ljAV,'LOJi— Friw ate Ussher's Lihmry before 16Ij.l. 259 



cols. 1-3. In some cases there is what almost amounts to proof,' in 

 others presumption,- to the contrary. ISTow D certainly represents 

 the original library of Trinity College. The oldest member of the 

 group is the MS. ^o. 358 (= D. 1. 18), lettered on the back, 

 " Challoner's Catalogue," and said to be in his hand. It is not likely 

 to belong to any other library than that which Challoner himself 

 helped to coUect.^ The latest member, again, is jSTo. 1 (= D. 1. 2), a 

 note on a fly-leaf of which expressly informs us that it is a Catalogue 

 of the " old Library"* of Trinity College. This collection, of course, 

 forms part of the present Library. 



Thus the present T. C. D. Library contains two distinct collections 

 of early date, the original CoUege Library (D) and that represented 

 by A, B, C. jSTow, the only considerable collection known to have 

 been added to the Trinity CoUege Library, in the seventeenth century, 

 was that of Archbishop IJssher. It is difficult to evade the inference 

 that it was the collection to which our Lists, as well as the Catalogues 

 A, B, C refer. 



Opinions will differ as to the degree in which this argxunent 

 amounts to a demonstration. But it is supported by several considera- 

 tions, the combined force of which is, I think, irresistible. 



In the first place, most of the identified volumes mentioned in 

 the lists are now, as has been observed, in the presses BB, CC, DD. 

 But in these presses, according to the tradition of the Library, Ussher's 

 books are preserved. 



Again, very many of these volumes have notes in Ussher's hand,^ 

 and at least two bear his arms on the cover.'^ And, in accordance 

 with this fact, we have a direct statement, as to one volume, that it 

 was " in Piimate Ussher's Library,"'' while, in the case of another, 

 the assertion that it was " lent at the Colledge"^ implies that it was 



1 Nos. 1, 22, 42. 



- JTos. 2, 3, 54a. In these instances the present library has two copies of the 

 work, one is proved to be identical -svith that which is indicated xmder D, the other 

 is probably identical with that whieh appears under A. Compare jSTo- 11. 



3 The Book of Trinity College, p. 147 sq. 



^ Compare MS. 9 (= E. 4. 8), a Catalogue of the "New Lihrary." 



5 Nos. 20, 49, 61, 62, 76. So also E. 1. 21 ; E. 3. 26 ; E. 4. 12 ; F. 4. 1 : 

 G. 3. 20 ; G. 5. 1-5, 23 ; H. 1. 12 ; I. 1. 39 ; K. 3. 6, in the lists. 



® Nos. 24, 43. Also a hook which stands next to No. 24, and which retains its 

 C press-mark (F. 3. 3), and probably others.' 



■" No. 19. See above, p. 219, note '°, and further below, p. 263. 



^ No. 75 = T. -5. 3 in second and fourth lists. 



