Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kilbye, Richard
KILBYE, RICHARD (1561?–1620), biblical scholar, born of humble parentage at Ratcliffe on the Wreak, Leicestershire, about 1561, matriculated at Oxford from Lincoln College on 20 Dec. 1577, and was elected fellow on 18 Jan. 1577-8 (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc., vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 75, pt. iii. p. 77), He was admitted B.A. on 9 Dec. 1578, M.A. in 1582, B.D. and D.D. in 1596 (ib. vol. ii. pt. i. pp.139, 198, 263). On 10 Dec. 1590 he was elected rector of Lincoln College (Le Neve, Fasti, ed. Hardy, iii, 567), and became prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral on 28 Sept. 1601 (ib. ii. 188). In 1610 he was appointed regius professor of Hebrew (ib. iii. 514). He died on 7 Nov. 1620, and was buried in the college chancel of All Saints' Church, Oxford. By his will he gave to the parish a double-gilt chalice and 50s. to buy a silver-gilt paten. Both utensils are still in use in the church.
Kilbye, who was an able preacher, published a funeral sermon on Thomas Holland, (d. 1612) [q. v.], 4to, Oxford, 1613. He was one of the translators of the Bible appointed by James I in 1604, and took part in the version of the prophetical books. He wrote also Latin commentaries on 'Exodus,' part ii. of which came into the possession of William Gilbert, fellow of Lincoln, and prepared a continuation of John Mercer's commentary on 'Genesis' (1598), but was not allowed to print it.
[Wood's Athenae Oxon. (Bliss), ii. 287.]