1588 The Spanish Armada arrived in the British Channel. This formidable fleet consisted of 130 vessels, carrying 2630 pieces of brass cannon. It was fitted out by Philip II. of Spain, and blessed by a special nuncio from the Pope. Its approach spread terror and dismay; but Elizabeth took advantage of the panic to excite her subjects to defend their country without draining her exchequer, and while nobles and citizens fitted out ships at their own charge, the lower orders flocked to man the vessels and defend the coasts. The armada, however was dispersed by a tempest, and, while still in disorder, attacked by the English under Lord Effingham, and compelled to seek safety in flight. SATURDAY, 20th. 1620 A massacre of the Protestants in the Valteline, a fertile valley of Switzerland. 1819 Died, at Edinburgh, _John Playfair_, a celebrated mathematician and geographer. SUNDAY, 21st. SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 1403 Battle of Shrewsbury. In this engagement the Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V., made his first essay in arms. The death of Henry Percy, bettor known as Hotspur, made this battle still more memorable. 1683 The execution of Lord Russell, for high treason, took place in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. 1704 Taking of Gibraltar by the English. 1796 Died, at Dumfries, in his thirty-eighth year, _Robert Burns_, the poet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LONDON: JOHN WILLIAM PARKER, WEST STRAND. PUBLISHED IN WEEKLY NUMBERS, PRICE ONE PENNY, AND IN MONTHLY PARTS, PRICE SIXPENCE, AND Sold by all Booksellers and Newsvenders in the Kingdom. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOOTNOTES: Footnote 1: For the History of Bells, see this Magazine, vol. i., p. 20. Footnote 2: Sir Walter Scott, in his novel of _Woodstock_, has skilfully worked this incident into the narrative, but has departed from historical accuracy, both in fixing the scene in Shropshire, and restoring to life the sufferer, whom he calls Albany Rochecliffe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: • Footnotes were renumbered and moved to the end of the book • Superscript text is presented with a ^ in front of it