1399. JOHN OF GAUNT, duke of Lancaster, died. He was the son of Edward III; was a prince of distinguished valor and prudence, and a patron of the poet Chaucer. 1497. "Johannes Cabotus Venetus et Sebastianus illius filius," commissioned by Henry VII of England to take six ships of 200 tons burden from any port in the kingdom for the purpose of making a western voyage of discovery. This expedition was got ready by the beginning of May, and consisted of two caravals freighted by the merchants of London and Bristol, and some smaller craft. 1619. By letters patent dated this day, James I granted Ben Jonson a pension of 100 marks during life, "in consideration of the good and acceptable service heretofore done and hereafter to be done by the said B. J." 1649. CHARLES II proclaimed king by the Scots. 1660. CHARLES X of Sweden died. He ascended the throne 1654, and was a prudent though a warlike monarch. 1698. ERNEST AUGUSTUS, duke of Hanover, bishop of Osnabruck, and father of George I of England, died. 1700. FILIPPO ACCIAGUOLI, an Italian dramatic poet and composer, died. He effected many improvements in the machinery and internal arrangements of theatres. 1730. ELIZABETH THOMAS, an English poetess, died. She is known by the name of _Corinne_. 1761. RICHARD NASH, commonly called _Beau Nash_, died, aged 87. He was the most accomplished _gentleman_ in England. 1779. The American Gen. Moultrie defeated 200 British at Port Royal island, South Carolina, and drove them off that island. Moultrie had 1 lieutenant and 7 privates killed and 22 wounded. The British lost most of their officers. 1779. Mutiny suppressed on board the United States frigate Alliance, bound to France with M. de Lafayette and several French gentlemen of distinction on board. Half the crew were concerned in it, and measures were taken to quell it but a few hours before it was to have been carried into effect. Great inhumanity was meditated towards the officers and the French. This was the first organized mutiny ever known in the American service. The mutineers were 36 in number. 1781. The Americans, closely pursued by the British after the battle of the Cowpens, crossed the Yadkin and secured their boats on the north side, when a sudden rise of the river arrested the pursuit of the enemy. In this retreat the Americans endured extreme hardships with admirable fortitude, and their remarkable escape confirmed them in the belief that their cause was favored of heaven. 1781. St. Eustatia, one of the West-India islands, taken by the British under Rodney. The plunder amounted to above £3,000,000, besides 6 Dutch armed frigates and 150 vessels, many of them richly laden. The British kept the Dutch colors hoisted, by which means several Dutch, French and American vessels were decoyed and captured. 1782. Demerary and Essequibo surrendered by capitulation from the French. 1783. The ratification of the preliminary articles of peace exchanged at Paris.