author
Thomas Goodwin
1586–1642
A learned English schoolmaster and cleric of the early 17th century, he is best remembered for making the ancient world easier to understand for students and readers of Scripture. His books on Roman and Hebrew customs were widely read for generations.
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About the author
Born in 1586 or 1587, Thomas Godwyn was an English scholar educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He later became the first fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, and also served in the church, holding posts as chaplain to the Bishop of Bath and Wells and rector of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.
Godwyn wrote clear, practical reference works that helped readers grasp the background of the Bible and the classical world. Among the best known are Moses and Aaron, on the rites and customs of the ancient Hebrews, and Romanae historiae anthologia, an exposition of Roman antiquities. Their long afterlife in print suggests how useful they were to students, clergy, and general readers.
He died in 1642. Although he is less famous today than some of his contemporaries, his work reflects a gift for turning scholarship into something accessible and helpful.