EQUINOXES, PRECESSION OF 39 ERFURT EQUINOXES, PRECESSION OF THE, the motion of the eauinoxes along the ecliptic due to the cnan^e in the direction of the earth's axis of rotation, caused by the attraction of the moon and sun on the protuberant equatorial ring of the earth. EQUITY, in law, the system of supple- mental law administered in certain courts, founded on defined rules, I'ecorded precedents, and established principles, the judges, however, liberally expound- ing and developing them to meet new exi- gencies. While it aims to assist the de- fects of the common law, by extending relief to those rights of property which the strict law does not recognize, and by giving more ample and distributive re- dress than the ordinary tribunals afford, equity by no means either controls, miti- gates or supersedes the common law, but rather guides itself by its analogies, and does not assume any power to subvert its doctrines. Courts of equity grant redress to all parties where they have rights, ex ieguo et bono, and modify and fashion that redress according to circumstances. They bring before them all the parties interested in the subject-matter of the suit, and adjust the rights of all. ERA. See Epoch. ERASED, in heraldry, signifies vio- lently plucked or torn off, and showing a ragged edge ; as opposed to couped or cut, which shows a smooth edge. The term is chiefly applied to the heads and limbs of animals. ERASMUS, DESIDERIUS (-raz' nous), a Dutch scholar; born in Rotter- dam in 1467. His original name was Gerard. At the age of 17 he assumed the monastic habit; the Bishop of Cambray delivered him from this constraint. In 1492 he traveled to "Paris to perfect him- self in theology and polite literature. A rich Englishman there, Lord Mountjoy, pensioned him for life. In 1497 he went to England. He returned soon after to the Continent, took his doctor's degree, was relieved from his monastic vows by dispensation from the Pope, and pub- lished several of his works. He returned to England in 1510, resided with Sir Thomas More, and was appointed Mar- garet Professor of Divinity and Greek Lecturer at Cambridge. In 1514 he re- turned to the Continent. He rendered gi'eat and lasting service to the cause of reviving scholarship. Though he took no direct part in the Reformation, he at- tacked the disorders of monasticism and superstition. He edited various classics, the first edition of the Greek Testament from MSS. (with Latin translation), etc., but his best kno^^^l books are the "Praise of Folly," and his "Colloquies." He died in Basel, in 1536. ERCELDOUNE, THOMAS OF (called the Rhymer, and Learmont), a Scotch poet and seer, who flourished probably between 1220 and 1297, and wrote a poem called "Sir Tristrem." He occupies a very conspicuous position in the annals of Anglo-Saxon literature. ERCKMANN, EMILE (erk'man), a French novelist; born in Pfalzburg, in 1822; studied law, but early developed a taste for literature. In 1847 he formed a literary partnership with Alexandre Chatrian (born Dec. 18, 1826; died Sept. 5, 1890), and later with him published successfully the dramas "The Polish Jew" and "Friend Fritz." But at the height of their financial success the part- nership was dissolved through a quarrel. After the separation Erckmann con- tinued to write indefatigably, but his writings were no longer in demand, owing to the lack of advertisment which Chatrian had furnished. He died in Lune- ville, March 14, 1899. EREBUS. MOUNT, an active volcano on Victoria Land, in lat. 78° 10' S., rising 12,367 feet above the sea. It was discov- ered in 1841 by Ross, who named it after one of his vessels. Captain R. F. Scott's Antarctic expedition wintered in the vicinity (1901-1904) and Sir E. Shackle- ton's party made the ascent in 1908. ERECHTHEUS (e-rek'thus) , or ERICHTHONIUS (e-rik-th5'ni-us), an Attic hero, said to have been the son of Hephaestus and Atthis, daughter of Cranaus, the son-in-law and successor of Cecrops. He was brought up by Athena, who placed him in a chest, which was in- trusted to Agraulos, Pandrosos, and Herse, the daughters of Cecrops, with the strict charge that it was not to be opened. Unable to restrain their curi- osity, they opened the chest, and discov- ering a child entwined with serpents, were seized with madness, and threw themselves down the most precipitous part of the Acropolis. Afterward Erech- theus was the chief means of establishing the worship of Athena in Attica. The Erechtheum was erected in his own honor. This original Erechtheum was burned by the Persians, but a new and magnificent Ionic temple was raised on the same site. ERETRIA (-re'tri-a), an ancient Ionic trading and colonizing town on the S. W. coast of Euboea, which was de- stroyed by the Persians in 490 B. C, and rebuilt by the Athenians. ERFURT (ei-'fort), an important town in the Prussian province of Saxony,
