John Bois
Encyclopedia
John Bois (January 3, 1560 – January 14, 1643) was an English scholar, remembered mainly as one of the members of the translating committee for the Authorized Version of the Bible. He should not be confused with John Boys
, Dean of Canterbury from 1619 to 1625.
, England, His father was William Bois, a graduate of Michaelhouse, Cambridge
and a Protestant converted by Martin Bucer
, who was vicar of Elmsett
and West Stow
; his mother was Mirable Poolye.
His father took great care about his education, and already at the age of five years John could read the Bible in Hebrew
. He was sent to school at Hadleigh, then went to St John's College, Cambridge
, in 1575 when he was 15 years old. He was taught by Henry Copinger, and soon was proficient in Greek
. He intended medicine as a profession, but its study brought on hypochondria.
In 1580 Bois was elected Fellow of his College, while suffering from smallpox
. On June 21, 1583 he was ordained a deacon
of the Church of England
, by Edmund Freake. For ten years, he was Greek lecturer in his college.
When he was about thirty-six years old, on October 13, 1596, he married the daughter of Francis Holt, rector at Boxworth
, after the death of her father, and he took over this post. Serious financial troubles followed, and he had to sell his library; his scholarly reputation brought him tasks, but they were poorly rewarded. In 1609 he succeeded John Duport
as prebendary
of Ely while also serving as rector of Boxworth
. He spent the last years of his life there. He was eighty-three when he died in Ely
. He had four sons and three daughters, none of whom survived their father. His wife died two years before him.
with the translation of the works of John Chrysostom
.
In 1604 he was recruited for one of the Cambridge committees set up to translate the Bible into English. He also served in the "Second Cambridge Company" charged by James I of England
with translating the Apocrypha
for the King James Version of the Bible
. Six years later, when the work was done, the different translations were reviewed by six scholars for the final publication. Bois was one of their number. The Bible was then published in 1611.
Scholarly notes he made on the Latin Vulgate survived and were later printed. The renderings of the Vulgate are in the main defended, but Bois frequently proposes more exact translations of his own.
John Boys (Dean)
-Life:He was descended from an old Kentish family who boasted that their ancestor came into England with William the Conqueror, and who at the beginning of the seventeenth century had no less than eight branches, each with its capital mansion, in the county of Kent. The dean was the son of Thomas...
, Dean of Canterbury from 1619 to 1625.
Life
Bois was born in Nettlestead, SuffolkNettlestead, Suffolk
Nettlestead is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located to the north-west of Ipswich, in 2005 its population was 90....
, England, His father was William Bois, a graduate of Michaelhouse, Cambridge
Michaelhouse, Cambridge
Michaelhouse is the name of one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge, that existed between 1323 and 1546, when it was merged with King's Hall to form Trinity College. Michaelhouse was the second residential college to be founded, after Peterhouse...
and a Protestant converted by Martin Bucer
Martin Bucer
Martin Bucer was a Protestant reformer based in Strasbourg who influenced Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices. Bucer was originally a member of the Dominican Order, but after meeting and being influenced by Martin Luther in 1518 he arranged for his monastic vows to be annulled...
, who was vicar of Elmsett
Elmsett
Elmsett is a village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Located around three miles north-east of Hadleigh, it is in Babergh district. In 2005 it had a population of 826.-History:...
and West Stow
West Stow
West Stow is a small parish in West Suffolk, England.The village lies north of Bury St. Edmunds, south of Mildenhall and Thetford and west of the villages of Culford and Ingham in the area known as the Breckland.This area is located near the Lark River Valley and populated from AD 420-650.it is...
; his mother was Mirable Poolye.
His father took great care about his education, and already at the age of five years John could read the Bible in Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew language
Biblical Hebrew , also called Classical Hebrew , is the archaic form of the Hebrew language, a Canaanite Semitic language spoken in the area known as Canaan between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Biblical Hebrew is attested from about the 10th century BCE, and persisted through...
. He was sent to school at Hadleigh, then went to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, in 1575 when he was 15 years old. He was taught by Henry Copinger, and soon was proficient in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
. He intended medicine as a profession, but its study brought on hypochondria.
In 1580 Bois was elected Fellow of his College, while suffering from smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. On June 21, 1583 he was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, by Edmund Freake. For ten years, he was Greek lecturer in his college.
When he was about thirty-six years old, on October 13, 1596, he married the daughter of Francis Holt, rector at Boxworth
Boxworth
Boxworth is a village in Cambridgeshire not far from the rapidly-expanding developments of Cambourne and Bar Hill. It is situated about 8 miles to the north-west of Cambridge. It is within the diocese of Ely. The village covers an area of 1,053 ha...
, after the death of her father, and he took over this post. Serious financial troubles followed, and he had to sell his library; his scholarly reputation brought him tasks, but they were poorly rewarded. In 1609 he succeeded John Duport
John Duport
John Duport was an English scholar and translator.Dr John Duport was born in Shepshed in Leicestershire. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he became a Fellow in 1674. In 1583 he became rector of Fulham, and in 1585 precentor of St Paul's Cathedral...
as prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Ely while also serving as rector of Boxworth
Boxworth
Boxworth is a village in Cambridgeshire not far from the rapidly-expanding developments of Cambourne and Bar Hill. It is situated about 8 miles to the north-west of Cambridge. It is within the diocese of Ely. The village covers an area of 1,053 ha...
. He spent the last years of his life there. He was eighty-three when he died in Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
. He had four sons and three daughters, none of whom survived their father. His wife died two years before him.
Works
He assisted Henry SavileSir Henry Savile
Sir Henry Savile was an English scholar, Warden of Merton College, Oxford, and Provost of Eton.-Life:He was the son of Henry Savile of Bradley, near Halifax in Yorkshire, England, a member of an old county family, the Saviles of Methley, and of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Ramsden.He was...
with the translation of the works of John Chrysostom
John Chrysostom
John Chrysostom , Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic...
.
In 1604 he was recruited for one of the Cambridge committees set up to translate the Bible into English. He also served in the "Second Cambridge Company" charged by James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
with translating the Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
for the King James Version of the Bible
King James Version of the Bible
The Authorized Version, commonly known as the King James Version, King James Bible or KJV, is an English translation of the Christian Bible by the Church of England begun in 1604 and completed in 1611...
. Six years later, when the work was done, the different translations were reviewed by six scholars for the final publication. Bois was one of their number. The Bible was then published in 1611.
Scholarly notes he made on the Latin Vulgate survived and were later printed. The renderings of the Vulgate are in the main defended, but Bois frequently proposes more exact translations of his own.