A.D. 1483 Richard III. king of England, and last of the Plantagenets, was defeated and killed at the battle of Bosworth, by Henry (Tudor) VII. which put an end to the civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, after a conteft of 30 years, and the lufs of 100,000 men. 1486 Henry established fifty yeomen of the guards, the first standing army. 1491 The Moors, hitherto a formidable enemy to the native Spaniards, were entirely fubdued by Ferdinand, and became fubjects to that prince on certain conditions, which were ill obferved by the Spaniards, whose clergy employed the powers of the Inquifition, with all its tortures; and, in 1609, near one million of the Moors were driven from Spain to the oppofite coaft of Africa, from whence they originally came. 1492 America was first discovered by Columbus, a Genoefe, in the fervice of Spain. 1494 Algebra was first known in Europe. 1497 South America was difcovered by Americus Vefpufius, from whom it has its name. 1499 North America was difcovered by Cabot, for Henry VII. A.D. 1500 Maximilian divided the empire of Germany into fix circles, and added four more in 1512. CHAP LXXI. MEMORABLE EVENTS OF THE SIXTEENTH 1509 CENTURY. 1505 SHILLINGS were first coined in England. Gardening was first introduced into England from the Netherlands, from whence vegetables were hitherto imported. 1513 The battle of Flowden was fought, in which James IV. of Scotland was killed, with the flower of his nobility. 1517 Martin Luther began the reformation. 1520 Henry VIII. for his writings in favour of popery, received the title of Defender of the Faith from the Pope. 1529 The name of Proteftant took its rife from the Rethamed protesting against the church of Rome, at the diet of Spires in Germany. 154 The reformation took place in England, undor Henry VIII. 1535 Died A. D. 1535 Died Sir Thomas Moore, of London, who published history, politics, and divinity. 1537 Monafteries and convents were diffolved by Henry VII. 1539 The first English edition of the bible was authorised: The prefent tranflation was finished in 1611. 1540 Cannon began to be used in ships. 1543 Silk ftockings were first worn by the French king. They were first used in England by queen Elizabeth, in the year 1651. The fteel frame for weaving was invented by the Rev. Mr. Lee, of St. John's college, Cambridge, in 1589. This year, likewife, pins were first used in England; for before the invention of pins, the ladies used skewers. 1544 Good lands were let in England at one fhilling per acre. 1545 The famous council of Trent began, and continued 18 years. 1552 Died John Leland, of London, author of lives and antiquities. 1588 Queen Elizabeth began her reign. 1560 The reformation in Scotland was completed by John Knox. 1563 Knives were first made in England. H 3 1568 Died A.D. 1568 Died Roger Afcham, of Yorkshire, author of philology, and polite literature. 1569 The Royal Exchange was first built. 1572 There was a great maffacre of Proteftants, or Hugonots, at Paris. During the fame year, the Rev. John Knox, the Scotch reformer, died. He wrote a hiftory of the church of Scotland. 1579 The Dutch fhook off the Spanish yoke, and the republic of Holland began. The English Eaft-India company was incor porated. It was established in 1600. 1580 Sir Francis Drake returned from his voyage round the world, being the firft English circumnavigator. Parochial regifters were first appointed in 1582 Died George Buchanan, of Dumbartonshire, the celebrated author of the hiftory of Scotland, the Pfalms of David, and other poetical, as well as political, productions. Pope Gregory introduced the New Style into Italy; the 5th of October being reckoned the 15th. 1583 Tobacco was first brought from Virginia into England. 1587 Mary A. D. 1587 Mary queen of Scots was beheaded by order of Elizabeth, after 18 years imprisonment. 1588 The Spanish Armada was destroyed by Drake, and other English admirals. Henry IV. paffed the edict of Nantz, tolerating the Proteftants. 1589 Coaches were first introduced into England. The hackney act took place in 1693. The number of ackney-coaches was increased to 1000, in 1770. 1591 Trinity College, Dublin, was founded. 1597 Watches were first brought into England from Germany. 1598 Died Edmund Spenfer, of London, author of the Fairy Queen, and other poems. 1603 Queen Elizabeth, the laft of the Tudors, died, and nominated James VI. of Scotland, the |