facere hoc Davidico psalterio quod ex toto opere nunc quasi delibamus tuo dicatum nomini".

The learned linguist, Baptista Fliscus, was requested by Giustiniani to revise the text of the oriental versions, and sending his list of corrections, he prefaces it with the following words:

"Tu vero perge divinum complere negotium et quod Psalterio Davidico tribuisti confer caeteris quoque sacrae Scripturae partibus ut eâ tot nationum auribus accommodatâ invitetur universus orbis ad tantarum rerum notitiam.... Tum Leo ipse Pont. Max. cui tu opus ipsum dicasti pro sua erga omnes benignitate et munificentia non deerit tibi quoque in cunctis operi necessariis praesertim adeo utiliter navanti operam ei cujus vices gerit in terris".

Surely such expressions breathe sentiments far different from those of hostility to the dissemination of the genuine text of the Sacred Scriptures.

7. The second and far more important Polyglot was prepared under the guidance and published at the expense of a Franciscan prime minister of Spain, the illustrious Cardinal Ximenes. This great work, which was begun in 1502, was completed only a few weeks before the death of the Cardinal in 1517. When the son of the printer entered the apartment of Ximenes, "bearing the last sheets of the Polyglot, the aged Cardinal exclaimed: "I give thee thanks, O Lord! that thou hast enabled me to bring to the desired end the great work which I undertook". And then turning to those around him, he added: "Of the many arduous duties which I have performed for the benefit of the country, there is nothing on which you ought to congratulate me more than on the completion of this edition of the Bible". 7 This Polyglot comprises all the books of the Old and New Testaments in their original text, together with various ancient versions. Its expense was wholly defrayed by the Cardinal, who spared no pains to render it as complete as human efforts could effect. His biographer especially commemorates how on one occasion he gave the sum of £2,000 for seven ancient Hebrew manuscripts which were made use of in printing the Hebrew text; and the whole expense of the publication amounted to £25,000, which at that period was equivalent to four times that sum at the present day. "He made researches on all sides", writes Hefele, "for manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments, and sometimes was obliged to purchase them at an enormous expense, while others generously hastened to lend them for his use, amongst whom must be mentioned Pope Leo X. This pontiff honoured and revered Ximenes, and still more he loved the fine arts. He therefore generously supported him in the publication of the celebrated Polyglot. In return Ximenes dedicated the work to his Holiness, and in the introduction gave him public thanks in these words: 'Atque ex ipsis exemplaribus quidem, Graeca Sanctitati Tuae debemus, qui ex ista Apostolica Bibliotheca antiquissimos tam Veteris quam Novi Testamenti codices perquam humane ad nos misisti': i.e. 'To your Holiness we are indebted for the Greek manuscripts. You have sent us with the greatest kindness the copies both of the Old and New Testament, the most ancient that the apostolic library possessed". 8 In the introductory remarks to the various volumes, the learned editor more than once acquaints us with the motives which impelled him to this gigantic undertaking, and repeats the same expression of gratitude to the reigning pontiff for the kind assistance afforded him. Thus in the prolegomena he writes: "No translation can fully and exactly represent the sense of the original, at least in that language in which our Saviour himself spoke. It is necessary, therefore, as St. Jerome and St. Augustine desired, that we should go back to the origin of the sacred writings, and correct the books of the Old Testament by the Hebrew text, and those of the New Testament by the Greek text. Every theologian should also be able to drink of that water 'which springeth up to life eternal', at the fountainhead itself. This is the reason, therefore, why we have ordered the Bible to be printed in the original language with different translations. To accomplish this task we have been obliged to have recourse to the knowledge of the most able philologists, and to make researches in every direction for the best and most ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts". Again, in the preface to the New Testament, we read: "Illud lectorem non lateat non quaevis exemplaria impressioni huic archetypa fuisse sed antiquissima emendatissimaque ac tantae praeterea vetustatis ut fidem eis abrogare nefas videatur quae sanctissimus in Christo Pater et Dominus Nester Leo X. Pontifex Max. huic instituto favere cupiens, ex Apostolica Bibliotheca educta misit ad Reverendissimum D. Cardinalem Hispaniae".

Such, then, were the sentiments, such the solicitude, of the reigning Pontiff and of the Franciscan Cardinal in publishing the great Complutensian Polyglot—for it is thus it was styled, from the city of Complutum, better known by the modern name of Alcalà, in which it was printed. Still, if we are to credit the assertion of Lord Clancarty, they were the enemies of science, and opposed to the dissemination of the Word of God! How far more justly was the character of Ximenes appreciated by the two Protestant historians, Robertson and Prescott. The former writes: "The variety, the grandeur, and the success of his schemes, leaves it doubtful whether his sagacity in council, his prudence in conduct, or his boldness in execution, deserve the highest praise". The latter, still more to the point, observes: "The Cardinal's Bible has the merit of being the first successful attempt at a Polyglot version of the Scriptures ... Nor can we look at it in connection with the age, and the auspices under which it was accomplished, without regarding it as a noble monument of learning, piety, and munificence, which entitles its author to the gratitude of the whole Christian world". 9

8. Even these two great works did not suffice for the Catholic Biblical scholars of that age. Another still more perfect Polyglot soon followed the Complutensian edition. It was published at Antwerp in 1569-1572, under the auspices of Philip II. of Spain, and under the superintendence of Cardinal de Spinoza. The most learned men of the age concurred to complete this edition, and amongst its editors are named Sanctes Pagnini, Arias Montanus, Raphaelengius, and others.

9. The Polyglot of Le Jay, published at Paris, though later in point of time, surpassed all preceding editions in magnificence, and is generally reputed one of the most costly and splendid works that ever issued from the press. The booksellers of London offered the editor large sums of money, besides other advantageous terms, on condition that it should be called the London Polyglot. This offer, however, was contemptuously received by Le Jay, and this immense work appeared at his own individual expense solely, under Catholic auspices, and for the first time, in addition to the other texts, presented to the world the Samaritan Pentateuch.

10. Now all these great works appeared before a single attempt was made by Protestants to publish a Polyglot Bible; they all appeared under the patronage of the clergy, and show the ever active solicitude of the Catholic Church to promote a true Christian