68 MEMOIR OF 



Mr Willughby was one of those gentlemen tc 

 whom Dr Barrow dedicated his edition of Euclid. 

 In Coles's manuscript already quoted the following 

 passage occurs, " Mr Barrow sayth that he 

 never knew a gentleman of such ardor after real 

 learning and knowledge, and of such capacities 

 and fitness for any kinde of learning. See Dr 

 Jo. Worthington's letter, dated Mar. 9, 1659." 



The reason why so little is heard of Dr Barrow 

 in Mr Willughby 's memoirs, may be, that he was 

 abroad during several years subsequently to the 

 date of the letters referred to. 



During all this time, Mr Ray continued to be 

 fellow of Trinity College, having since his elec- 

 tion held several offices of trust and honour in 

 that society as praelector, primarius, junior dean, 

 and college steward. The latter office he had 

 held about two years, having been sworn in to it 

 on the last occasion, in December, 1660. An 

 event now occurred which disturbed his tran- 

 quillity, and both tried and evinced the integrity 

 of his moral principles. The reader would not 

 excuse the history of this circumstance being 

 passed over in silence, although it is not imme- 

 diately connected with the memoir of Mr Wil- 

 lughby. The event alluded to was the Bar- 

 tholomew act, otherwise called the new act of 

 uniformity, passed in the year 1662. This act 

 did not require an attestation from persons in 

 holy orders against the Solemn League and 

 Covenant, which, there is every reason to think, 

 Mr Ray would most willingly have subscribed to, 



