22 G Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The little book is very much stained from constant handling, and, 

 unfortunately, the title-page has been scribbled on and altered over 

 erasures. 



A woodcut border encloses the title-page, into the design of wluch the 

 signs of the Zodiac are introduced, with the Eoyal Aims at the top, and 

 having at the bottom a shield, bearing a coat of anus, which I am assured 

 by Ml". Burtchaell is that of the T^ondon Society of Stationers. Within the 

 rectangle formed by the border, and which border extends nearly to the 

 margin of the title-page all round, the name " True " appears in Gothic type 

 at the top, and beside it one can see the figures " 1636," notwithstanding 

 an attempted alteration, together with the words " A New Almanack and 

 Prognostication for the yeere of Our Lord God." [The date has here been 

 tampered with, and another, i.e., " 1811," substituted in ink by some owner 

 of the little Almanack.] The title then proceeds : " And from the creation 

 5598, Being Bissextill or Leap yeere. Composed for the meridian of the ancient 

 and famous City of Dublin and generally for all Ireland. By Patrick True." 

 There is a capital " G " after his name, elsewhere in the book more fully 

 given as " Gent," and then the imprint " Dublin : Printed for the Company 

 of Stationers." 



I might mention that the Company of Stationers came from London to 

 Dublin about the year 1618, and, in addition to being the State Printers of 

 the day, they also piinted for Archbishop Usher. 



The title-page is largely rubricated, as is also to some extent the 

 Almanack itself. 



Page 2, or the verso of the title-page, has the opening line, " Of the yeere 

 in generall," printed in red, followed by 16 lines in black Gothic letters. Of 

 these the first three read, " The Julian yeere beginneth the first of January ; 

 The Gregorian yeere beginneth the 12 of December : The Church of England 

 in Law Cases March 25." Then follow other particulars as to the com- 

 mencement of years by other countries and races. Explanations are then 

 given of certain astrological terms — the meaning of a " Month," a " Week," 

 and a " Day " are explained, and in doing so the term is used " here in 

 England," which confirms me in the belief that this Almanack is in part, and 

 probably in the main part, a reprint of an Almanack composed in England. 



Page 3 commences, " The Common notes and ..." (the words at the end 

 of the line at the edge being frayed away; "for this present yeere 1636,'* 

 both for " the old accompt used in England " and " The new Gregorian 

 accompt used beyond the sea." There is also an alphabetical list of the 

 festival days. 



On the -ith page, a cut of the human figure is given, showing the parts 



