A Note on Conventions

Abstract

Extract Two calendars were used in Europe during Gifftheil’s lifetime, the ‘new style’ Gregorian calendar, dating to 1584, and the ‘old style’ Julian calendar. The adjusted Gregorian calendar was ten days ahead of the Julian. Because the Gregorian reform was promulgated by a pope, many Protestant states were reluctant to embrace it. As such, the Julian calendar continued to be used in Britain, Scandinavia, in most Protestant territories of the Holy Roman Empire, and in Switzerland. The Gregorian calendar, by contrast, was used in the United Provinces, some parts of the Duchy of Cleves, France, the Kingdom of Bohemia and its crownlands, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Ducal Prussia, Lusatia, and Silesia. Given that Gifftheil ranged across all of these territories at various points in his life, I give the dates as marked in the original documents. Where there is a conflict, or particular need for clarity about dating, both ‘old’ and ‘new’ style dates are given. The years are taken to begin on 1 January.