317 B. C. PHOCION, the Athenian general, executed by poison. He was of an obscure family, and rose by his own merits. He was placed at the head of the Athenian armies 45 times, and on all occasions displayed great ability; nor was he less illustrious for his virtues. Yet neither his virtues nor his services could shield him from the malice of his enemies, and he was condemned on a false accusation of treason. 1280. HUGH BALSAM, bishop of Ely, endowed his foundation of Peterhouse, the first college in the University of Cambridge. 1282. Massacre of 8,000 French by the people of Sicily. It began at Palermo as the bell was tolling for evening service, and hence it has taken the quaint title of the _Sicilian Vespers_. 1296. Berwick, on the borders of Scotland, taken by assault by the English under Edward I, and about 17,000 of the inhabitants put to the sword. 1323. A truce for 13 years concluded at Thorpe, between Edward II, who had been recently defeated at Biland Abbey, and Robert Bruce. 1327. EDWARD III, then newly inaugurated, in his fifteenth year, convoked his splendid and gallant rendezvous at York, of 60,000 men at arms, including 500 belted knights, animated by the presence of the queen mother, and fifty ladies of the highest rank, to revenge the breach of the treaty made by the Scots with his father. 1363. EDWARD III first distributed the Maunday for the purification of the poor. 1587. RALPH SADLER, an English statesman, died. He filled some of the highest offices of state under Henry VIII and Elizabeth, with ability. 1601. HENRY CUFFEE, celebrated for his wit, learning and misfortunes, was executed at Tyburn. An epigram alluding to his Greek, says: Thy alpha was crowned with hope, Thy omega proved but a rope. 1612. JOHN WOWER, a distinguished German politician and literary character, died at Gottorp. 1621. JOHN KING, an English prelate, died. He was chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, and so popular a preacher, as to acquire the title of "the king of preachers." Coke declares him "the best speaker in the star chamber of his time." 1638. JOHN DAVENPORT, a celebrated preacher of Coleman street, London, and several of his followers, having purchased of the natives all the lands lying between the rivers Connecticut and Hudson, sailed from Boston for Quinnipiack, now New Haven. The colony was organized under a tree, and they agreed to be governed in civil matters by the laws of God until they could make better! 1647. Mutiny in the parliamentary army on account of arrearages of pay due to the soldiery, many of them having twelve months' pay due. 1669. WILLIAM SOMNER, an English antiquary, died. He was indefatigable in his researches, and acquired the old Gaelic, Irish, Scotch, Danish, Gothic, Saxon, and other northern dialects, that he might with greater accuracy and success develop the records of ancient times. He published a Saxon dictionary and some other works.