1600 GREEK NEW TESTAMENT. Belonging to Important Puritan Translator, Ralph Winterton

A charming little early 17th century Greek New Testament previously belonging to an important translator of Continental Reformation and Pietist works, Ralph Winterton.

Ralph Winterton (1600–1636) was an English physician, translator, and humanist.

Entering King’s College, Cambridge, at 17 years of age, he originally studied mathematics, but suffering a severe case of insomnia and depression, he was recommended to switch to the study of medicine.

Latin and Greek then being a core part of the medical curriculum, and ones in which he excelled, in 1625 he was a candidate for the professorship of Greek. It was awarded instead to Robert Creighton. Winterton was then formally diverted to the study of physic, which he had already pursued for four years. He received the university license to practice medicine in 1631 and the same year petitioned King's College to grant him the degree of M.D. under its statutes. His request was refused, apparently on theological grounds. There was an ongoing bitter theological debate between he and the Provost, Samuel Collins, regarding Winterton’s puritan principles. The extent of the controversy is demonstrated by the fact that John Hacket, writing from Buckden Palace on behalf of the bishop of Lincoln, Bishop John Williams himself, and the Earl of Holland all wrote in protest, and yet he was denied. Finally, Archbishop Laud, against his scruples, was forced to have Collins grant his degree.

He translated Considerations of Drexelius upon Eternitie by Jeremias Drexel, A Golden Chaine of Divine Aphorismes by Johann Gerhard, The Sum of Christian Doctrine by Gerhard, Girolamo Zanchi's The Whole Body of Christian Religion, Johann Gerhard's Sacred Meditations, and more. 

Original 24mo attractive Greek New Testament [Luke through Revelation] pre-dating 1636. Paginated pp.211-463. 

Front board detached, no title, textually complete. Very attractive manuscript ownership inscription by Winterton on the rear. Well worth preserving and the edition I'm sure traceable with a bit of diligence.