The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

CHAP. IV.

Of the Month.

THe Month is twofold, Solar, and Lunar. The Solar, is that Space of Time in which the Sun runs through one whole Sign of the Zodiack; wherefore in consideration that the Sun runs through those 12 Signs of the Zodiack in 365 Days, and some odd Hours and Minutes there are attributed accordingly to some of the Months 30, and to others 31 Days, February only excepted, to which the Remainder falls, and compleats the above-mentioned number of Days in the Year. The Lunar Month, is that Space of Time in which the Moon runs through the Zodi∣ack; or the Space between the two Conjunction of Sun and Moon; for there is a double Lunary Month, one called Periodical, being the Space wherein the Moon departing from any Point, re∣turns to the same again, that is, (as is vulgarly computed) in 27 Days, 7 Hours, and odd Minutes The other Lunary Month, is that which they cal•• Synodical, or the Month of the Lunary Syzygi•• or Conjunction, and is that Space of Time wherein

the Moon going from the Sun, returns again into Conjuction with him; and this is said to be in the Space of 29 Days, 12 Hours, and an half; for when the Moon finishes her Period of 27 Days, and 12 Hours, the Sun in the mean time makes some Progress, that is to say, 27 Degrees; and this must be made up in the Moon Circle, before she can come again to her Conjunction with the Sun, which can't be done in less than 2 Days, and 5 Hours, which being added to the Number [ 10] of the Periodical Months, make 29 Days, and 12 Hours; not to mention Minutes. And thus the Periodical Month are by turns of 29, and 30 Days; the twice 12 Hours remaining making in 2 Months one whole Day: And this is that sort of Month that the Year is divided into.

Thirdly, It is to be noted, that the Lunar Months are joyn'd with the Solar; and that the Lunation is properly of that Solar Month, in which it ends, according to the Vulgar Saying, [ 20]

In quo finitur Mensi Lunatio detur.

The Reason of this is unfolded by Clavius in his Calendarium Gregorianum, C. 17. that is to say, for that it would otherwise happen, that some∣times the Months would scarce have one or ano∣ther Day of their proper Lunation through the whole Year, especially when the first Lunation of the Year happens upon the first of January; for [ 30] the other Lunations of the same Year, begin only in the last Days of the Month.

Fourthly, Observe that the first Month of the Year amongst the Ancient Egyptians was called Thot, amongst the Romans, Martius; whence July was called Quintilis, and August, Sextilis, as being the fifth and sixth Months from March. But when Numa added January, and February, then the usual computation was made from the first of January. [ 40]

Fifthly, It is also observable, that the Months were divided by the Romans into three sorts of Days, Calends, Nones, and Ides. The first Day of every Month was called Calendae from the Greek Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, to Call; because on that Day the People were called as well to the Fairs and Markets, as to the Capitol, to receive from the Priests what was to be observed for that Month, in reference to the Worship of the gods. Next, followed the Nones, so called, as contracted from Nundinae, that is, Fairs, as some are of O∣pinion. [ 50] Lastly came the Eight Days of the Ides, which follow the Nones; these Ides are generally supposed to be so called from the old Word Iduo, which signifies, to Divide; because they make a division between the Nones, and the Calends; which Calends, because they have their fixt and certain Seat in every Month, as falling upon the first Day of every Month, when as the Days of the Ides, and the Nones, are various dis∣posed. There are these following Verses vulgarly [ 60] made use of to give direction, by what Method the Nones, or Ides, are ascribed to their respective Months:

Sex Maius Nonas October, Julius & Mars, Quatuor, at reliqui dabit Idus quilibet octo.

So that when the Nones are once known, the finding out of the rest will follow of course.

Sixthly, From these three Days all the rest take their denomination: For Example, the Day which precedes the Calends, that is, the last Day of the fore going Month, is called Pridie Calendas, or Primus Calendas, Secundus Calendas, the Se∣cond Day before the Calends, and so of the rest; and the same is to be said proportionable of the Nones, and Ides.