1638. Massachusetts patent demanded. A quo warranto having been brought by the attorney general of England against the governor and corporation of Massachusetts, and judgment given that the liberties and franchises should be seized into the king's hand, the council made an order requiring that the charter should be returned by the next ship. Arbitrary measures were pursued in reply to the petitions of the colony, and 8 ships prepared to sail for New England were detained in the Thames by order of the privy council. By this order, Oliver Cromwell, Arthur Hazelrig, John Hambden and other malcontents, were forcibly prevented from emigrating to America. How little did Charles anticipate that by this high-handed measure he was detaining the very men who were destined to overturn his throne, and terminate his career by a violent death. 1643. SIMON EPISCOPIUS, an able Dutch divine, died. He embraced the doctrines of Arminius in relation to predestination, which exposed him to much persecution and obloquy, and finally led to his banishment from the commonwealth: he afterwards was permitted to return, and became minister of the remonstrant church. His death happening at the moment of an eclipse of the moon, was considered as an emblem of the departure of the brightest ornament of the church. 1656. ANDREW RIVINUS, (alias Barchmann) a Saxon physician, died. He became professor of poetry and philosophy at Leipsic, and published several works of considerable merit. 1669. JOHANN MICHAEL MOSCHEROSCH, a German writer, died. His celebrity consisted chiefly in some satirical pieces entitled _Wunderliche und wahrhafte Geschichte Philanders von Sittewald_. 1704. The first newspaper printed in the United States, appeared at Boston, called the _Boston News Letter_. 1706. JOHN BAYLES, an English buttonmaker, died, aged 130. He used to walk to the neighboring markets with his buttons till he was 120 years of age. 1720. KNIGHTLY CHETWODE, dean of Gloucester, died. He wrote several poems, and a life of lord Roscommon. 1743. ROBERT AINSWORTH, an English teacher, died. In 1714 he was invited by the English booksellers to undertake the compilation of an English and Latin dictionary, on the plan of Faber's _Thesaurus_. The task proved to be more difficult than had been anticipated, and was not completed till 1736. 1747. Number Four (Charlestown, N. H.) attacked by a large body of French and Indians under M. Debeline, and gallantly defended by 30 men, under major Stevens. The enemy kept up a brisk assault night and day; when, on the third day, being in a starving condition, and finding it impracticable to force or persuade a surrender, they retired and were seen no more. This was considered one of the most chivalrous feats of the time.