capture of Wexford ends the remaining chance that Charles II, heir to the English throne, can land troops in Ireland, and Charles and the royalist fleet flee to Portugal. November 24 – The first phase of the Siege of Waterford begins as Cromwell's New Model Army attempts to take on the strategically-located Irish city's defenders with his own exhausted army. Cromwell is forced to call off the siege after eight days and his army retreats to its winter quarters at Dungarvan on December 2. December 6 – The Scottish defenders of Ireland are defeated by Cromwell's forces in the Battle of Lisnagarvey in County Antrim, with 1,500 Scots killed or captured, and New Model Army battalion of Colonel Robert Venables suffering minimal losses. The battle ends the Scottish presence in Ireland and settlers are expelled from the island in the days that follow. December 20 – The Puritan law enforcers of the Commonwealth of England raid the Red Bull Theatre in London for violations of the laws against performance of plays and arrest the actors, as well as confiscating their property. December 30 – Chinese General Geng Zhongming, having reported to the Qing dynasty commanders to face charges of harboring runaway slaves during his fight against the Southern Ming dynasty troops, commits suicide while waiting for a verdict in his court-martial. (1943). His son, Geng Jimao, continues to fight against the Southern Ming. Undated Qing armies reconquer Jiangxi province during the Manchu conquest of China. The town of Kristinestad, named after Queen Christina of Sweden, is founded in Ostrobothnia by Count Per Brahe the Younger. Dutch artist Frans Hals paints a portrait of René Descartes. Births January–March January 12 – Jacques Carrey, French painter (d. 1726) January 18 William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen (1679–1691) (d. 1691) John Waddon, English politician (d. 1695) January 22 – Pascal Collasse, French composer (d. 1709) January 30 – Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Earl of Dysart, British politician and nobleman (d. 1727) February 6 John Benedict, Connecticut politician and deacon (d. 1729) Augusta Marie of Holstein-Gottorp, Consort of Frederick VII, Margrave of Baden-Durlach (d. 1728) February 8 – Gabriel Daniel, French Jesuit historian (d. 1728) February 11 – William Carstares, Scottish minister (d. 1715) February 16 – Antonio Lupis, prolific Italian writer (d. 1701) February 19 – Daniel Erich, German organist and composer (d. 1712) February 22 – Bon Boullogne, French painter (d. 1717) February 25