Jacobus Taurinus (Jacob van Toor) (1576 – 22 September 1618)[1] was a Dutch preacher and theologian, a main supporter of the Remonstrants and polemical writer in their cause.
He was born in Schiedam, where his father Petrus Taurinus was a preacher of the Reformed Church. He studied theology at the University of Leiden from 14 November 1590, under Franciscus Junius the Elder, Lucas Trelcatius, Petrus Bertius and Franciscus Gomarus; and associated with Willem van Zyll, Karl Ryckewaert, Everardus Booth, Johann Narsius, Eduardus Poppius, and Simon Goulart the Younger.[2]
In 1600 Taurinus took the post of lecturer in the ‘t Woud parish of Delft.[3] In the following year he had a call to Delftshaven, and in 1605 to Utrecht.[2] There he collaborated with Gilles van Ledenberg.In 1617 a polemical pamphlet involved Taurinus in serious political trouble, it having offended James I of England.[4] The political changes of 1618, in which Maurice of Nassau took control, made him leave the Netherlands, and he died that year at Antwerp with Johannes Wtenbogaert.[2]
Sir Dudley Carleton, English ambassador in The Hague, made a speech against the Remonstrants to the States-General of the Netherlands (6 October 1617).[5] Taurinus subjected this oration to criticism in the anonymous Weegh-schael (The Balance),[6] after consulting Johan van Oldenbarneveldt. Carleton was taken to task for acting inconsistently with the wishes of his royal master.[7] Carleton in November asked the States General on 22 November for the author to be punished; and was informed in December by Matthew Slade that the pamphlet had been written by Taurinus.[5] Carleton pursued the matter vigorously, brought up several stringent demands, and made the French translation a target also.[8] The French version was by Carolus Niellius, and included a satirical introduction.[9]
Other works included Van de onderlinge Verdraagsammheydt: tegen Jacobi Triglandi Recht-Gematigden Christen (1615) against Jacobus Triglandius.[10]