery dragon was seen in several counties, and, some time before there happen∣ed a conjunction of the two greatest planets, Saturn and Jupiter. Holing.

HENRY IV.'s REIGN.

• 1400. The conduit in Cornhill was built in a place where before stood a prison for night∣walkers called the Tun, the materials of which served to raise the new conduit.
• 1401. About the beginning of March appeared a very terrible blazing star, sending forth its fiery streams at first towards the north-east, and at length towards the north, where it seemed to fix, which after was thought to portend the bloody wars between the Scots and English.
• 1402. The devil is said to have appeared in the shape and habit of a grey friar, in Danbury

• church, Essex, where he behaved himself so outrageously, that he much affrighted the inhabitants. At the same time arose so great a tempest thereabout, that it blew down the steeple, and carried away half the chancel.
• ...

  1407. In October, a violent plague broke out in England, which is said to have carried off 30,000 in London, and as many, in proportion, in the country.

  A little before Christmas began a frost of that violence and long continuance, that the like was scarce ever heard of in England. It lasted fifteen weeks, and, being accompanied with abundance of snow, it was so destructive to the birds especially, that almost all the smaller birds died with cold and hunger.

• 1408. There was a famous play acted at Skinners∣well, near Clerkenwell, London, representing the chief matters of the world, from the crea∣tion; it lasted eight days, and the chief of the nobility and gentry of England were at it. From thence they went to royal justs in Smith∣field, between the Earl of Hainault, and cer∣tain Hanoverians, challengers, and the Earl of Somerset, and an equal number of Englishmen, defendants. The victory was on the English∣mens side; for the Earl overcame, and all the Englishmen but one.
• 1410. Guildhall, in the city of London, which was but a mean cottage before, was, this year, made a stately building, at the charge of the city; and the company of grocers laid the foundation of their hall in Cunihope lane.

HENRY V.'s REIGN.

• 1413. April 9, the day of Henry's coronation, there happened a tempest of rain, snow, and hail, on which there were various sugges∣tions, as imagining it foreboded extraordinary events.
• ...

• ...

  1415. This year the church-service was changed throughout England, from the use of St. Paul, to the use of Sarum.

  On Candlemas day, seven dolphins were dis∣covered playing in the river Thames, and four of them were taken.

• 1416. In Spring, the Emperor Sigismund came to England.

HENRY VI.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1426. On Saturday, the eve of St. Michael, in the morning, began a very dreadful earth∣quake, accompanied with thunder and light∣ning.

  John Rainwell, fishmonger, was chosen Mayor of London, who was a great benefactor to the city, and began building of the Tower at the draw-bridge of London.

• 1434. Nov. 24, a frost began, which lasted till Feb. 10. The Thames was frozen over below bridge to Gravesend.
• 1437. The farthest gate of London-bridge, near Southwark, with the tower on it, and the two arches that supported it, fell down suddenly. About the same time, all the lions in the Tower died.
• ...

  1438. There was a great dearth, so that, in many places, they made bread of fern roots and ivy∣berries.

  Nov. 25, a gust of wind blew off the leads of the Grey Friars church, and almost beat down the whole side of a street called the Old Exchange.

  At Bedford, on the day of the assizes, eigh∣teen persons were killed, and many hurt, by the fall of a stair-case.

• 1443. On Candlemas day, St. Paul's steeple was fired by lightning. At the same time, the steeple of Waltham-cross was consumed, but the church was saved.
• ...

• 446. Simon Eyre, Lord Mayor, began to build Leadenhall, as a storehouse for corn and fuel for the poor of the city. This year also there were two unusual combats within lists appoint∣ed. The first was by the prior of Kilmain in Ireland, who impeached the Earl of Ormond of high treason, and the place of trial was in Smithfield; but the quarrel was taken up by the King, and so decided without combat. The second was by one John David, an ar∣mourer, who impeached his master, William Catur, of treason; but the latter being with his neighbours, intoxicated with wine, before he came to fight, he was unhappily slain, without any just suspicion of guilt; but the servant lived not long after him; for, the next assize, he was hanged for selony.
• ...

  1453. John Norman, Lord Mayor of London, was the first that went to be sworn in Westminster∣hall, by water.

  Constantinople was taken by the Turks.

• 1456. There was taken at Erith, within twelve miles of London, four wonderful fishes, viz. two whales, one sword-fish, and a fish called Mors Morina.
• 1458. The useful invention of printing was made public, by one John Faustus, a goldsmith, and citizen of Mentz.

EDWARD IV.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1467. The people had an extravagant way of adorning their feet. They wore the beaks or pikes of their shoes so long, that they en∣cumbered them in their walking, and were forced to tye them up to their knees; the fine gentlemen did theirs with chains of silver, or silver gilt, and others, with laces. This ri∣diculous custom was in vogue ever since the year 1382, but now it was prohibited, on the forfeiture of twenty shillings, and the pain of cursing by the clergy.

• ...

  This year the King concluded a league with the King of Castile and Arragon, by which he allowed certain Cotswold sheep to be trans∣ported into Spain, where the breed so increas∣ed, that their fine wool has since proved very detrimental to England.

• 1471. William Caxton, a mercer of London, and a lover of letters, and author of the chronicle called Fractus Temporum, brought the art of printing into England, and practised it first in Westminster-abbey.
• 1477. There was so dreadful a plague, that histo∣rians relate more people were destroyed by it than by fifteen years war before.
• 1479. Robert Byfield, one of the sheriffs of Lon∣don, was fined fifty pounds by the court of aldermen, for affronting the Lord Mayor, which, it seems, was only by kneeling too near him at prayers, at St. Paul's church.
• 1480. Two notorious thieves were pressed to death, for robbing the church of St. Martin le Grand, London, and others of the gang hanged and burnt.

RICHARD III.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1483. There happened such a flood in Gloucester∣shire, that all the country was overflowed by the Severn; several persons were drowned in their beds, children in cradles swam about in the fields, and beasts were drowned even on the hills. The waters did not abate in ten days, which hindered the Duke of Buckingham's passing that river into Wales, to join the Welchmen, who were risen against the King, and occasioned his misfortune and death. Holing.

  Bannister, who betrayed the Duke of Buck∣ingham, his master, was sorely afflicted with God's judgments. His eldest son went mad, and died raving in a hog-sty. His eldest daugh∣ter, a beauty, was suddenly stricken with a

• ...

  foul leprosy. His second son taken lame in his limbs. His youngest son was suffocated in a puddle of filthy water; and himself, in an extreme old age, found guilty of murder, but saved by his clergy. Holing.

HENRY VII.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1485. In September raged the sweating sickness, that carried off an infinite number of people.

  This year the yeomen of the guards were first instituted.

• 1486. John Percival, the King's carver, was drank to by the Lord Mayor, for sheriff, the first time this method of election was used.
• 1491. Robert Fabian was alderman and sheriff of London. He wrote a history of England and France, from the creation of the world to the third year of the reign of Henry VIII.
• 1492. Aug. 2, Christopher Columbus set out from Cadiz, for the discovery of the western world.
• ...

  1493. April 28, Joan Boughton, a widow, was burnt in Smithfield for heresy, and professing Wickliffe's opinion.

  This year, wheat was sold in London for four shillings a quarter, and claret for thirty shillings a hogshead.

• 1494. The body of one Alice Hackney, which had been buried one hundred and seventy-five years, was accidentally dug up in the church of St. Mary-Hill, London; the skin of the corpse was whole, and the joints of the arms pliable.
• 1499. A pestilence raged in England, which swept away no less than 30,000 in the city of Lon∣don.
• 1501. Sir John Shaw, this year, was the first Lord Mayor that held his feast at Guildhall. It used to be held at Mercers or Merchant-taylors hall.
• 1502. January 18, the first stone of Henry VII.'s chapel was laid.
• ...

• 1505. Philip, King of Castile, in his voyage to Spain, was driven by a storm on the coast of England, where he was detained till he had seen King Henry, which he did at Windsor.
• 1507. The sweating sickness returned, but the cure being known, it was not mortal.

HENRY VIII.'s REIGN.

• 1517. This year the sweating sickness raged in England, so great, that, in some towns half the inhabitants died, in others one third.
• 1520. May 25, Charles, Emperor of Germany, vi∣sited England.
• 1523. Christian, King of Denmark, came over to England.

EDWARD VI.'s REIGN.

• 1548. The plague broke out in London.
• 1549. July 24, Lord Lieutenant of counties first instituted.
• 1550. Horse-guards instituted.
• 1551. The sweating sickness again visited England.
• 1552. Jan. 26, the Dowager Queen of Scotland landed at Portsmouth.
• 1553. The book of common prayer first printed.
• 1567. There were found, on enquiry, to be only fifty-eight Scotchmen in London.

ELIZABETH's REIGN.

• 1579. The Turkey company established in England.
• 1594. The plague broke out, and was fatal in England.
• ...

  1600. East India company established. Their stock consisting of 72,000l. they fitted out four ships, and, meeting with success, they have continued ever since.

  About this time, London was almost en∣tirely built of wood, and, in every respect, a

• ...

  very ugly city. The Earl of Arundel first in∣troduced the practice of brick-buildings.

JAMES I.'s REIGN.

• 1604. The plague broke out in London, and car∣ried off 30,000 people, near one fourth of its inhabitants.
• 1606. This summer the King of Denmark visited England.
• ...

  1614. Baronets first created.

  Lotteries were first established.

  New River brought to London.

  King of Denmark revisited England.

• 1617. Sports allowed on Sundays, after service.
• ...

  1621. A parliament met, June 16, and was re∣markable for being the epoch in which were first regularly formed the parties of court and country.

  The power of granting licences to public houses was about this time first vested in Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Michel, for their own emolument.

CHARLES I.'s REIGN.

• 1625. The plague broke out in London.
• 1631. The spring of this year was distinguished by the trial of the Earl of Castlehaven, for inviting people to commit rapes on his wife. He was condemned and executed.
• ...

  1638. Queen-mother of France arrived in England in October.

  Episcopacy abolished in Scotland.

REPUBLIC.

• 1654. Don Pantaleon de Sa, brother to the Por∣tuguese ambassador, executed, for shooting Mr. Greenaway.
• 1658. Sept. 3, the day Oliver Cromwell died, there arose a storm, so violent and dreadful, that it

• extended all over Europe, and seemed to threaten a wreck of nature.

CHARLES II.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1660. Oct. 10, ten of the regicides were tried, and executed soon after.

  Dec. 30, The Royal Society instituted.

• 1663. June 1, a treasonable conspiracy in Ireland discovered.
• ...

  1664. Jan. 5, a plot of the fanatics in the north discovered, for which about twenty-one were executed.

  Dec. 4, 130 sail of Dutch merchantmen ta∣ken by the Duke of York.

• 1665. The plague broke out in London, which carried off 68,600 people.
• ...

  1666. Jan 6, the plague ceased.

  Sept. 2, a great fire happened in London, that consumed 13,200 houses.

• 1667. June 11, the Dutch fleet sailed up as far as Chatham, and destroyed great part of the Eng∣lish fleet.
• ...

  1669. The Royal Exchange finished.

  Coventry act passed.

• 1671. May 10, Sir Edward Spragg, an English ad∣miral, destroyed twelve Algerine pirates.
• 1673. March 29, the test-act passed against the papists, upon which the Duke of York resigned his place of Admiral, which was conferred on Prince Rupert.
• ...

  1678. Sept. 6, Dr. Tongue and Titus Oates, an infamous clergyman, made discovery of a pre∣tended plot, said to have been entered into by the papists, for destroying the King, and in∣troducing popery. The Queen, and the Duke of York, and almost all the Popish noblemen in England, were accused of being in this plot, and the lives of many Roman Catholic clergy∣men, who were executed at Tyburn, were most villainously sworn away by Oates, and other wretches, who were too much encouraged by

• ...

  the Parliament, out of hatred to the Duke of York, and the Papists.

  Oct. 25, the Popish Lords were committed to the Tower, upon the oath of Oates.

• 1679. May 27, the Habeas Corpus act passed.
• 1680. In December, a remarkable comet appeared.
• ...

  1683. June 12, the charter of the city of London was declared, by the court of King's-bench, to be forfeited to the crown.

  June 28, the Earl of Essex and Lord Russel were committed to the Tower, where the Earl of Essex cut his own throat.

JAMES II.'s REIGN.

• 1688. Seven bishops sent to the Tower.

WILLIAM AND MARY's REIGN.

• ...

  1690. In April, great part of the palace of White∣hall was consumed by fire, through the negli∣gence of a female servant.

  Nov. 7, 12,000 Irish Catholics transported themselves to France.

• 1693. The Bank of England established, and the act passed for licencing hackney-coaches.
• 1694. In November, the bill for triennial parlia∣ments received the royal assent,
• 1695. The African company established.
• 1696. A plot was laid in February, for assassinating King William.
• 1697. Peter, Czar of Muscovy, visited England, in the disguise of a common man, working in a ship-yard.
• ...

  1698. A new East India company established.

  Jan. 5, Whitehall palace was totally con∣sumed, by the carelessness of a laundress.

  The Society for the reformation of manners was formed.

• ...

  1700. The old East India company re-established.

  June 12, the succession settled on the house of Hanover.

ANNE's REIGN.

• 1702. Feb. 22, the act passed, by which the qua∣ker's affirmation is accepted in the room of an oath.
• ...

  1703. Nov. 26, 27, there happened such a dreadful tempest as frightened the whole kingdom. The houses in London shook, and many fell. The water rose to a great height in Westmin∣ster-hall, and London-bridge was choaked up with wrecks. Thirteen ships of war were lost, and 1500 seamen. The damage at London was computed at a million sterling.

  Charles, King of Spain, landed at Ports∣mouth, Sept. 26, 1703, on a visit.

• 1704. Feb. 7, the Queen granted the first fruits and tenths to the poor clergy.
• 1707. May 1, the union took place between Eng∣land and Scotland.

GEORGE I.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1716. The act passed for septennial parliaments.

  May 6, the South Sea act passed.

• ...

  1717. This year was the last the houses of convo∣cation sat to do business.

  Charters granted to the Royal and London assurance-offices.

GEORGE II.'s REIGN.

• 1730. Seven Cherokee chiefs were brought into England, by Sir Alexander Cummin.
• 1732. In April, Richard Smith, a bookbinder, prisoner in the King's-bench, persuaded his wife to follow his example, and make away with herself, after they had murdered their in∣fant. They were found hanging in their chamber, and their infant dead in the cradle. They left a paper, intimating, they did it to avoid the distresses of life.
• ...

• 1740. A bard frost began at Christmas, and conti∣nued till the latter end of February.
• ...

  1750. Jan. 8, and Feb. 8, were felt two shocks of an earthquake in London.

  In the month of May, the Lord Mayor, one alderman, two judges, the greatest part of the jury, and a number of spectators, caught the jail-distemper, at the sessions-house in the Old Bailey, of which they died.

• 1751. In December, his Majesty issued out a re∣ward for apprehending the Hon. Alexander Murray.
• ...

  1753. The game-act passed, as did the naturaliza∣tion-bill, and the marriage-act.

  The parliament purchased Sir Hans Sloane's museum.

  The affair of Elisabeth Canning was on the carpet.

• ...

  1755. July 15, account arrived of the French ships the Alcide and Lys being taken by Admiral Boscawen.

  Nov. 1, happened an earthquake that laid all Lisbon in ruins.

• ...

  1756. The marine society established.

  One hundred and twenty-three persons pe∣rished in the black hole at Calcutta.

• 1757. The militia-bill passed.
• ...

  1758. Raine's charity, for portioning out two maid∣ens annually of his hospital, took place.

  Magdalen charity and the asylum established.

GEORGE III.'s REIGN.

• ...

  1762. London was, at this time, amused with the Cock-lane ghost.

  In May, three Indian chiefs arrived in Eng∣land.

• 1768. August, Christian VII. King of Denmark, visited England.