1. Ames asserted that _The Dore of Holy Scripture_ was among the books
prohibited to be read {140} by the injunctions of Henry the Eighth, and
refers, as his authority, to Foxe's _Acts and Monument_, ed. 1562, p.
574. Herbert, in a note, questions the fact, and raises a doubt as to
the existence of the passage in Foxe, since it is not in the edition of
1641. I have, however, the first edition now before me of 1563 (_not_
1562), and at p. 574., among "the names of certen bokes whiche after
this injunction [namely, of 1539], or some other in the said kinges
dayes were prohybited," occurs, "Item, _the doore of holy scripture_.
made by Jhon. Gowghe."
2. This work was again printed by Crowley in 1550, 12mo., under a
different title, namely, _The Pathway to Perfect Knowledge_; and in the
preface, he falsely ascribes it to John Wycliffe, and adds, "the
original wherof is in an olde English Bible, betwixt the Olde Testament
and the Newe, which Bible remaineth now in the Kyng his Majesties
chamber." This Bible appears to be the identical manuscript copy of the
later Wycliffe version of the Scriptures, now preserved in the
University Library, Cambridge, and marked Mm 2. 15. A copy of Crowley's
edition is in the British Museum, but the orthography and language of
the tract are modernised.
F.M.
B.M., Dec. 19.
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