Critici sacri
Encyclopedia
Critici sacri was a compilation of Latin biblical commentaries published in London from 1660, edited by John Pearson. The publisher was Cornelius Bee. The work appeared in nine volumes, and collected numerous authors, both Protestant and Catholic, of early modern critical work on the Bible. It was intended to complement Brian Walton's Polyglot Bible, and set off a series of subsequent related publications.
The original work, while influential (particularly in making the notes of Grotius widely available), was not a connected Bible commentary, and was found to be long-winded, as well as scanty in other parts. Later publications attempted to address these shortcomings.
and Francis Gouldman
, as well as Pearson's brother Richard. Bee was a bookseller in Little Britain, London
. He suffered major losses in the 1666 Great Fire
.
, in five volumes, condensing the Critici sacri, and adding further authors. There was a 1684 edition by Johann Leusden
; also editions by J. H. Maius (1679), and J. G. Pritz (Pritius) (1712).
There had already been a pioneer complete Bible commentary in English, the Annotations upon all the Books of the Old and New Testament sponsored by the Westminster Assembly
. Prompted by William Lloyd
, Poole began his compilation in 1666. The prospectus of Poole's work bore the names of eight bishops (headed by Morley and Hacket) and five continental scholars, besides other divines. Simon Patrick
, John Tillotson
, and Edward Stillingfleet
, with four laymen, acted as trustees of the subscription money. A patent for the work was obtained on 14 October 1667.
Poole had assistance from John Lightfoot
and Matthew Robinson.
The first volume was ready for the press, when difficulties were raised by Cornelius Bee, who accused Poole of invading his own patent. After pamphlets had been written and legal opinions taken, the matter was referred to Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester
, and Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
, who decided in Poole's favour; Bee's name appears (1669) among the publishers of the Synopsis. The style was crisp notes, including rabbinical sources and Roman Catholic commentators.
The authors included in this collection are selectively listed by Adam Clarke
:
The original work, while influential (particularly in making the notes of Grotius widely available), was not a connected Bible commentary, and was found to be long-winded, as well as scanty in other parts. Later publications attempted to address these shortcomings.
Critici sacri (1660)
The original full title was Critici Sacri, sive Doctissimorum Virorum in SS. Biblia Annotationes et Tractatus, and it appeared in nine volumes starting in 1660. The commentary project was launched by Cornelius Bee, with the main editor being John Pearson, supported by Anthony ScattergoodAnthony Scattergood
-Life:He was eldest of the twelve children of John Skatergood of Chaddesden, Derbyshire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Baker, yeoman, of Ellastone, a village in North Staffordshire. The parents were married at Ellastone on 18 Dec. 1608, and Antony was baptised there on 18 September...
and Francis Gouldman
Francis Gouldman
Francis Gouldman was a Church of England clergyman and lexicographer whose Latin-English dictionary went through several editions. Gouldman was also one of the directors who oversaw the publication of the monumental Critici sacri, a major collection of Biblical criticism.-Life:Gouldman earned his...
, as well as Pearson's brother Richard. Bee was a bookseller in Little Britain, London
Little Britain, London
Little Britain is a street in the City of London running from St. Martin's Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield in the west. It is the northern boundary of St Bartholomew's Hospital and is situated in the Aldersgate and Farringdon Within wards. Postman's Park is situated by Little...
. He suffered major losses in the 1666 Great Fire
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
.
Synopsis criticorum (from 1669)
The Synopsis criticorum was a work by Matthew PooleMatthew Poole
Matthew Poole was an English Nonconformist theologian.-Life to 1662:He was born at York, the son of Francis Pole, but he spelled his name Poole, and in Latin Polus; his mother was a daughter of Alderman Toppins there. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1645, under John...
, in five volumes, condensing the Critici sacri, and adding further authors. There was a 1684 edition by Johann Leusden
Johann Leusden
Johannes Leusden was a Dutch Calvinist theologian and orientalist...
; also editions by J. H. Maius (1679), and J. G. Pritz (Pritius) (1712).
There had already been a pioneer complete Bible commentary in English, the Annotations upon all the Books of the Old and New Testament sponsored by the Westminster Assembly
Westminster Assembly
The Westminster Assembly of Divines was appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England. It also included representatives of religious leaders from Scotland...
. Prompted by William Lloyd
William Lloyd (bishop)
William Lloyd was an English divine who served successively as bishop of St Asaph, of Lichfield and Coventry and of Worcester.-Life:...
, Poole began his compilation in 1666. The prospectus of Poole's work bore the names of eight bishops (headed by Morley and Hacket) and five continental scholars, besides other divines. Simon Patrick
Simon Patrick
Simon Patrick was an English theologian and bishop.-Life:He was born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 8 September 1626, and attended Boston Grammar School. He entered Queens College, Cambridge, in 1644, and after taking orders in 1651 became successively chaplain to Sir Walter St. John and vicar...
, John Tillotson
John Tillotson
John Tillotson was an Archbishop of Canterbury .-Curate and rector:Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. He entered as a pensioner of Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1647, graduated in 1650 and was made fellow of his college in 1651...
, and Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
, with four laymen, acted as trustees of the subscription money. A patent for the work was obtained on 14 October 1667.
Poole had assistance from John Lightfoot
John Lightfoot
John Lightfoot was an English churchman, rabbinical scholar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Master of St Catharine's College, Cambridge.-Life:...
and Matthew Robinson.
The first volume was ready for the press, when difficulties were raised by Cornelius Bee, who accused Poole of invading his own patent. After pamphlets had been written and legal opinions taken, the matter was referred to Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester
Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester
Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester, PC, FRS was an English peer, the son of the Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull.-Career:...
, and Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey PC was an Anglo-Irish royalist statesman. After short periods as President of the Council of State and Treasurer of the Navy, he served as Lord Privy Seal between 1673 and 1682 for Charles II...
, who decided in Poole's favour; Bee's name appears (1669) among the publishers of the Synopsis. The style was crisp notes, including rabbinical sources and Roman Catholic commentators.
- Author listing from Poole, Synopsis criticorum:
Critici sacri (from 1698)
An expanded edition was produced in Amsterdam from 1698 by a Dutch editorial group, credited as: Hendrick Boom, the widow of Dirk Boom, Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge, Gillis Janssonius van Waesberge, Gerardus Borstius, Abraham van Someren, Joannes Wolters, and Willem van de Water.The authors included in this collection are selectively listed by Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar, born in the townland of Moybeg Kirley near Tobermore in Ireland...
:
- Old Testament commentary (main authors): Sebastian MunsterSebastian MünsterSebastian Münster , was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and a Hebrew scholar.- Life :Münster was born at Ingelheim near Mainz, the son of Andreas Munster. He completed his studies at the Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen in 1518. His graduate adviser was Johannes Stöffler.He was appointed to...
, Paul FagiusPaul FagiusPaul Fagius was a Renaissance scholar of Biblical Hebrew.-Life:Fagius was born at Rheinzabern in 1504. His father was a teacher and council clerk. In 1515 he went to study at the University of Heidelberg and in 1518 was present at the Heidelberg Disputation...
, Francis Vatablus, Claudius Badwellus (Claude Badwell), Sebastian Castalio, Isidore Clarius, Lucas Brugensis, Andrew Masius, John Drusius, Sextinus Amama (Sixtinus), Simeon de Muis, Philip Codurcus (Philippe Codurc or Codur), Rodolph Baynus, Francis Forrerius (Francisco Foreiro), Edward LivelyEdward LivelyEdward Lively was an English linguist and biblical scholar. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became a Fellow, He was Regius Professor of Hebrew from 1575 to 1605...
, David Hœschelius, Hugo GrotiusHugo GrotiusHugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
, Christopher CartwrightChristopher CartwrightChristopher Cartwright was an English clergyman, known as a Hebraist and for his use of targums in Biblical exegesis, following the lead of Henry Ainsworth with John Weemes.-Life:...
, and John PriceJohn Price (classical scholar)John Price was an English classical scholar, publisher and collector of books. He was a Roman Catholic who described himself as ‘Anglo-Britannus’.In 1635, in Paris, he published the Apologia of Apuleius....
(Pricaeus). - Old Testament dissertations: Joseph Scaliger, Lewis Capellus, Martin Helvicus, Alberic Gentilis, Moses bar Cepha, Christopher Helvicus, John Buteo (Johannes Buteo), Matthew Hostus, Francis Moncæus, Peter Pithœus, George Rittershusius, Michael Rothardus, Leo AllatiusLeo AllatiusLeo Allatius was a Greek scholar, theologian and keeper of the Vatican library....
, Gasper Verrerius, William Schickardus, Augustin Justinianus, Benedict Arias Montanus, Bonaventura Cornelius Bertramus, Peter Cunæus, Caspar Waser, and Edward BrerewoodEdward BrerewoodEdward Brerewood was an English scholar and antiquary. He was a mathematician and logician, and wrote an influential book on the origin of languages.-Life:...
. - New Testament commentary: Munster, Laurentius Valla, James Revius, Erasmus, Vatablus, Castalio, Clarius, Masius, Nicolas Zegerus (Nikolaas Zegers), Brugensis, Henry Stephens, Drusius, Scaliger, Isaac CasaubonIsaac CasaubonIsaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
, John Camera, James Capellus, Lewis Capellus, Otho Gualtperius, Abraham Schultetus, Grotius, and Pricaeus. - New Testament dissertations: Lewis Capellus, Nicolas Faber, William Klebilius, Marquard Freherus, James UssherJames UssherJames Ussher was Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–56...
, Hostus, I. A. Vander-Linden, Claudius SalmasiusClaudius SalmasiusClaudius Salmasius is the Latin name of Claude Saumaise , a French classical scholar.-Life:Salmasius was born at Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy. His father, a counsellor of the parlement of Dijon, sent him, at the age of sixteen, to Paris, where he became intimate with Isaac Casaubon...
under the name of Johannes Simplicius, James Gothofridus, Codurcus, Schultetus, William Ader, Drusius, Jac. Lopez Stunica (López de Zúñiga), Erasmus, Angelus Caninius, Pithœus, Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople, Adriani Isagoge with notes by Hœschelius, Bertramus, Antonius Nebrissensis, Nicholas FullerNicholas FullerNicholas Fuller was an English Hebraist and philologist.-Life:The son of Robert Fuller by his wife Catharine Cresset, he was a native of Hampshire, and was born about 1557. He was sent to schools at Southampton, kept by John Horlock and Adrian Saravia...
, Samuel Petit, John GregoryJohn Gregory (scholar)-Life:He was born at Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on 10 November 1607, and was from a humble background. He became a servitor of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1624, being placed along with his ‘master,’ Sir William Drake of Amersham, under the tuition of George Morley, afterwards bishop of Winchester....
, Cartwright, John Cloppenberg, and Peter Daniel Huet.