ON SOME ANCIENT BURTON MANUSCRIPTS. 93 
But I think a little consideration will show us that Edward III. is 
not meant here, for he would be described as ‘‘ King Edward, the 
son of King Edward II.” Then in what year, anno domini, was 
this document dated? Now, Edward II. began to reign on the 
8th July, 1307, so that the first znd February in his reign would be 
the 2nd February, 1308, and the third 2nd February the 
2nd February, 1310. The date, therefore, of this deed is Monday 
the 2nd February, 1310. 
I will now pass on to the date of the second deed. I have a 
reason for doing so, which, I think, you will see afterwards. The 
date is put thus:—‘“ Datum apud Stretton die Jovis in festo 
sancte Margarete virginis anno regni regis Edwardi tertii post 
conquestum quarto decimo.” That, when translated, is as 
follows :—‘‘ Given at Stretton on Thursday, on the Feast of St. 
Margaret the Virgin, in the 14th year of the reign of King 
Edward the III., after the conquest.” Now, first of all, it cost me 
a little reflection to make out what the words ‘“‘after the 
conquest”? meant here. These words appear in the date of almost 
every one of the deeds, and may, therefore, be said to be what is 
called ‘‘common form.” But a little reflection shows that the 
words are really relevant and necessary. Thus the king known as 
Edward III. zs the third Edward after the Conquest; but he 
is by no means the third Edward if the kings of the name of 
Edward who reigned before the Norman Conquest are reckoned 
in. 
On referring to the Prayer-book calendar we find St. Margaret’s 
day is the 2oth of July. Therefore, the day of week and month 
of this deed is Thursday the 2oth of July. Now, Edward III. 
began to reign on the 25th January, 1327, therefore the 2oth July, 
which fell in his fourteenth year, was the zoth July, 1340, and 
that is the date of this deed. 
Though I entertained no doubt these were the correct dates of 
these two deeds, I thought it would be as well to check them as 
opportunity seemed to offer itself ; and I calculated, supposing the 
2nd of February, 1310, was a Monday, what day of the week 
would the zoth July, 1340, be? and my calculation showed that 
