Elizabethan England / From 'A Description of England,' by William Harrison

by William Harrison

Hilary term beginneth the three-and-twentieth day of January (if it be not Sunday); otherwise the next day after, and is finished the twelfth of February; it hath four returns,

Octabis Hilarij.		Crastino Purific.
Quind. Hilarij.		Octabis Purific.

Easter term beginneth seventeen days after Easter, endeth four days after the Ascension Day, and hath five returns,

Quind. Pasch.		Mense.		Quinque Paschae.
Tres Paschae.		Pasch.		Crast. Ascension.

Trinity term beginneth the Friday after Trinity Sunday, and endeth the Wednesday fortnight after, in which time it hath four returns,

Crast. Trinitatis.		Quind. Trinitatis.
Octabis Trinitatis.		Tres Trinitatis.

Michaelmas term beginneth the ninth of October (if it be not Sunday), and ending the eight-and-twentieth of November; it hath eight returns,

Octabis Michael.		Crast. Anima.
Quind. Michael.		Crast. Martini.
Tres Michael.		Octa. Martini.
Mense Michael.		Quind. Martini.

Note also that the Exchequer, which is Fiscus or ærarium publicam princeps, openeth eight days before any term begin, except Trinity term, which openeth but four days before.