Many Readers but Few Followers: The Fate of Nicholas of Lyra's “Apocalypse Commentary” in the Hands of His Late-Medieval Admirers
Philip D. Krey
“Use Auriol's Compendium as a mould, pour in Lyre, flavor with Augustine, and sprinkle Grosseteste.” This was John Wyclif's (1330–1384) recipe for biblical commentary. It may be the nature of commentary that commentators do not follow recipes closely, but history how admirers Nicholas Lyra's Apocalypse Commentary (1329) received reworked it indicates Nicholas's work served frequently “mould” into which other interpretations were “poured,” while his own Augustinian seasonings largely ignored. Although later often adopted method, they more poured ingredients younger Franciscan colleague, Peter Auriol (whose 1319 sharply critiqued), serving up dish would have enjoyed eating.
Church History