Historical Events
- May 17 1st merry-go-round seen at a fair in Philippapolis, Turkey
Famous Birthdays
- May 23 Pieter Neefs, the Younger, Flemish painter (church interiors), baptized in Antwerp (d. 1675 or after)
Famous Deaths
- May 6 Hayyim ben Joseph Vital, Palestinian-born Kabbalist (b. 1543)
- May 16 William Adams, English navigator, first ever Western Samurai who life was the basis for novel "ShÅgun", dies in Japan at 55
- May 31 William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and military commander (cousin to Maurice Prince of Orange), dies at 59
