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xrv. 



PRIMATE USSHER'S LIBRARY BEFORE 1641. By HUGH 

 JACKSOX LAWLOR, D.D. 



[Eead Juxe 11, 1900.] 



In tlie Ussher coUection in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford, there is 

 a common-place book (marked Add. C. 299), which, in the year 1598, 

 belonged to one T. Metcalf, -who was then, as he tells us, in the 

 twenty-eighth year of his age. Metcalf's notes do not appear to be 

 of any interest or value. I spent some time in attempting to read one 

 of them, under the mistaken impression that it gave a description of 

 the contents of a book. It is headed " De Amore." I abandoned the 

 task of deciphering it when I had advanced far enough to learn that, 

 in the writer's opinion, the Greek equivalent of " amor" is " ereos." 

 'Nov was I tempted to investigate any of his other essays. 



These notes occupy only a small portion of the volume, and they 

 were separated by large spaces of blank paper, which have been utilized 

 by subsequent scribes in an interesting way. They contain foiu' 

 library lists. Of these, three are dated, and their purpose is manifest. 

 All four may now be printed. In the notes I have added the press- 

 marks of volumes now in the Library of Trinity College, answering to 

 the descriptions given in the lists, and, where it seemed desirable, their 

 full titles. I have not indicated volumes which have inscribed in 

 them the names of former owners such as Gilbert, Palliser, and Worth, 

 whose collections are known to have been formed long after the date 

 of the most recent of oui- lists, and to whom it is scarcely possible that 

 any of the volumes enumerated can have belonged. Where for various 

 reasons I have thought it not probable that the volume mentioned in 

 the note is identical with that described in the text, its press-mark 

 has been enclosed within brackets. Some words and numerals in the 

 lists have been struck out. These are printed in italic type. Illegible 

 letters are indicated by dots enclosed in square brackets. 



