Page:Chronologies and calendars (IA chronologiescale00macdrich).pdf/61



ORMING their opinion from what they took to be original charters, some authorites have held that the Christian era was used in England about the close of the 8th century. Even admitting that there may be contemporary copy charters bear A.D. dates, I prefer, after inspecting the deed in the British Museum, to consider the charter or grant by King Eadred (dated A.D. 948 in Roman numerals) as the earliest original writing which contains the Christian style of years.

. While wondering whether such an iconoclastic decision did not border on chronological vandalism, I was somewhat pleased to find that Mr. Rounds attacks many traditions which were considered historic, and English dates which had been viewed as fixed for all time. For instance, he proves inter alia that Richard the Lion changed his official seal not 'in 1194, but in 1198, and between January and May that year.' But Mr. Rounds goes further. He considers the English 'consecutive political history only begins at the Norman Conquest,' and he riddles the prior Narrative in the scathing words, 'Our jejune native chronicle.' Another authority proceeds, 'The charter of Edward the Confessor to Westminster Abbey is generally thought to be