The Statute of the Leap Year (21 Hen3.)
The Statute DE ANNO ET DIE BISSEXTIL, made at Westmnister Anno 21 Hen III. and Anno Dom. 1236.
The Day of leap Year, and the day before shall be holden for one Day.
Cotton MS. Claudius, D. 2.
REX Justiciariis suis de Banco, salutem. Sciatis quod cum in regno nostro Anglie de Anno & die, qui languidis [per breve nostrum] implaciatis prefigi consueverunt, quando & [quomodo, scilicet,]] a quo die anni precedentis in alium dicm anni subsquentis, debuit annus ille & dies in anno bissextili accipi & computari, diu extiterit dubitatum :
II. Nos volents conformitatem [unfiromiatem] ubique in regno nostro super hoc observari, & periculis litigancium preeaveri, providimus, & de consilio, fidelium nostrorum statuimus quod ad delendum de cetero communem super hoc ambiguitatem, computetur dies excrescens in anno bissextili in ipso anno, Ita quod propeter diem illum non occasionentur aliqui implacitati, set sit, & habeatuer de mense illo in quo excerscit; & contineature dies [ille] excescens in integriate anni predecti, & computetur dies ille, & dies proxime precedens pro unico die. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod hoc coram vobis publicari, &de cetero faciatis observari. Teste me ipso apud West. Anno regni regis H. quadragesimo quatro.
Brac. 359. THE King unto his justices of the Bench, greeting. Know ye, that where within our Realm of England, it was doubted of the Year and Day that were wont to be assigned unto sick persons being impleaded, when and from what Day of the Year going, before unto another Day of the Year following, the Year and Day in a Leap Year ought to be taken and reckoned how long it was:
II. We therefore, willing that a Conformity be observed in this behalf every where within our Realm, and to avoid all Danger from such as be in Plea, have provided, and by the Counsel of our faithful subjects have ordained, That, to take away from henceforth all Doubt and Ambiguity that might arise hereupon, the Day increasing in the Leap-Year shall be accounted for one Year so that because of the day none shall be prejudiced that is impleaded, but it shall be taken and reckoned of the same month wherein it groweth; and that Day and the Day next going before, shall be accounted for one Day. And therefore we do command you, that from henceforth you do cause this to be published afore you and be observed. Witness myself at Westminster &c.
Transcribed from : http://archive.org/details/statutesatlargef01grea