274 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO l6g8. 



For in such case it is to be that Sunday, not the Sunday after. And so the 

 tables agree, contrary to this note, both that " for forty years," and that " to 

 find Easter forever." And so it was observed in the years 1668, 1678, and 

 1682. And so whenever the case happens that the ecclesiastical full moon falls 

 on a Sunday. 



The question only remains, on what day we must reckon the ecclesiastical 

 full moon to fall ? for we are not to judge either the equinox or the full moon 

 according as they happen in the heavens, or in our almanacs, but according to 

 the paschal tables, fitted to the time of the Nicene council. And accordingly 

 we reckon the equinox to be now, as it was then, on March 21. And as to 

 the full moon, next after that equinox, we are to account it thus : The golden 

 number, adapted to the cycle of I9 years, after the end of which it begins 

 again, at 1, 2, 3, &c. is placed in the first column of our calendar, to inform 

 us, of what day, of such year, the new moon is supposed to happen in each 

 month, and the 15th day of that moon is reputed the full moon. 



Now the golden number for the year l6y8 is 8, that is, this is the 8th year 

 of such decem-novenal cycle, or circle of 19 years, commonly called cyclus 

 lunaris, or the circle of the moon, as the other circle of 28 years is called 

 cyclus Solaris, the circle of the sun, or rather of the Sunday letter. And this 

 number 8 stands in the calendar at March 6, which we must therefore suppose 

 to be new moon ; though the new moon was indeed March 2. Now March 6 

 being the new moon or first day of the reputed lunar month for such year, 

 March 20 will be the 15th day, or the reputed full moon for the month of 

 March this year. Which happens this year to be Sunday, the dominical letter 

 for this year being B. But this happening before March 21, the supposed 

 equinox cannot be the paschal full moon ; but we must wait for another. And 

 we shall then find the golden number 8 standing at April 5, for the new moon of 

 April the same year. And therefore the full moon or 15th day of that reputed 

 lunar month, is to be April 19. Whicii being Tuesday, the Sunday next fol- 

 lowing is April 24, where stands B, the Sunday letter for this year, which is 

 therefore to be Easter-day, according to the intent of these tables. And it was 

 so observed accordingly. 



But it is to be wished there had been somewhere a rubrick to direct how we 

 are to find this reputed full moon ; and what is the use of the golden number. 

 The difference of the ecclesiastical account in the paschal tables, from that of 

 the heavens arises from hence; 1. The common Julian year, by which we 

 reckon, of 3fi5 days and 6 hours, is somewhat too long ; being about 1 1 

 minutes of an hour longer than the true solar year. By reason whereof the 

 equinox, and other annual seasons, go backwards about 1 1 minutes every year ; 



