The opinions of your learned correspondents on this disputed point may be of much interest to many of your readers, and to none more than to
George Munford.
East Winch.
MINOR QUERIES.
MSS. of the Wycliffite Translations of the Scriptures.—The Add. MS. 15,521., in the British Museum, contains a copy of Lewis's edition of the Wycliffite New Testament, printed in 1731, with manuscript notes by Ames and Lewis, and the former has transcribed into it some additional prologues, prefixed to each book of the New Testament, which had not been printed by Lewis, and were taken by Ames from a MS. of the New Testament, written in 1424, and in 1731 in the possession of Thomas Granger. It would be very desirable to learn what became of this MS. subsequently. Granger died in the following year, but the MS. does not appear in the sale catalogue of his library, nor is it found in the catalogue of Ames's own library, dispersed in 1760. Any information relative to this remarkable copy of the New Testament, would be very acceptable to the Editors of the Wycliffite Versions of the Scriptures, who are now, after a literary labour of more than twenty years, about to bring the work to a conclusion. They would also feel much obliged by the communication of any notices of MSS. of the Wycliffite versions, existing in private hands, exclusive of those copies of which they already possess descriptions, existing in the libraries of the following individuals:—Mrs. Allanson of Farn, Flintshire, the Earl of Ashburnham, Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., Sir Peregrine Ackland, Bart., Sir David Dundas, H.M. Judge Advocate, Dr. Cardwell, Principal of St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, and Thomas Bannister, Esq.
F. Madden.
British Museum, March 28.
Why are Gloves not worn before Royalty?—Can any of your readers inform me what is the origin of the custom observed at Court, of persons in the royal presence not wearing gloves? Is it a matter of pure etiquette, or does the observance of it derive its origins from barbarous times, when chivalry was little else than barbarism in armour?