60 
MEMOIR OF 
to retail assertions upon the credit of a prede- 
cessor, instead of having recourse himself to 
original sources of information. 
It appears, from the authority already quoted, 
as well as from other sources, that Mr Willughby 
took his degree of bachelor of arts in the year 
1655-6, — that is, when he was about twenty-one 
years of age ; and in the year 1659, he took the 
degree of master of arts when about twenty-three 
years old. Nothing can be inferred as to the 
attainments made by Mr Willughby, in the usual 
studies of the University, from any public record; 
for, at the time he graduated, the names of the 
bachelors were simply arranged in alphabetical 
order, their respective merits not being at that 
time, and for many years afterwards, distinguished 
by any classification. 
He resided, with some absences, much longer 
in the University than is usual, being most pro- 
bably induced to do so by the continued residence 
there of Mr Ray, and of other friends of conge- 
nial habits, particularly those pupils of Mr Ray 
already mentioned. Mr Nid, a fellow of Trinity 
College, also then resident in the University, 
belonged to this society of scientific friends. 
In the September of 1660,* Mr Willughby 
went “ to sojourn” at Oxford for the benefit of 
consulting some rare works in the public library. 
In this year also Mr Ray published his first work, 
entitled “ Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam 
* Wood’s Fasti, 1660. 
