The author’s name is given in the lettering on the back of the volume, viz. J. Hall, i.e. John Hall of Durham and Gray’s Inn. And the book is mentioned in the Life of Hall prefixed by J. Davies of Kidwelly to Hall’s translation of Hierocles, 12º. Lond. 1657, where at p. [15] mention is made of "his Syntagma concerning the advantageous reading of History, never printed, though written by him in 1645, before his coming to the University."

The MS. (which is in a very clear and freely flowing hand) looks as if written some twenty or thirty years later than 1645. If so, it must be a copy made after the author’s death, as that occurred in the year 1655.