THIS second volume of the catalogue of the Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College comprises those standing in Class R. In subject they are highly miscellaneous, comprising as they do all the books that could not be classed as theological in virtue of their principal contents. History, Poetry, Philosophy, Law, Natural Science, Medicine and Music represent fairly the main departments ; and the mere enumeration of these shows how wide a field for errors and omissions is open to the cataloguer.

In truth, I have been confronted with many puzzles, and defeated by not a few. If this volume is used by an expert in alchemy (if such there be) or in medieval medicine, or in later Italian history, he will most likely be able to criticize me sharply—not, I hope, for giving him false information, but very probably for not telling him enough. I have instanced classes of books as to which I am conscious of ignorance; but it is equally likely that I have erred where the path was plainer. I shall be grateful to those who will set me right. A third volume, be it remembered, is to come, if I am spared to write it, and I shall not scruple to confess my mistakes when they are pointed out. I gladly borrow the words of a monk of Dover who wrote a careful catalogue of the books of his monastery: “Et uere non offendet compilantem, set diliget euidenter quicumque hanc matriculam adhuc multipliciter defectiuam in melius duxerit.”