The following rule for finding the Epact for any year [Old Style 532 to 1582 A.D.] is given in a book entitled "A briefe treatife, containing many proper tables and eafie "rules: verie neceffarie and needefull, for the use and "commoditie of all people: collected out of certain learned "works."

For the Epact.

"The Epact or Concurrent+ is thus found: Multiply "the Prime [i. e. the Golden Number for the Julian ¢ year in queftion] by II, [that being the difference be"tween the Lunar year of 354 days and the Solar year "of 365 days]: and take away 30, and the rest is the "concurrent or Epact. As, for example 1588,-12 is "the Golden Number, which, multiplied by 11, makes "132; which divided by 30, reftith 12, ye Epact for "this present yeere" [1588], i. e. from 1 March 1588 to the end of February 1588-9 inclufive.]

"Or thus more easily.

"Ye must imagin 3 places, and on the thombe moft "fitly, that is the root of the thombe ye firft, and the "middle joynt the fecond, and the toppe of the thombe "the third, then in the first place, which is the roote "of the thombe, put this number 10, and in the middle joynt of the thombe 20. and at the toppe 30. this put "in memorie, [for] by ye order of these places fhalbe

• At London: Printed by John Charlwood, for Thomas Adams, 1591.

This term," concurrent," is not equivalent to the term "con current" ufed with the Solar Regulars.

"counted the Golden Number: as one in the first place << or roote, and two in the second or middle joynt, and "three in the third place, then so returning, set 4, on "the roote or firft place, 5, on the second, &c. till

ye come to the Golden Number for the yeere, for "the which you feeke, and the number of that place "must be joyned with the Golden Number of the yeere, " and that, that it amounts to, fhal be the Epact, so that "it paffe not 30, but if it passe 30, let goe 30, and the "remain is your requeft. As in this example I will "expreffe it more plain[ly]."

"In the yeere of our Lord God, 1588. the Prime is 12, which counted by the faid three places of the "thombe, endeth at the third, where this number 30, is << placed, which both added [and deducting 30], make "12, the very Epact for this present yeere, &c. And

note that the Epact beginnith the first day of March, "and the Dominicall Letter and Prime, the first of January."

To know the age of the Moone.

"The Epact knowne, to know the age of the "Moone ye must have three numbers. The first is the Epact, the second the number of the months from "March (including both), the third ye dayes of that "month paffed, then joyne these three numbers together "if they rife not to 30, fo old is the Moone; if they "paffe 30, being left, they also are the age of the Moone, "this is meant by the monethes that have 31 dayes, for "in them that have but 30 dayes the conjunction is at "the 29 day, and they that paffe 29, are the age as "before."

As for example [in a month of 31 days of a Solar Year].

"This yeere [1588] for the 15, of Auguft, I would "know the age of the Moone. First the Epact is 12, "and the monthes from March to Auguft, are 6,-and "15 the day of the month, which all put together makes 66 33, from whence take 30, and there rests 3, the age "of the Moone that day."

"Another example [in a month of 30 days of a
"Solar Year].

"For the 18 of Septem: the Epact being 12, the "monethes 7, and daies 18, added together, makes 37, "from whence take 29 for Sept. hath but 30 dayes, and "there refts 8, the age of the Moone for that day, and "in like manner fhal wee give to February 29 dayes of "the Moone."

Law Terms.

ORMED from the canonical conftitutions of the Church, we have now the four terms, Hilary, Eafter, Trinity and Michaelmas ; known as those periods of the year when the judges are accustomed to fit in court to hear and determine causes.

The following translations, of entries on the "Curia Regis" rolls of the reign of Richard the First [A.D. 1194], will indicate the derivation of the names of the Law Terms.

Curia Regis Roll.

"Pleas &c. at Westminster on the morrow of St. Hillary.

The bufinefs of the Aula Regis, Curia Regis, or King's Court was apportioned to feveral Courts, fometime in the reign of Henry the Third, but the divifion of the business was not definitively established till near the end of that king's reign. In the next reign, however, [1272 A.D.], the appointments of the judges to the several

courts are known (fee lift of Courts, p. 182), viz. the Chancery; the King's Bench; the Common Pleas, (or Common Bench); and the Exchequer.

The whole year was at one time available for hearing and determining caufes, but the Church at length interfered, and prevented certain holy seasons of the year from being profaned by fecular business, that the minds of men might not be disturbed and exacerbated by litigation. Advent and Christmas being exempted, gave rife to the Winter Vacation; the periods of Lent and Easter, to the Spring Vacation; Pentecoft made the third; and the Long Vacation, which occurred between Midfummer and Michaelmas, was allowed for hay-time and harvest.

Difpenfations, however, were occafionally granted by the Church for holding affizes and trying caufes during the inhibited feasons. In the Statute of Westminster, 3 Edw. I. c. 51, there is a clause to the following effect: "And forafmuch as it is great charity to do right unto "all men at all times, it would be expedient that by "affent of all the prelates, affizes of Novel diffeifin, Mort "d'aunceftre, and Darrain prefentment fhould be taken "in Advent, Septuagefima, and Lent; even as well as "inquefts; and hereof the king maketh request to the "bishops."

Hilary Term, (until 1830),

Began on the 23rd or 24th of January, and ended on the 12th or 13th of February.

Eafter Term, (until 1830),

Began feventeen days after Eafter-day, i.e. Wednesday fortnight after Eafter-day, and ended four days after Afcenfion day, being the Monday three weeks following.