TERMS, are those spaces of, time in which the courts of justice are open for all that complain of wrongs or injuries, and seek their rights by course of law or action, in order their redress, and during which the courts in Westminster hall sit and give judgment, &c. But the high court of Parliament, the Chancery, and inferior courts, do not observe the terms ; only the courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; the high est courts at common law. Of these terms, there are four in every year, viz. Hilary Term, which begins the 23d of January, and ends the 12th of February, unless on Sundays, and then the day after Easter Term, which begins the Wednesday fort night after Easter-day, and ends the Mon day next after Ascension-day ; Trinity Term, which begins the Friday after Tri nity Sunday, and ends the Wednesday fortnight after ; and Michaelmas Term, which begins the 6th, and ends the 28th of November.
There are, in each of these terms, stated days, called days in bank, that is, days of appearance in the Court of Com mon Pleas, called usually bancum, or corn. mune bancum, to distinguish it from ban cum regis, or the Court of King's Bench. They are generally at the distance of about a week from each other, and regulated by some festival of the church. On some of these days in bank, all original writs must be made returnable, and therefore they are generally called the returns of that term ; the first return in every term is, properly speaking, the first day in that term;, and thereon the court to take essoins, for such as no not ap pear according to the munitions of.the
writ : wherefore this is usually called the essoin day of the term.. But the person summoned hath three days grace beyond the return of the writ, in which to make kis appearance ; and if he appear on the fourth day inclusive, quarto die post, it is sufficient. Therefore, at the beginning of each term, the court cloth not sit for dispatch of Cusiness till the fourth day ; and in Trinity Term, by statute 32 Hen ry VIII. c. 21. not till the sixth day.
Timms, Oxford. llilary, oeLent Term, begins on January 14, and ends the Sa turday before Palm Sunday. Easter Term begins the tenth day after Easter, and ends the Thursday before Whit Sunday. Trinity Term begins the Wednesday af ter Trinity Sunday, and ends after the act, sooner or later, as the Vice Chancel Ior and Convocation please. Michaelmas Term begins on October 10, and ends December 7.
Teems, Cambridge. Lent Term begins on January 13, and ends the Friday be fore Palm Sunday. Easter Terms begins the Wednesday after Easter week, and ends the week before Whit Sunday. Trinity Term begins the Wednesday af ter Trinity Sunday, and ends the Friday after the commencement. Michaelmas Term begins October 10, and ends De cember 16.