86. It is interesting to observe that the agreement regarding the surrender of Stirling castle was, that failing its boing relieved by the 'Festival of Saint John the Baptist' then next to come, the castle would be surrendered. The insertion of 24th of June, 1314, as the day of surrender is ex post facto.
87. The famous Treaty of Northampton revealed nothing about 1328, but only that it was executed the first day of March, and in the second year of Edward's reign. However in the year 1424, the Scottish Parliament reverted to the Christian era dates, but the years were nearly always called in each case the year of God. The first of a month sometimes appeared as the kalends, and the second last day as 'penultimo die,' or the penult day. The earliest MS, calendar is that found among the Ayr MSS., dated 1428. Notable events are chronicled, e.g., saints' days, dedication of a church, a great storm. It is in Latin, In perusing the records of an ancient corporation of Scotland of this same century—the fifteenth,—I found that the clerk of that body had used the Indiction terms in Latin to date his minutes. Verily Latin seems to have been then in Scotland what it was in Eastern Europe a millennium before the vulgar or common tongue, so far as regards the small section of the people who could read and write.
88. By proclamation dated on 17th December, 1599,[1] James VI. and his council ordained, 'That in all time coming the first day of the year shall begin yearly upon the first day of January.' Nevertheless, England still held to the former Scottish and English custom of beginning the year on 25th March. Let us, therefore, observe an
- ↑ See section 64 supra for Peter the Great's chronnlogical ukases.
