century, anticipated Dionysius only 21 years: Hoc anno (he says, under 979) complentur mille anni a nativitate Christi secundum veritatem Evangelii, qui secundum cyclum Dionysii anno abhinc vicesimo primo finiuntur." For the reasons on which these authors found their distinction, see Petav. de Doctrina Temporum, l. XII, c. 5. Another mode of marking the year of the incarnation, is Annus Trabeationis Christi, which is found in several charters of the 11th century. Du Cange explains it by-" Annus quo Christus trabi affixus est.” But he was mistaken; and in the new edition, at the word Trabeatio, Annus Trabeationis is demonstrated to be the same as Annus Incarnationis. In a multitude of charters cited to prove this, the decree of the election of Borel, bishop of Roda in Catalonia, is found: Anno trabeationis D. N. J. C. millesimo XVII, æra vero millesima quinquagesima quinta, indictione xv, concur 9th century, but examples of them are rare. At length, nothing was more constant. Some began at Dec. 25, others at the day or eve of Easter. The almost invariable custom of the kings in their diplomas, from the end of the 11th century, and that of the parliament of Paris after it was made stationary, up to the edict for Jan. 1, was to begin at Easter, or rather the Sabbatum Sanctum, after the consecration of the paschal taper. But in the provinces possessed by the English, the more common practice was to begin at Christmas. When they dated otherwise, i. e. began at Easter or March 25, they generally added more Gallicano. At Rheims, in the 13th century, they began March 25, as in the acts of the Concil. Reimense in 1235: "Notandum quod more Gallicano mutatur annus in Annunciatione Dominica." This custom subsisted in Montdedier to the 16th century, and letters of the provost royal and other deeds are dated in this manner: April 8, 1441, " de l'incarnation renouvelée"-or March 25, "de l'incarnation renouvelée avant Paques," or the day of the Annunciation last past before Easter. At Soissons, in the 12th century, they began Dec. 25; at Amiens, in the same age, they began on the eve of Easter, after the benediction of the taper. At Peronne, in the 15th century, the eve of Easter was New Year's Day. A register begins with " Sabbato in vigilia Pascha 14 April. 1487 post cerei benedictionen." In several parts of Picardy, they dated from Jan. 1 after the middle of the 13th century. A charter of 1274 is dated-" Au mois de Janvier, le lendemain du premier jour de l'an." The Chronicles of Froissart follow this style. In Poitou, Guienne, Normandy and Anjou, they began at Christmas, after and while they were in the power of the English. There is an important example for Poitou. Otho of Brunswick, earl of Poitou, and afterwards emperor, the fourth of the name, dates a charter, in which he takes only the title of earl of Poitou, Dec. 29, 1198. He had not then taken the empire. It is certain, from German historians, that he was crowned at Pentecost, 1198. Here is an apparent contradiction, which can be removed only by saying, that the year 1198 in the charter was begun at Christmas, and, consequently, that Dec. 29 belonged to our 1197. But before Poitou passed to the English, they commonly began the year at Easter. An account of Maude d'Artois, countess of Burgoyne, imports that Paques fleuri was April 11, 1304, and "finit à Pasques que li milliaire commença 1305.”—Abridged from L'Art de veréfier les Dates, t. I, p. 8-30. rente I, epacta xx." All these dates agree with the year 1017 of the incarnation, the same as that which is at the end of the decree-" anno XXI regnante Roberto rege." It is not, therefore, doubtful that Annus Trabeationis and Annus Incarnationis are the same thing. The source of Du Cange's error is in the word trabs, whence he derives trabeatio—instead of which it comes from trabea, a sort of robe which was used by ancient kings, and with which the statues of the gods were ornamented. St. Fulgentius, in a sermon pronounced on St. Stephen's Day, which every body knows is the day after Christmas Day, says-" Heri rex noster trabea carnis indutus est." It is very probable that the word trabeatio has been taken from this passage by the notaries. At least, it is certain that trabeatio and trabea carnis mark the incarnation of the word, and that is every thing necessary to be known for the prevention of mistakes. The last remark that we shall make on the manner of dating by the years of the incarnation, is on the omission of a number of years to abridge a date, particularly when it is repeated. In the Hist. of the Bishops of Auxerre, we find the translation of Ardouin to this see dated, " in principio anni MCCCL in nativitate Domini ;" and 12 lines after-" anno quinquagesimo tertio curiæ Romanæ (that is to say, beginning the year Dec. 25) more autem Gallico (beginning at Easter) anno quinquagesimo secundo, in festo purificationis beatæ Mariæ." The historian has twice omitted this date, 66 anno millesimo trecentesimo." It is true that it is easy to supply it from the text; but similar omissions occur in dates which are not repeated, nor have been preceded by entire dates. The first edition of Martial (4to) is dated thus: "Impressum Ferrariæ die secunda Julii MLXXI," instead of " MCCCCLXXI."* Year of Crowning. The patent, charter, close & fine rolls of Chancery date the regnal years of our kings from the day of their coronation, and not from that of the death of their predecessor, or day of accession (see v. I, p. 50-1). This manner of dating is sometimes specified in chronicles; thus, Robert of Gloucester dates the rearing of Reading Abbey in the 22nd year of the crowning of Henry I: "po was boru þe kyng arerde þe abbey of Redynge Chron., p. 440. The following are the dates of the coronations of the earlier kings:1066.-William I, crowned Christmas Day at Westminster by Aldred, archbishop of York; died Sept. 19, 1087. In a charter granted in 1421, this year is expressed as "Anno XXI” (Mabillon, Diplom., 1. II, c. 23). The following is another instance of the same kind of omission: "In the duke's palace yard at Norwich, at the entrance of a house near the river, lies a large grave, with an abbot in his robes cut thereon, brought from the ruins of this abbey (St. Bennet's Hulme), and thus inscribed - Frater Ricardus de South Walsham, abbas monasterii Sancti Benedicti de Hulmo, qui obiit anno Dominj quadragintesimo vicesimo nono,' with the arms of this monastery." Sir Henry Ellis, who quotes this passage from the fifth volume of Blomfield's History of Norfolk (p. 1430), remarks that "the reading must be faulty; the inscription ought to run-Millesimo quadragintesimo trecesimo nono."-Dugd., Monast. Anglic., t. III, p. 65 n. o. 1087.-William II, crowned Sept. 27; his diplomas generally bear only the date of place. Died Aug. 2, 1100. (See Lammas.) 1100.-Henry I was consecrated, according to Matthew Paris, Aug. 15 -but others say Aug. 5: "pe Sonday he was ycrouned, of heruest þe výfte day, A second coronation with Maude, or Matilda, on St. Martin's Day: " þe corounyng of Henry, of Maude þat may, Robert of Brunne, p. 95. He is commonly said to have died Dec. 2, 1135, but he died on the 66 be vorste day of Decembre kyng Henry þen deb nome, And in enlene hundred ger † syxte 7 þrýttý þerto." Robert of Gloucester, p. 443. The second part of this date is wrong; he died in the 36th year of his reign. As to the year 1136, it is to be reconciled by the manner of beginning the year on the previous Christmas, or March 25, 9 months & 7 days before us. 1135.-Stephen was crowned Dec. 22: "In the yeare of oure lorde M'. CXXXVI Stephene Bloys-the xxii day after his uncles dethe was crouned kyng" (Chron. quoted by Hearne). Speed makes the day Dec. 26, St. Stephen's Day (Chron., p. 468), and others Christmas Day; but this was only the day on which he first held his court and wore the crown: "A Seyn Steuene's day, þe croune vorst he bere, And be archebyssop of Canterbury Wyllam þat þo was, He died Oct. 25, 1154. Robert of Gloucester, p. 445. 1154.-Henry II, crowned Dec. 19 by Theobald, archbp. of Canterbury: "Henri þe emperesse sone, po king Stefne ded lay At Westminstre let him crouny king þe next Soneday He died July 6, 1189. Rob. of Glouc., p. 467. "As enlene hundred ger of grace 7 eigtetinine The sixte day of Jul he deide, 7 mid gret onour prute 1189.-Richard, crowned Sept. 3 at London: Ibid., p. 481. "Richard king Henries sone to Engelonde com He died April 6, 1199. Robert of Gloucester, p. 484. 1199.-John, crowned on the moveable feast of Ascension Day, 1199, which was May 27: "Jon king Richardes broper, after his broper depe Ib., p. 492 "At Newarke he deide a sein Lukes day." Ib., p. 512. 1216.-Henry III, crowned Oct. 28: "Henri was king imad after his fader don A sein Simondes day 7 sein Jude at Gloster anon." Ib., p. 513. A second coronation took place on Whitsunday, May 26, 1219, which Robert of Gloucester calls 1220, but the 4th Henry III: "Ther after at Westminstre ar þe bronie vi sai Hii crounede pe king arigt a Witesonedai tuenti ger as in þe verthe ger þat he verst croune ber." Ib., p. 517. 1272.-Edward I, crowned Aug. 19 (see vol. I, p. 50), and was recognized Nov. 20. He died, July 7, 1307. (See EDMOND, king and martyr, p. 106. 1307.-Edward II, crowned Feb. 24; but the years were computed from July 7, as appears from the Red Book of the Exchequer : "Data regis E. filii regis E. mutatur singulis annis in festo translationis S. Thomæ martyris viz. VII die Julii." He was dethroned Jan. 13, 1327, and was murdered Sept. 21 following. 1327.-Edward III was proclaimed Jan. 24, whence his years are computed, and was crowned Feb. 2. The Red Book of the Exch. says "Data regis E. tertii a conquestu mutatur singulis annis 24 die mensis Januarii-et notandum quod idem rex transfretavit primo versus Brabanc. die Veneris 16 Julii, anno regni sui 12 sicut continetur in brevi et magno sigilli de perdonatione debitorum quod est inter communia de anno 14." July 16 was Friday in 1339, which commenced March 25, and it was the 13th of his reign. Two of his diplomas bear the following date: "Don' a Roukesburg lxxiii jour de Nov' lan de la Incarnacion nostre seigneur J. Crist, solom le cours de eglise de Rome, mille & treis centz trentisme secund, & de nostre regne primer" (Rymer, t. III, p. i, p. 848). There must be a mistake in the transcript of the last date. He died June 21, 1877. 1377. Richard II, crowned at Westminster July 16; but his regnal years were computed from July 22: "Data regis Ricardi II a con- 1399.-Henry IV, proclaimed Sept. 30; consecrated Oct. 13; died 1461.-Edward IV, proclaimed March 5, crowned June 20 (some say Edwardi quinti inchoavit nono die Aprilis, et cessavit 22° die Junii proxime sequentis, videlicet anno regni sui primo.”—Ib. 1483.-Richard III; proclaimed June 22, crowned July 6, regnal date June 26: "Data regis Ricardi tertii mutatur singulis annis 26° die Junii, et interfectus est in bello ab Henrico septimo vicesimo secundo die Augusti, anno regni sui tertio."—Ib. 1485.-Henry VII; proclaimed August 22, crowned October 13, regnal years dated from Aug. 21: "Data regis Henrici VII mutatur singulis annis vicesimo primo die Augusti."-Ib. 1509.-Henry VIII ascended the throne April 22, which is the commencement of his regnal years: "Data regis Henrici octavi muta tur singulis annis vicesimo secundo die Aprilis, et obiit 28° die Junii anno regni sui 38."-Ib. Year Historic. This year began Jan. 1, and the ecclesiastical or legal began March 25. To prevent mistakes in the year between these months, it was usual, until the reception of the reformed kalendar, to date thus-Feb. 1, 1648, or 1640-41. Year Liturgic.-Began the 1st Sunday of Advent. Years Day. Is the first day of the new year, in the Saxon Chronicle (an. 1096). It is also any anniversary day. See Anniversalis. Years Mind, Yeres Mynde.-An anniversary day: For XII tapers at the yeres mynde of maister John Hyde, xxId 1571-To the XII months mynde of Elizabeth Branch, widdow, II tapers, Archæolog., v. I, p. 12. |