THE SCENE: If the uncertainties of ancient history make you nervous, you might want to check out the Scottish historian John of Fordun, whose confidence in his authority is rivaled only by the precision of his declarations.
THE TEXT: In the first year of grace, which was the forty-second of Augustus Caesar, the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the annunciation of an angel, became pregnant, in her virginity, of the Redeemer of the perishing world. While, thereforth, the tumult of war was everywhere hushed, and everything was wrapped in unbroken silence, when night had run through half its course, the Word of God the Father was made flesh, and began to dwell amongst us, 5199 years after the beginning of the world, 2452 after the crossing of the Red Sea, 1206 after the taking of Troy. Seven hundred and fifty-two years had passed from the building of Rome, when Christ sanctified the world. The reign of the first king of the Scots in Scotia, was three hundred years and thirty before Christ. For, in Adam began the period of the Law of Nature, which lasted down to Moses, in whom it was terminated; in Moses began the period of the Law of the Scripture, which was continued down to Christ, in whom, also, it was terminated; in Christ, likewise, began the period of the Law of Grace, which shall last until the consummation of time.
– John of Fordun, Chronica Gentis Scotorum, 14th Century AD
