171. The cycle of indictions, which may be traced as high as
the reign of Constantius or perhaps of his father
Constantine, is still employed by the Papal court: but the
commencement of the year has been very reasonably altered to
the first of January. See l'Art de verifier les Dates, p.
xi., and Dictionnaire Raison. de la Diplomatique, tom. ii p.
25; two accurate treatises, which come from the workshop of
the Benedictines.