A.D.

1598 Sir Thomas Bodley rebuilt and furnished the library at Oxford with a great collection of books and manuscripts, from all parts of the world.

Edmund Spenser, the celebrated poet, died. He had been secretary to Lord Grey, deputy of Ireland. His "Fairie Queen," is his chef d'œuvre.

Edict of Nantes, secures to French Protestants the free exercise of their religion, April.

Parliament brought in a bill for regulating ecclesiastical courts, but the Queen forbade them meddling with ecclesiastical affairs.

1599 Administration of Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of Dorset; Sir Thomas Egerton, afterwards Lord Ellesmere; Viscount Brackley; Sir Robert Cecil, &c.

The Earl of Tyrone defeats the English forces, commanded
by Sir Henry Bagnall, who was killed in battle. The
whole province of Munster revolts to Tyrone.
The King of Scotland warns Queen Elizabeth that 12,000
men were preparing in Spain to land in Ireland. Essex
goes to Ireland as lord deputy, with an army of 20,000

men.

Essex offends the Queen by treating with Tyrone, Sept. 8.
Elizabeth takes umbrage upon his return to England
Sir William Fitzwilliam dies. Fuller says of him, "that
he was four times lord deputy of Ireland," a sufficient
evidence of his honesty and ability, Queen Elizabeth
never trusting twice, when she was once deceived by a
minister of state.

The merchants of London form an association for trading
to India.

1600 The Ruthvens form a conspiracy against King James. Treaty of Boulogne. Sir Henry Neville, a person of great wisdom and integrity, acts as first commissioner at this treaty; but Elizabeth refusing to abandon the Dutch, it came to nothing. The conspiracy of the Gowries. William, Earl of Tullibardine, and David, Viscount Stormont, rescue the King at Perth from Earl Gowrie and his brother. For this service, the Earl is made hereditary sheriff of Perthshire. Prince Charles born at Dunfermline, in Scotland, Nov. 19. First patent granted to the East India company. They establish factories at China, Japan, India, Amboyna, Java, and Sumatra. This voyage cost, upon their first outfit in ships, goods, &c., £72,000.

A.D.

1600 The battle of Nieu-port, in Flanders, July 2nd. Prince Maurice, with the aid of the English, defeats the Archduke Albert. The Spaniards lose 9000 men.

The Earl of Essex is disgraced, and retired into the country; he soon after returned to town, and entertained all those who were disaffected to the government. He courted both Papists and Puritans, and hired soldiers to defend his house; entered into a conspiracy to seize the Queen and Court, and take the Tower. He fortified Essex house; and when four of the privy council went to inquire into the reason of this conduct, he imprisoned them. He is proclaimed a traitor, and he and his friend, Lord Southampton, are taken prisoners.

Matins of Moscow. Prince Demetrius and all the Poles
who were in Moscow are massacred, by the Russians, at
the hour of matins.

Henry IV. marries Mary de Medicis, daughter of the
Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The Pope issues a bull to exclude King James from the
throne of England.

Controversy in England, between the Jesuits and other
Roman Catholic clergy, suppressed by the Pope.

Arminian controversy at Amsterdam concerning predesti-
nation.

Richard Hooker, called "the Judicious," Master of the Temple, author of "Ecclesiastical Polity," dies. Giordano Bruno, tried by the officers of the Inquisition, is convicted and burnt at the stake, February 17. He was born at Nola, in the kingdom of Naples.