Francis Gouldman
Encyclopedia
Francis Gouldman was a Church of England
clergyman and lexicographer whose Latin-English dictionary (1664) 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
.
. His father was George Gouldman, also spelled Gowldman, who was a rector
of South Ockendon
, Essex
. His son succeeded him, and held the position from 26 March 1634 until his death, with one hiatus. In 1644, he was caught up in Reformation
church politics, and an ejectment
was brought against him. "He appeareth to be ill affected," the text of the ejectment read, "and an Idle Minister," grounds for which claim might have been found in his refusal to preach more than once on the Sabbath or Fast Day
s, and going for nine years without catechizing
his parishioners. In the view of J.E.B. Mayor
, the case "shows how little his enemies could find to object against this laborious scholar," and he was later restored. Gouldman was, however, undeniably outspoken from the pulpit, fomenting against Parliament
and taxation.
His wife's name was Abigail. They had five children.
. The second edition was published in 1669, with a third in 1674 and a fourth in 1678. Gouldman's stated intention was to provide "correct and plentiful observations, and phraseological explanations," as well as "the proper names of persons, places, and other things necessary to the understanding of historians and poets." Gouldman's approach was inclusionist: he explained "barbarous" forms
instead of correcting or omitting them. His work was revised along more prescriptive
lines by Adam Littleton for greater purity of Latinity.
Gouldman's dictionary was one of the works for which Cambridge University Press
was most known in the 17th century. Thomas Parson is said by Edmund Calamy
to have helped it through the press, working also on the front matter and indexing; but his name does not appear in connection with the book.
, the nine-volume Critici Sacri
was published in London in 1660 with a dedication to Charles II
. Intended as a companion to the Polyglott Bible of Brian Walton (1657), Critici sacri was a collection of essays on Biblical interpretation
, antiquities, textual criticism
and exegesis
by the most significant theologians of the time.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the theologian Adam Clarke
considered Critici sacri the most important collection of Biblical criticism
ever made, and in the 21st century it is still recognized as a great work.
in one of the satirical dialogues of William King
. "Gouldman" chides the ancient lexicographer for boasting of the attention he receives from pedants, pointing out that philological
learnedness has little value for the man of action.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman and lexicographer whose Latin-English dictionary (1664) 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
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
.
Life
Gouldman earned his master's degree from Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
. His father was George Gouldman, also spelled Gowldman, who was a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of South Ockendon
South Ockendon
South Ockendon is settlement and Church of England parish in the Thurrock borough and unitary district in Essex in the East of England, United Kingdom.-History:...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. His son succeeded him, and held the position from 26 March 1634 until his death, with one hiatus. In 1644, he was caught up in Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
church politics, and an ejectment
Ejectment
Ejectment is the common law term for civil action to recover the possession of and title to land. It replaced the old real actions as well as the various possessory assizes...
was brought against him. "He appeareth to be ill affected," the text of the ejectment read, "and an Idle Minister," grounds for which claim might have been found in his refusal to preach more than once on the Sabbath or Fast Day
Fast Day
Fast Day was a holiday observed in some parts of the United States between 1670 and 1991."A day of public fasting and prayer", it was traditionally observed in the New England states. It had its origin in days of prayer and repentance proclaimed in the early days of the American colonies by Royal...
s, and going for nine years without catechizing
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
his parishioners. In the view of J.E.B. Mayor
John Eyton Bickersteth Mayor
John Eyton Bickersteth Mayor was an English classical scholar.He was born at Baddegama, Sri Lanka , and returned to England to be educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge....
, the case "shows how little his enemies could find to object against this laborious scholar," and he was later restored. Gouldman was, however, undeniably outspoken from the pulpit, fomenting against Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
and taxation.
His wife's name was Abigail. They had five children.
Latin dictionary
A Copious Dictionary in Three Parts provided explanations and etymologies, though criticized as rambling and obscure by his successor and rival, Elisha ColesElisha Coles
Elisha Coles was a 17th century English lexicographer and stenographer, chorister of Magdalen College, Oxford, 1658-61; teacher of Latin and English in London, 1663; usher of Merchant Taylors School, 1677; master of Galway school, 1678....
. The second edition was published in 1669, with a third in 1674 and a fourth in 1678. Gouldman's stated intention was to provide "correct and plentiful observations, and phraseological explanations," as well as "the proper names of persons, places, and other things necessary to the understanding of historians and poets." Gouldman's approach was inclusionist: he explained "barbarous" forms
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin is any of the nonstandard forms of Latin from which the Romance languages developed. Because of its nonstandard nature, it had no official orthography. All written works used Classical Latin, with very few exceptions...
instead of correcting or omitting them. His work was revised along more prescriptive
Linguistic prescription
In linguistics, prescription denotes normative practices on such aspects of language use as spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and syntax. It includes judgments on what usages are socially proper and politically correct...
lines by Adam Littleton for greater purity of Latinity.
Gouldman's dictionary was one of the works for which Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
was most known in the 17th century. Thomas Parson is said by Edmund Calamy
Edmund Calamy (historian)
Edmund Calamy was an English Nonconformist churchman, divine and historian.-Life:A grandson of Edmund Calamy the Elder, he was born in the City of London, in the parish of St Mary Aldermanbury. He was sent to various schools, including Merchant Taylors', and in 1688 proceeded to the university of...
to have helped it through the press, working also on the front matter and indexing; but his name does not appear in connection with the book.
Critici sacri
Under the direction of Gouldman, John Pearson and 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...
, the nine-volume Critici Sacri
Critici sacri
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...
was published in London in 1660 with a dedication to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. Intended as a companion to the Polyglott Bible of Brian Walton (1657), Critici sacri was a collection of essays on Biblical interpretation
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
, antiquities, textual criticism
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
and exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
by the most significant theologians of the time.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the theologian 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...
considered Critici sacri the most important collection of Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
ever made, and in the 21st century it is still recognized as a great work.
In fiction
Gouldman was an interlocutor along with the 2nd-century grammarian HesychiusHesychius of Alexandria
Hesychius of Alexandria , a grammarian who flourished probably in the 5th century CE, compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words that has survived...
in one of the satirical dialogues of William King
William King (poet)
-Life:Born in London, the son of Ezekiel King, he was related to the family of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. From Westminster School, where he was a scholar under Richard Busby, at the age of eighteen he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford in 1681. There he is said to have dedicated himself...
. "Gouldman" chides the ancient lexicographer for boasting of the attention he receives from pedants, pointing out that philological
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
learnedness has little value for the man of action.