The
Synopsis criticorum was a work by
Matthew Poole, 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. Matthew Poole's
Synopsis criticorum is currently being translated by the Matthew Poole Project, and much of the work is available online. ==
Critici sacri (from 1698)==