[BIBLE.] THE NEW TESTAMENT.

£3,250 · Offered by Sokol Books

Rare second edition of the Roman Catholic version of the New Testament, with extensive commentary and notes, first published at Rheims 1582, here revised with additions such as the ‘Table of Heretical Corruptions’. A most interesting copy with an extremely rare, early record of its binding in Norwich by William Pinder. This edition remained the standard and virtually the only English Catholic bible for some four hundred years. The Old Testament followed in 1609-10; although it was finished considerably earlier it was not published for lack of funds. “The work of preparing such a version was undertaken by the members of the English College at Douai, in Flanders, founded by William Allen (afterwards cardinal) in 1568. The chief share of the translating was borne by Dr. Gregory Martin, formerly of St. John's College, Oxford. His text was revised by Thomas Worthington, Richard Bristowe, John Reynolds, and Allen himself — all of them Oxford men. A series of notes was added, designed to answer the theological arguments of the Reformers; these were prepared by Allen, assisted by Bristowe and Worthington. The object of the work was, of course not limited to controversial purposes; in the case of the New Testament, especially, it was meant for pious use among Catholics. The fact however, that the primary end was controversial explains the course adopted by the translators. In the first place they translated directly, not from the original Hebrew or Greek, but from the Latin Vulgate of

• Binding: Hardcover

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