Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Allibond, Peter
ALLIBOND, PETER (1560–1629), father of Dr.John Allibond, and a translator of theological treatises from the French and Latin, was born in 1560 at Wardington, near Banbury, where many generations of his family had resided. Becoming a student of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, in 1578, he proceeded to his bachelor's degree in 1581 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 218) and to his master's in 1585 (ibid. i. 230). After some years spent in foreign travel, he entered into holy orders, and subsequently became rector of Chenies in Buckinghamshire, ‘where,’ says Anthony à Wood, ‘continuing many years, he did much improve the ignorant with his sound doctrine.’ It was while holding this benefice that he undertook his literary work. In 1591 he published a book entitled ‘Comfort for an Afflicted Conscience, wherein is contained both Consolation and Instruction for the Sicke, against the fearfull apprehension of their sinnes, of death and the devill, of the curse of the law, and of the anger and iust iudgment of God. Written by John de l'Espine, and translated by Peter Allibond.’ London, 1591, 8vo. And in the following year appeared a translation of a short tract by the same French author, bearing the title ‘Confutation of the Popish Transubstantiation, together with a Narration how that the Masse was at sundrie times patched and peeced by sundrie Popes. Wherein is contained a briefe summe of the reasons and arguments for those readers that will not receive the Masse. Translated out of French into English by Peter Allibond, Minister of the Word of God.’ London, 1592, 16mo. The translator deplores, in a prefatory note, that ‘at this time the papists are very rife and ready with their seducing seminaries and Jesuits,’ and evinces the bitterest hatred of Catholicism. His tone is always strongly Calvinistic. His theological views received their fullest exposition in a third work that he translated from the Latin in 1604. It is entitled ‘The Golden Chayne of Salvation written by that reverend and learned man, Maister Herman Renecker, and now translated out of Latine into English.’ London, 1604, 8vo. The English version is dedicated to the Earl and Countess of Bedford, whom Allibond calls his neighbours and ‘singular good lord and lady,’ and whom he thanks for special favours. He further speaks of having received aid in the translation from ‘another who ioyned with me in this small work,’ but no name is mentioned. Allibond died on 6 March 1628–9, and was buried in the chancel of his parish church. Anthony à Wood describes him as ‘an ingenious man in the opinion of all that knew him.’ Three sons survived him, of whom Job, the youngest, became a convert to the Romish Church.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 440; Ames's Typog. Antiq. ed, Herbert, ii. 1165 and iii. 1332, 1333.]